Haloperidol for Feather-Plucking and Self-Mutilation

Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians have reported that the medication haloperidol has been used to treat cockatiels, lovebirds, ring-neck parakeets, African Greys, and several species of cockatoos and Amazon parrots. The indications for use in these birds have included severe feather plucking, mutilation of skin and muscle over the back, chest and legs, wing web mutilation, and Amazon foot necrosis syndrome. Side effects from the use of haloperidol have included depression, depressed appetite, excitability and anorexia. In most birds, side effects disappeared after discontinuing the drug for several days and then retrying at a lower dose.  A study in Journal of Small Animal Practice [(1993) 34, 564-566] reported that refeathering was induced and normal behavior was maintained by administering haloperidol daily for approximately seven months.

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