Let's have a fun challenge...

[Larry, Baby and Me]

There was another post that made me curious about the success of Kings Cages Pluck-No-More. http://www.kingscages.com/testimonials.php

I have used it with no success. But there are board certified vets and other avian professionals cited on Kings website that say otherwise.

So - I am putting every one of us to the challenge to find out what these people REALLY have to say about Pluck-No-More. If they have had great success with it - we should all know about it. It could be the cure we have been looking for.

And again - these porfessionals might be endorsing a product for the money. We will never know unless we contact each and every one of these folks to find out what is what.

I choose Dr.Greg Burkett, DVM for personal reasons with him because lead in cage paint.

Step up to the plate and become involved. If we are not their advocates - then who???

Here is the list - pick one and post back here your findings.


Dr.Samuel B. Vaughn, DVM
Luisville, Kentucky - Avian Diplomate, ABVP, (502) 245 7863
http://www.vetcity.com/
aviansam@bellsouth.net

------------------------

Dr.Greg Burkett, DVM
Board Certified Avian Veterinarian, Professor of Avian Medicine
Durham, North Carolina, (919) 490 3001
http://www.birdieboutique.com/
BirdVet@BirdieBoutique.com

-----------------------

Dr.Robert D. Schachner, DVM
The Animal Medical Center and Bird Clinic of Hollywood
521 N Federal Hwy, Hollywood, Florida, (954) 920 2400
http://animalmedicalcnt.com/
vinnie@animalmedicalcnt.com

------------------------------

Thomas Knight, DVM
Westside Animal Clinic, 711 N Fairfield Dr.,
Pensacola, Florida, (850) 453 3463
No Internet presence.

---------------------------

Dr.Linda Pesek, DVM
Avian Veterinarian, Columnist, lecturer, breeder, and aviculturist
Long Island, New York, East Islip Animal Hospital (631) 277 2266
http://www.eastislipanimalhospital.com
http://www.westburyanimalhospital.com

-----------------------

Marc Morrone
TV celebrity from the Martha Stewart Show, "Pet Keeping with Marc Morrone"
Owner of Parrots of the World
Rockville Centre, New York, (516) 764 0717
http://www.marcmorrone.com/
petxperts2@aol.com
http://www.parrotsoftheworld.com/

-------------------------

Dr.Michael Doolen - Avian Veterinarian
Oakhurst, New Jersey, (732) 531 1212
http://www.oakhurstvet.com/
Contact - Cindy Mims-Nash: cmimsnash@oakhurstvet.com

--------------------

Dr.Jim McKinley, MS, DVM, Dipl.ABVP
Board-Certified Avian Specialist
Owner - Amwell Bird Hospital, Hillsborough, New Jersej, (908) 369 7373
http://www.amwellbirdhospital.com/

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Here is my email to Dr. Burkett...

Dr.Burkett,

I have a 4-1/2 year old Umbrella that has been plucking for over two years. I see that you endorse Kings Cages Pluck-No-More. I have used it with no success, but you and other avian professionals cited on Kings website say otherwise. http://www.kingscages.com/testimonials.php (http://www.kingscages.com/testimonials.php)

If you have had success with Pluck-No-More - we should all know about it. It could be the cure we have been looking for. Please give me the details so I can pass it on to others.

Regards,

Larry Houston
Central Florida

[bonnie]

This is a great idea! I'll take

Dr.Samuel B. Vaughn, DVM
Luisville, Kentucky - Avian Diplomate, ABVP, (502) 245 7863
http://www.vetcity.com/
aviansam@bellsouth.net

[Uncle]

You got it girl... go for it!!!

[bonnie]

Dr. Vaughn,
A dear friend of mine has an Umbrella that plucks. We have heard Pluck No More is an excellent product. However, my friend has used it with no success. I checked out the Kings Cages website and saw that you have had excellent success with this product. If you have had success with Pluck No More, I would like to know a few of details about your use of this product.
Thank you for your time,

[Uncle]

Cool :hihihi:

[FoxersArtist]

I'm tempted to take Marc Morrone. Think I could actually get a hold of him?
-Anna

[bonnie]

I'm tempted to take Marc Morrone. Think I could actually get a hold of him?
-Anna

I really doubt it... lol. You should try. Or if you watch his show doesn't he have a call in time or something?

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Go for it Anna. He has a website, he has a telephone number, and he has an email.

No one in this world is beyond approach. Let's give him a chance to hear what he has to say.

[Dot]

Larry, is this the one that says mix X amount with water and heavily mist your bird twelve times a day. I can speak from experience that a wet bird does not over-preen and I am told that a wet bird does not pluck. Simply misting the bird heavily twelve times a day would suffice with nothing in the water.

[FoxersArtist]

Larry, is this the one that says mix X amount with water and heavily mist your bird twelve times a day. I can speak from experience that a wet bird does not over-preen and I am told that a wet bird does not pluck. Simply misting the bird heavily twelve times a day would suffice with nothing in the water.

one of my cockatiels who used to pluck would pluck themost when her feathers were wet. $The cause of her plucking was diet related and when we switched her from seed to pellets she stopped plucking all together.
-Anna

[Chrissy and Flock]

Larry did you notice those endorsments on Pluck no More are almost 3 years old

[Dot]

one of my cockatiels who used to pluck would pluck themost when her feathers were wet. $The cause of her plucking was diet related and when we switched her from seed to pellets she stopped plucking all together.
-Anna

Here is another interesting idea. I comes from Jenell's vet. He says there is something in the water where they now live that is causing the plucking. He told her to blow dry the bird so the chemicals could not get to the skin.

[Bambam]

Larry..I called my vet & he is out til Mon...will let you know then..Freida

[Bambam]

Larry..I called my vet today about the pluck-no-more...he says its about 50/50..some it helps..some it doesn't...all the info I could get since he was busy..I looked on other boards..some like it..some don't..so far I haven't had this problem; but it's good to know:dancered:

[FoxersArtist]

I haven't contacted any of these people yet but I did ask my vet about it. She seems to think that chinese herbs couldn't really hurt but is more of a believer in good old fashioned water.
-Anna

[too&me]

My Vet (a zoo vet)says it depends on the cause and once the cause is addressed you have to stop the behavior before it is habit. After that develops it is what ever you can do to get his mind off it-giving them a job to do or extra exercise, spray baths with water or Georges Aloe Vera juice or water & Nolvasan if there is inflammation which can show up as flaky skin rather than the redness we see on ourselves or dogs skin ect. Fresh sprouts are helpful using a soak & sprout mix like Don offers. He also says they need real sunshine at least a three hours a week & not through a window glass either.

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Uhhhh... What did he say????

I received this email from Dr Burkett - his response to me about Pluck-No-More...

Unfortunately there is no one magical treatment that treats feather damaging behaviors. Making such a statement even worse is the awful truth that the incidence of feather damaging behaviors is escalating. When I first heard of Pluck no More I allowed my fantasy of finding that cure outshine my skepticism of snake oils. I am of the opinion that if something has the odds only to treating even ONE self-mutilating bird, I think it should be used on all of them until that one bird is treated.

Before I staked my reputation in this product, I investigated its contents and the claims by the manufacturer. I even spoke with the person who developed the formula originally for human consumption, and modified it for his own plucking bird. I used it on some hospitalized birds, and suggested to some of my clients with feather damaging pets.

As I stated in the beginning there is no one treatment for these birds, and Pluck No More is no different. In my experience I see approximately 30%of birds improve. By improve I mean they may reduce their feather damaging behaviors,, and there are a limited number of cases that have fully recovered with using Pluck No More as an adjunct to multiple therapies. Of course all of these birds are completely worked up with multiple blood screening tests, viral screenings, cultures, x-rays, and other diagnostic modalities to rule out medical causes.

We have certainly not tried to keep this a secret. It has been available for a couple of years or more. This product is a holistic approach to treating this problem. It is a mix of herbs and other essences that are put together to produce calming effect.

Even if it does not help the bird, it can in no way harm the bird.

Dr B

[too&me]

He is saying that it is safe to use on your bird no commitment to its effectiveness. He sounds like a politician.

[TikiTalks]

Uhhhh... What did he say????

I received this email from Dr Burkett - his response to me about Pluck-No-More...

Unfortunately there is no one magical treatment that treats feather damaging behaviors. Making such a statement even worse is the awful truth that the incidence of feather damaging behaviors is escalating. When I first heard of Pluck no More I allowed my fantasy of finding that cure outshine my skepticism of snake oils. I am of the opinion that if something has the odds only to treating even ONE self-mutilating bird, I think it should be used on all of them until that one bird is treated.

Before I staked my reputation in this product, I investigated its contents and the claims by the manufacturer. I even spoke with the person who developed the formula originally for human consumption, and modified it for his own plucking bird. I used it on some hospitalized birds, and suggested to some of my clients with feather damaging pets.

As I stated in the beginning there is no one treatment for these birds, and Pluck No More is no different. In my experience I see approximately 30%of birds improve. By improve I mean they may reduce their feather damaging behaviors,, and there are a limited number of cases that have fully recovered with using Pluck No More as an adjunct to multiple therapies. Of course all of these birds are completely worked up with multiple blood screening tests, viral screenings, cultures, x-rays, and other diagnostic modalities to rule out medical causes.

We have certainly not tried to keep this a secret. It has been available for a couple of years or more. This product is a holistic approach to treating this problem. It is a mix of herbs and other essences that are put together to produce calming effect.

Even if it does not help the bird, it can in no way harm the bird.

Dr B

Sounds like a classic "If it works great but probably not" he's CYA'ing

[bonnie]

My guy still hasn't tried to contact me. :(