Although you may not know it, your bird is a living, breathing creature. But did you know that it can also get sick?
The truth is that most pet birds are susceptible to a variety of illnesses. Some of these illnesses are caused by viruses and parasites, while others are caused by bacteria and fungi. These diseases can result in painful conditions such as conjunctivitis and psittacosis. Unfortunately, many owners do not realize that their pet birds have an ailment until it has reached a very advanced stage or the disease has become systemic.
If you suspect that your bird may be sick, there are some symptoms that you should look out for. If your bird displays any of these symptoms, it is important that you take them to see their veterinarian as soon as possible:
-Red eyes with yellow discharge
-Extremely lethargic behavior (your bird may appear more drowsy than usual)
-Dirty feathers (this could signify an infection)
Vitamin A For Birds
Vitamin A Deficiency (Hypovitaminosis A)
Birds on all-seed diets will likely suffer from a vitamin A deficiency, since peanuts and most
seeds and grains (except yellow corn) are devoid of this vitamin. Because vitamin A maintains
mucous membranes and other epithelial surfaces, low levels of vitamin A will result in decreased
resistance of these tissues to disease-producing organisms. As a result, respiratory and sinus
infections are more severe in birds with deficient levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency can
also lead to hyperkeratosis, or thickening of the skin with excessive scaliness and flakiness of the
feet.
Signs of hypovitaminosis A often seen by avian practitioners include white plaques on the roof
of the mouth, excessive oral mucus (caused by changes in the salivary and tear glands), and
blunting of the choanal papillae. Quite often, birds brought to the hospital for some type of
respiratory difficulty described by the owner as “sneezing” or “coughing.” However, frequently
they have developed the condition as a result of the excessive mucus and mouth lesions caused
by vitamin A deficiency. If secondary infections have developed, pustules or abscesses may be
seen in the oral cavity, crop, or respiratory tract. In severe cases of vitamin A deficiency, changes
may develop in the kidneys that can lead to gout (indicative of kidney failure). Other signs of
vitamin A deficiency are fading of the pigmentation of the skin and feathers, failure of young
birds to gain weight, low hatchability rates, and high hatching mortality.
The best and safest way to ensure that a bird will not suffer from a vitamin A deficiency is to
provide it with adequate nutrition. Birds that prefer seeds should be given a commercial vitamin
supplement, administered on the food or in the water. All birds should also be provided with
foods that are rich in vitamin A, such as red or orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, red
peppers, squash, mango, papaya) and dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, collards). In
addition, beta-carotene supplementation is effective. Readily converted by birds to the active
form of vitamin A, beta-carotene cannot be oversupplemented to produce toxicity. Injectable
vitamin A is usually used for clinical cases.
Another means of supplementation is to periodically add a few drops of vitamin A from a
punctured vitamin A gel capsule to the bird’s diet. Some breeders add a teaspoonful of cod liver
oil to each pound of seed, since vitamin A has been shown to improve reproductive results. The
use of cod liver oil is not recommended, however, as it can become rancid and promote the
destruction of vitamin E. In all of the other forms noted, vitamin A supplementation is an
effective means of increasing birds’ resistance to disease and yielding better reproductive results.
vitamin d for parrots
Vitamin D works together with calcium and phosphorus to keep your bird healthy. Though, any imbalance in their required proportions and the bird may suffer from a variety of medical problems. Parrot families are also more prone to vitamin D toxicosis, especially macaws.
Vitamin D Toxicity in Birds
Avian Vitamin D Toxicosis
A nutritionally balanced diet for your bird can help it remain healthy for life. One such nutrient, vitamin D, is very beneficial for the bird. However, if the nutrient is found in excess in the body, it can result in vitamin D toxicosis. Vitamin D also converts into calcium in the body. Therefore, if a bird receives the required amount of calcium, plus extra vitamin D, it will end up with excessive calcium in the blood.
Vitamin D works together with calcium and phosphorus to keep your bird healthy. Though, any imbalance in their required proportions and the bird may suffer from a variety of medical problems. Parrot families are also more prone to vitamin D toxicosis, especially macaws.
Symptoms and Types
A major problem created by vitamin D toxicosis is kidney damage. This happens because the vitamin D and calcium accumulate in the kidneys, which prevents the organ from functioning normally. One such kidney disease created from the kidney damage is gout.
Prevention
Vitamin D toxicosis can be prevented by carefully choosing your bird feed and removing any excessive vitamin D from its diet. Maintaining a calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus balance in your bird’s diet, will also help prevent vitamin D toxicosis.