Fatty Liver Disease & Pancreatitus in Parrots
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by Heike Ewing Ott Fatty Liver Disease and Pancreatitus are two diseases that Quaker Parrots as well as some other species of parrots seem rather prone to. This post to the Quaker Parakeets Mailing List discusses why some parrots may have an increased likelihood of these two diseases. |
She said that Quakers were very suseptible to fatty liver disease and also pancreatitus.
I have read that quakers, like amazons, are prone to obesity and its associated diseases. An adult parrot's diet should be about 10 - 15% fat. Sunflower and safflower seeds are about 40% fat. A parrot's metabolic rate is so high that they will try to eat the foods that give them the most energy (calories). Since fats are higher in calories per gram, birds will prefer to eat high-fat foods that give a higher energy return for the amount eaten, although it is not good for them. This is why parrots seem to get "addicted" to sunflower and/or safflower seeds - because of the high fat content.
She said wheatgerm oil would be a much better thing to use. Have any of you guys heard of this before?
Yes, I have. The pure oil produces better results in smaller amounts, thus the bird doesn't get as much fat/calories as with sunflower seeds. The concept is that the bird's skin/feathers are too dry (like you or I with dry, itchy skin) and this is the cause of the plucking. The oil taken internally tends to correct this, thus reducing the plucking (in theory). Daily bathing or misting with a mixture of water and 10 - 20% Aloe-Vera juice may do just as well, in some veterinary opinions. Another alternative (for giving internally) would be Vitamin E oil, which has other benefits. (Use the kind that's made for human consumption!!)
What is pancreatitus, anyway?
That would be inflammation/disease of the pancreas, which has to do with regulating a number of substances in the bloodstream. For example, it is the organ that fails to produce sufficient insulin in diabetics. If you make it work too hard, it can wear out, putting the body's balance of these substances (blood sugar, insulin, fatty acids, etc.) out of whack. Then the bird either gets sick and dies or has to get external correction, such as insulin shots. (I tried to explain that as simply as possible, since most of us probably don't have medical degrees!)
7 Comments on Fatty Liver Disease & Pancreatitus in Parrots »
May 27, 2008
Jessica @ 11:17 pm:
My (seemingly healthy) Quaker, Kiwi, seemed off today, and regurgitated a murky liquid a few hours ago. It was 7pm, so I was going to take him to my vet in the morning. He was dead 2 hours later. I'm shocked and crushed and trying to piece this together without a vet's available input. Any thoughts would be welcome. I received this bird a few months ago when he was a year-and-a-half old. Before coming ot me, he had a sunflower seed diet. Since February, he has been on Kaytee Exact, fresh fruits & veggies, and some seeds, but you see I was trying to wean him off the junk food. I'm suspecting fatty liver disease, but he did not seem "obese" to me. Does this desease kill quickly like this? Thanks for your thoughts - I'm desperate for anything right now.
June 25, 2008
Michele Jones @ 11:48 am:
I have a quaker that was given to me about 9 years ago. He has always been healthy and mean. He will only allow me to touch him. He developed a growth on his belly. I don't want to take him to the vet because I think the trauma of taking him would kill him before the growth. Is this a sign of liver disease? I had always been told to feed him a cockatiel diet, so now I think I may have shortened his life drastically, (he is about 14 yrs old). Has anyone ever had a bird with a growth?
August 13, 2008
Lemens @ 1:19 am:
I'm not an expert on this or anything but I think the junk food diet he was on before ruined his health. Your good diet for him came too late to repair the damage…
March 30, 2009
lipomas @ 2:07 am:
The growth is called a lipoma and it's part genetic, part from lack of exercise and mostly from bad diet.
Feeding "live" foods such as germinated grain/seed has some ability to slow down the growth of lipomas. Stop clipping birds and let them exercise the way nature intended. Feed soak seed/early sprouts (not with long tails, all the nutrients are mostly gone by then). Also ask the vet for CoQ10.
Do not avoid the vet the bird wont die of stress just sitting there being observed.
April 17, 2009
worried =[ @ 3:09 pm:
My bird sleeps A LOT..is very clusy, and i noticed he started losing weight..last nighti discovered he has a round "ball like" growth bellow his belly..i am extremelly worried..
Does anyone have any idea what he might have??
May 8, 2009
maureen @ 10:39 pm:
I have a quaker parrot that when I got had no feathers in the front of him. The owners assured me they woulo grow back but they havent. He is very active and eats well. I dont see him plucking them out either, they just dont seem to grow back. I have noticed a purplish discoloration of the area and am wondering what it is. Can someone help.
June 11, 2009
jennifer @ 5:04 pm:
so is this meaning to say that sun flower seeds are bad for these birds?