What to do? Can I do anything?

[LemonAida]

On Saturday I stopped into a pet shop (not a large chain retailer and not my usual bird specialty store) to just look around.

They usually have a few birds for sale and while I wouldn't buy a bird from them I'm a softie for going in to say hi....well anyway....There was a Toucan in the bottom of a cage that did not look well (to me anyway). I am going to post a couple things that I saw and can someone tell me if this is normal. If it is not normal what can I do? Who do I call?

1) The first thing I noticed was his beak. It was not peeling, but shredding. When he (i'll call him he for now) would open his beak it was stringy and shredding. Thats the only way I can explain it.

2) Where I would assume his notstrils was a big gunky snotty mess.

The only thing that he had in his cage to eat was pellets. He was a sad looking creature. He was in his cage, but his cage was next to other birds.

So what do I do? Oh and buying him is out of the question :) Advice please....Thanks !!!!

[asurademon]

That is awful, and yes the snotty mess is a definite sign of illness. If I had to guess that toucan is not going to be around for much longer. I'm not so sure why the bill would be peeling, that is odd, but perhaps it could be due to a nutritional deficiency (which is undoubtedly part of what the bird is suffering from)? Maybe a disease? Toucans can end up breaking their bills, but never heard of peeling.

If all he has is pellets then there is no doubt at all that the toucan will have a severe nutritional problems, and not only that but a high probability of dehydration, toucans rely on fruit for quite a bit of their hydration. A toucan cannot survive just on pellets, fruit absolutely has to make up a large portion of their diet.

If you can get in there and take pictures. There should be some sort of agency in your area that you can report animal abuse to, I would try to find out who they are, all though how much gets accomplished depends on what the laws in your area are like. If all else fails maybe you could find out if anyone would be willing (and could afford) to go get him and make his last days more comfortable at least? How did their other birds look?

[Lori~D]

NOw wait - lets not go assuming things. Did YOu ask about him? Did you ask what wrong with him? Ppl drop sick stuff off at pet stores all the time - did he have a price tag on him? Id ask a bunch of questions. Depending on what kind of pellet it may BE just what he is supposed to eat. Mazuri makes a pellet diet specifically for Toucans. They cannot eat regular seeds or pellets due to high iron content. The only reason I say this is because ppl can jump to conclusions without asking to soon. Maybe he does need a vet and then it should be reported as such, Or maybe he was surrendered and is under a vets care now. Did you ask? My friend has had a few horses she's rescued and people keep calling about them....they are rescues and are gaining weight but because ppl dont see the whole picture they call and complain. Im just saying go BAck and ask questions.

[asurademon]

while you are correct that it is a good idea to ask questions, even if that pellet is a Mazuri low iron pellet, which I consider to easily the best pellet out there for them, softbill pellets should only make up part of a toucan's diet, again nutritional problems, and a very high risk for dehydration will be a problem for a toucan just being fed pellets.

Feeding them just pellets would be a little like someone feeding their cockatiel nothing but millet spray for the rest of its life, only I think a poor diet will bring down a toucan even faster than a cockatiel, they very sensitive birds when it comes to diet.

I strongly suspect that there would be an increased likelyhood for hemochromatosis as well, as even if the pellets are low iron, if memory serves me the vast majority of fruit in a proper toucan diet is lower in iron than pellets, so more pellets, more iron in the diet.

Bottom line is that if that toucan is just being fed pellets, even if the people are well meaning they are still mistreating the bird, but if that's the case it also means that they simply don't know how to care for a toucan. Perhaps you could start up a discussion with them about toucan care, and that particular toucan's history and find that out, then if they really just don't know what they are doing you could point them to some resources so they could learn about what this bird requires to thrive.

[WhiteRaven]

I agree that the situation may not be how if first looks and not to assume anything yet (I do wonder though if there is a reason the toucan isn't in their quarantine room at least). It seems that the bird requires special attention immediately though, if it is not getting it already from the store.

If you are uncomfortable with talking to them about it, perhaps a letter (not abusing them, but nicely explaining it to them and pointing out that it is not beneficial for them if the toucan remains sick or dies). Although there is no harm in politely asking them directly about the bird and your concerns.

I hope things turn out alright... good luck.

[SisterBlue]

I'm also one for NOT jumping to conclusions...so, just because there was nothing but pellets in his cage in the 20 minutes(?) you were there on one specific day, does that mean that he never gets anything but those pellets? That's quite a hefty jump to a perhaps faulty conclusion. Just saying...

-SB

[LemonAida]

Originally Posted by SisterBlue

I'm also one for NOT jumping to conclusions...so, just because there was nothing but pellets in his cage in the 20 minutes(?) you were there on one specific day, does that mean that he never gets anything but those pellets? That's quite a hefty jump to a perhaps faulty conclusion. Just saying...

-SB

WOW gee thanks...

I did go back and speak to the store to get clarification, and FYI I did NOT jump to a faulty conclusion...Thanks for your feedback..

[rockybird]

Can you do anything? I feel for the little guy. I think that the snotty nose is concerning, especially if it is out with other birds. I would guess that these people are not taking proper care of the bird, as you say. Did they at least tell you if it went to a vet, or has the proper diet? Poor little guy!

[Lori~D]

So Lemonaida what did they say? whats wrong with their birdie??