Posts
Showing posts with label Fresh Foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fresh Foods. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tips on Converting a "Seed Junkie"
Hi Sandee,
I would like to know if this issue with my parrotlet is something to be concerned about or not. I have read in your book and blogs about parrotlets that they require fresh vegetables and fruit everyday to maintain a healthy diet. I have tried offering almost every possible vegetable and fruit to him, both chopped up in tiny pieces and whole, and he doesn't want to have anything to do with them! I have tried mixing them with his favorite seed mix, but he just flicks the veggies and fruit out of his food bowl with his beak! I have noticed that he particularly likes sunflower seeds and millet, so I add vitamins to his water daily to compensate for the lack of nutrients. He obviously wasn't exposed to fresh food while he was being weaned; is it possible to get him to like them now? I have thought of removing the seed mix for one day, and just offering a bowl of mixed veggies, but I don't want him to starve to death if he refuses to eat it?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. He seems to be a healthy boy, but I am wondering if he will have health issues later on from being on a strictly seed diet?
Thanks Sandee!
Sincerely,
Monica
Dear Monica:
Thank you for your email. I have been writing on this subject for more than two decades – ever since we first imported wild-caught adult parrotlets that needed to be converted to food they had never seen before. While the first article I wrote was on identification of species, the second was diet and how to get them to eat healthier. I have included various tips in all three of my books, in my blog and on my website. Basically, it takes time, patience and a little ingenuity. First, parrotlets do learn to eat things by playing with foods before they consume them. They are Nature’s ‘reforesters” and have a symbiotic relationship to be wasteful with food. The grabbing, biting, chewing and flinging of food allows them to taste the various foods along with the textures and this is how they learn what to eat. Flinging it about helps redistribute seeds and plant material which is required in Nature to keep a health environment.
As for getting your bird to eat a better diet, which is vital for a healthy, long life, let him eat and play with his food. Offer thawed frozen peas and carrots with a little millet or other seed sprinkled on top. When you see him starting to eat that, then you can add more healthy foods such as carrots and broccoli. Also, feeding foods with seeds in it such as kiwi, strawberries, melon, zucchini and peppers will also encourage him to eat the plant material as well as the seeds. Sometimes the form in which the food is presented such as shredding or mashing it can help. Stringing chunks of fruit and vegetables on things like Birdy Kabobs or baking it into bread can all be offered. Cooked fresh foods such as Beak Appetite also can be fed.
So try various things. Eventually you will figure out what your bird likes.
Best of luck and I hope this helps.
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
________________________________________
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Egg Yolk Perionitis, Egg Laying Hens, Lupron, Diet
Hi Sandee:
I have a Pacific Parrotlet who is just over one year of age. She had a medical crisis on Wednesday that we fortunately caught in time that turned out to be egg yolk perionitis. She's going to be fine now ($500.00 and a lot of worry later!) but the vet says that it's unusual for this to happen in a younger bird. I am of course concerned that this is going to become a regular occurrence now that she's clearly sexually mature. We do cover her cage so that she only gets 12 hours of light a day, and there is no nest box or anything like that in her cage. The vet thinks that one thing that may help is to get her on pellets instead of the Volkman's parrotlet blend she's currently on, as he says the seeds are too high in fat and that can trigger ovulation. But he doesn't see many parrotlets and he's been on me to put her on pellets since the first time we went there even though from what I read a high quality seed blend and lots of fresh food (which she gets and eats) is better for the bird.
What do you think? Will pellets help? Was the egg yolk perionitis just a fluke? Is there any thing I can do more than I'm already doing to ensure that she doesn't lay another egg - she had one lupron shot and gets another in a few weeks to stop it for now but what about next year?
Thanks.
Monica
Dear Monica:
Thank you for your email. I tried calling you this AM as you have requested a lot of info and I felt it would be better communicating by phone rather than email. I will tell you have several articles on my website about pellets, Lupron and I even think egg laying pet hens that have no males with them. I do know all of these subjects are thoroughly covered in my books, especially the latest one, The Parrotlet Handbook published by Barron’s.
It is unusual for a hen to have egg yolk peritonitis at a young age but I sincerely doubt that has anything to do with diet. First, ovulation is a natural process in birds and doesn’t need ‘fat’ to trigger it. Second, seeds are a natural part of a bird’s diet – there are no pellet trees in the wild. Also, pellets are simply processed seeds with artificial colors and flavors. I don’t eat processed foods and no one will ever convince me that feeding processed foods to our birds is better than feeding fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains, legumes and sprouts. Even pellet manufacturers, the honest ones anyway, will tell you they can’t MAKE a pellet more nutritious than a diet rich in whole foods.
No one can tell you whether or not this was a ‘fluke’ with your bird or if it has some kind of congenital issue or if was triggered by environmental changes. Only time will tell. As for lupron, well, I have an article about it on my site that is based on dozens of vets opinion’s not just one. If the bird is a color mutation, it is more likely this is a birth defect or even genetic abnormality but only time will tell. I will say that reducing daylight hours to less than 12, keeping nest like structures out of the cage and feeding a diet rich in fresh, whole foods is a much better preventive measure than lupron shots or pellets, in my opinion, which is based on 30 years of keeping parrotlets.
Hope this helps and if you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
I have a Pacific Parrotlet who is just over one year of age. She had a medical crisis on Wednesday that we fortunately caught in time that turned out to be egg yolk perionitis. She's going to be fine now ($500.00 and a lot of worry later!) but the vet says that it's unusual for this to happen in a younger bird. I am of course concerned that this is going to become a regular occurrence now that she's clearly sexually mature. We do cover her cage so that she only gets 12 hours of light a day, and there is no nest box or anything like that in her cage. The vet thinks that one thing that may help is to get her on pellets instead of the Volkman's parrotlet blend she's currently on, as he says the seeds are too high in fat and that can trigger ovulation. But he doesn't see many parrotlets and he's been on me to put her on pellets since the first time we went there even though from what I read a high quality seed blend and lots of fresh food (which she gets and eats) is better for the bird.
What do you think? Will pellets help? Was the egg yolk perionitis just a fluke? Is there any thing I can do more than I'm already doing to ensure that she doesn't lay another egg - she had one lupron shot and gets another in a few weeks to stop it for now but what about next year?
Thanks.
Monica
Dear Monica:
Thank you for your email. I tried calling you this AM as you have requested a lot of info and I felt it would be better communicating by phone rather than email. I will tell you have several articles on my website about pellets, Lupron and I even think egg laying pet hens that have no males with them. I do know all of these subjects are thoroughly covered in my books, especially the latest one, The Parrotlet Handbook published by Barron’s.
It is unusual for a hen to have egg yolk peritonitis at a young age but I sincerely doubt that has anything to do with diet. First, ovulation is a natural process in birds and doesn’t need ‘fat’ to trigger it. Second, seeds are a natural part of a bird’s diet – there are no pellet trees in the wild. Also, pellets are simply processed seeds with artificial colors and flavors. I don’t eat processed foods and no one will ever convince me that feeding processed foods to our birds is better than feeding fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains, legumes and sprouts. Even pellet manufacturers, the honest ones anyway, will tell you they can’t MAKE a pellet more nutritious than a diet rich in whole foods.
No one can tell you whether or not this was a ‘fluke’ with your bird or if it has some kind of congenital issue or if was triggered by environmental changes. Only time will tell. As for lupron, well, I have an article about it on my site that is based on dozens of vets opinion’s not just one. If the bird is a color mutation, it is more likely this is a birth defect or even genetic abnormality but only time will tell. I will say that reducing daylight hours to less than 12, keeping nest like structures out of the cage and feeding a diet rich in fresh, whole foods is a much better preventive measure than lupron shots or pellets, in my opinion, which is based on 30 years of keeping parrotlets.
Hope this helps and if you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
Friday, June 3, 2011
Pellets & Color Mutation Parrotlets
Hello,
I have a blue mutation parrotlet named Izzy. He’s about three months old. I am very confused about what to feed him. The breeder gave us a diet that includes pellets, Goldenfeast, and a dried mixture to cook that includes beans, dried carrots, seeds and nuts. The vet thinks that there’s too much fat in the diet, and wants him to eat mostly pellets and fresh or cooked vegetables (so far he won’t touch them, he just picks out the seeds), with a small amount of the less fatty seeds. On the other hand, I keep reading about suspected issues with mutations and pellets. The breeder says that she’s never had a problem.
I don’t know what to do. I would like to find documentation to give the (avian) vet on the kidney issue with pellets, but so far all the evidence I can find is anecdotal. So I have two questions. First, what would your advice be on feeding Izzy, and second , do you know where I can find documentation such as studies on this issue? The anecdotal evidence seems suggestive, but the vet is (rightly ) going to want something more objective. I would feel better myself with stricter evidence.
You have probably gone over this in the past, so I’m sorry to ask it again if you have.
Thanks for your time,
Raisl
Dear Raisl:
Thank you for your email. If I had a dime for every time I have had to discuss this issue and that includes my chapters in books, magazine articles I’ve written, web-pages I’ve published, seminars I’ve given, countless phone and in person conversations and hundreds of emails, I would be almost as rich as the pellet manufacturers. However, because there is so much misinformation and misunderstandings about this subject, I am happy to answer the question again. I am going to go into the history and basic understanding of parrot nutrition and the invention of pellets and you can make your own decision about it.
There are over 350 different species of parrots and over 9,000 species of birds. The only concrete information we have on bird nutrition is for poultry not companion birds. In fact, in hook bills, the only species we know anything about as far as nutritional requirements are lysine in cockatiels. These studies were done by Dr. Tom Roudybush (one of the few vets who is also an avian nutritionist) back in the 1980s. No other studies have been done. This is because if you can find an university doing research on companion birds its for diseases not nutrition. Even then, any honest vet will tell you that disease diagnosis and treatment is more of an art than a science. Nutrition studies are done by commercial food manufacturers, i.e., the pellet distributors. To say they have a conflict of interest when it comes to bias in this area is a gross understatement. That would be like having tobacco companies fund cancer research.
I have bred birds for almost 30 years and witnessed both the advent of pellets and the certification of vets with regard to avian medicine. It doesn’t mean I know more than vets but it certainly does give me both the opportunity for empirical (not anecdotal) data as well as remember why pellets were invented in the first place. Very simply it was for commercial use in making the feeding of caged birds the same as feeding dogs and cats. Of course, this is impossible since, again there are more than 350 species of parrots and only 1 species of dogs and cats. Pellet manufacturers felt that the correct feeding of birds – a diet made up primarily of whole foods (including seeds) but also fruit, vegetables, sprouts, whole grains and legumes was ‘too much work’ by bird owners. They decided if they could make a diet you can simply pour in a bowl they would deal with the usual problem with seed diets, which is the lack of vitamin A and in some species such as Amazons and cockatoos, the high fat content that often leads to fatty liver syndrome. Btw, when most parrotlets are diagnosed with fatty liver syndrome it is usually related to toxins and over vitaminization or medication not diet. So the invention of pellets was really for the convenience of the owners and breeders and, of course, to open up the market so feed companies could make a lot of money. Nothing wrong with that but if you think they were doing something altruistic to help make birds healthy that is incorrect.
One thing a lot of people do not realize is that pellets are made from seed, and it is almost always corn. Corn is one of the least nutritious grains on the planet and it is mostly made up of sugar. I myself do not eat corn for that reason. Moreover, in birds, it is not a natural food. But it is cheap and plentiful. There is one pellet, ironically the one promoted by vets, that is not made from corn. It is made from sunflower seeds. The same dreaded sunflower seeds that vets claim has too much fat when it is in whole form but apparently its ok when it has been processed into a pellet – or perhaps that has more to do with the monetary incentive that vets get for selling that pellet.
In any event, when you are told to feed pellets instead of seed, you are still feeding seed. Highly processed, artificially colored, flavored, often full of preservatives and vitaminized seed. We know with humans that processed foods are not recommended for top nutrition. This is true for just about all animals and it certainly must be true for birds. Birds have better eyesight than humans, they have a sense of smell, have a sensitive tongue for feeling textures and can taste food. I know I wouldn’t like living on something like “Ensure” even thought it is ‘nutritionally complete’ and I’m sure our birds wouldn’t like it either. More importantly, you will not convince me that drinking a highly processed, overly vitaminized, artificially flavored and colored food like Ensure is better for me than say a bowl of fresh salad made with lots of leafy greens, vegetables and lean protein. It also is more interesting and tastes better which adds to my enjoyment and well-being. I would say my birds would feel the same.
On another interesting note, since I know almost all the owners of feed companies personally, the honest ones have told me “Sandee, if you are feeding fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, cooked legumes, sprouted seed, supplements such as bee pollen and calcium in addition to whole seeds, we can’t make a pellet that nutritious. We make pellets for people who either can’t or won’t take the time to feed their birds whole fresh foods.”
As for the issues with mutations, I have dozens of necropsy reports and had countless (off the record of course) conversations with vets, biologists and researchers and they have documented the problems with color mutations and the kidney problems. These have been given to me in confidence so I will not share them nor will I give the names of the vets who have entrusted to me their opinions. My feeling is that it really doesn’t matter. The fact is I have yet to have anyone convince me that feeding highly processed artificially flavored, colored and preserved seed is a better diet than feeding one rich in fresh whole foods including seeds, irregardless of the uric acid problems in mutations. I know I don’t eat that way and I’m not going to feed my birds that way. After all, there are no pellet trees in the wild.
I hope you understand I’m not trying to tell you how to feed your bird. Only you can make that decision. However, you should have all the facts available so you can make appropriate decision for you and your bird. You asked my opinion and the reasons therefore and I hope this meets your expectations. Best of luck to you and your bird.
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
I have a blue mutation parrotlet named Izzy. He’s about three months old. I am very confused about what to feed him. The breeder gave us a diet that includes pellets, Goldenfeast, and a dried mixture to cook that includes beans, dried carrots, seeds and nuts. The vet thinks that there’s too much fat in the diet, and wants him to eat mostly pellets and fresh or cooked vegetables (so far he won’t touch them, he just picks out the seeds), with a small amount of the less fatty seeds. On the other hand, I keep reading about suspected issues with mutations and pellets. The breeder says that she’s never had a problem.
I don’t know what to do. I would like to find documentation to give the (avian) vet on the kidney issue with pellets, but so far all the evidence I can find is anecdotal. So I have two questions. First, what would your advice be on feeding Izzy, and second , do you know where I can find documentation such as studies on this issue? The anecdotal evidence seems suggestive, but the vet is (rightly ) going to want something more objective. I would feel better myself with stricter evidence.
You have probably gone over this in the past, so I’m sorry to ask it again if you have.
Thanks for your time,
Raisl
Dear Raisl:
Thank you for your email. If I had a dime for every time I have had to discuss this issue and that includes my chapters in books, magazine articles I’ve written, web-pages I’ve published, seminars I’ve given, countless phone and in person conversations and hundreds of emails, I would be almost as rich as the pellet manufacturers. However, because there is so much misinformation and misunderstandings about this subject, I am happy to answer the question again. I am going to go into the history and basic understanding of parrot nutrition and the invention of pellets and you can make your own decision about it.
There are over 350 different species of parrots and over 9,000 species of birds. The only concrete information we have on bird nutrition is for poultry not companion birds. In fact, in hook bills, the only species we know anything about as far as nutritional requirements are lysine in cockatiels. These studies were done by Dr. Tom Roudybush (one of the few vets who is also an avian nutritionist) back in the 1980s. No other studies have been done. This is because if you can find an university doing research on companion birds its for diseases not nutrition. Even then, any honest vet will tell you that disease diagnosis and treatment is more of an art than a science. Nutrition studies are done by commercial food manufacturers, i.e., the pellet distributors. To say they have a conflict of interest when it comes to bias in this area is a gross understatement. That would be like having tobacco companies fund cancer research.
I have bred birds for almost 30 years and witnessed both the advent of pellets and the certification of vets with regard to avian medicine. It doesn’t mean I know more than vets but it certainly does give me both the opportunity for empirical (not anecdotal) data as well as remember why pellets were invented in the first place. Very simply it was for commercial use in making the feeding of caged birds the same as feeding dogs and cats. Of course, this is impossible since, again there are more than 350 species of parrots and only 1 species of dogs and cats. Pellet manufacturers felt that the correct feeding of birds – a diet made up primarily of whole foods (including seeds) but also fruit, vegetables, sprouts, whole grains and legumes was ‘too much work’ by bird owners. They decided if they could make a diet you can simply pour in a bowl they would deal with the usual problem with seed diets, which is the lack of vitamin A and in some species such as Amazons and cockatoos, the high fat content that often leads to fatty liver syndrome. Btw, when most parrotlets are diagnosed with fatty liver syndrome it is usually related to toxins and over vitaminization or medication not diet. So the invention of pellets was really for the convenience of the owners and breeders and, of course, to open up the market so feed companies could make a lot of money. Nothing wrong with that but if you think they were doing something altruistic to help make birds healthy that is incorrect.
One thing a lot of people do not realize is that pellets are made from seed, and it is almost always corn. Corn is one of the least nutritious grains on the planet and it is mostly made up of sugar. I myself do not eat corn for that reason. Moreover, in birds, it is not a natural food. But it is cheap and plentiful. There is one pellet, ironically the one promoted by vets, that is not made from corn. It is made from sunflower seeds. The same dreaded sunflower seeds that vets claim has too much fat when it is in whole form but apparently its ok when it has been processed into a pellet – or perhaps that has more to do with the monetary incentive that vets get for selling that pellet.
In any event, when you are told to feed pellets instead of seed, you are still feeding seed. Highly processed, artificially colored, flavored, often full of preservatives and vitaminized seed. We know with humans that processed foods are not recommended for top nutrition. This is true for just about all animals and it certainly must be true for birds. Birds have better eyesight than humans, they have a sense of smell, have a sensitive tongue for feeling textures and can taste food. I know I wouldn’t like living on something like “Ensure” even thought it is ‘nutritionally complete’ and I’m sure our birds wouldn’t like it either. More importantly, you will not convince me that drinking a highly processed, overly vitaminized, artificially flavored and colored food like Ensure is better for me than say a bowl of fresh salad made with lots of leafy greens, vegetables and lean protein. It also is more interesting and tastes better which adds to my enjoyment and well-being. I would say my birds would feel the same.
On another interesting note, since I know almost all the owners of feed companies personally, the honest ones have told me “Sandee, if you are feeding fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, cooked legumes, sprouted seed, supplements such as bee pollen and calcium in addition to whole seeds, we can’t make a pellet that nutritious. We make pellets for people who either can’t or won’t take the time to feed their birds whole fresh foods.”
As for the issues with mutations, I have dozens of necropsy reports and had countless (off the record of course) conversations with vets, biologists and researchers and they have documented the problems with color mutations and the kidney problems. These have been given to me in confidence so I will not share them nor will I give the names of the vets who have entrusted to me their opinions. My feeling is that it really doesn’t matter. The fact is I have yet to have anyone convince me that feeding highly processed artificially flavored, colored and preserved seed is a better diet than feeding one rich in fresh whole foods including seeds, irregardless of the uric acid problems in mutations. I know I don’t eat that way and I’m not going to feed my birds that way. After all, there are no pellet trees in the wild.
I hope you understand I’m not trying to tell you how to feed your bird. Only you can make that decision. However, you should have all the facts available so you can make appropriate decision for you and your bird. You asked my opinion and the reasons therefore and I hope this meets your expectations. Best of luck to you and your bird.
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Parrotlet Health Questions
Hi Sandee,
I think you may be an answer to my prayer. In November 2009, my blue mutation parrotlet, Billy, was diagnosed with an enlarged liver, and was prescribed milk thistle and lactulose. I have been giving him this daily since that time. What else can I do. My vet says that this condition is primarily linked to his diet. My vet says he should be on pellets, but I disagree due to kidney problems seen in parrotlets, especially mutations. Can you suggest a good diet for Billy? Please be specific. I give him a variety of good fresh foods and vegetables daily, progrow birdie bread, and Kashi whole grain pilaf. He also gets a good seed mixture, (although most of his food intake daily is NOT seed), a few cantalope seeds as treats, and Goldenfeast Treat Petite.
I have really tried with this little guy, as I have lost a parrotlet in the past to liver problems. Am I hopeless as a parrotlet mom?
I have prayed so long that I be led to help with Billy, and then I saw you on facebook. Why didn't I think about you sooner? The person that knows everything about parrotlets.
Thank you for any information that you can share.
I'm praying that you folks on the west coast won't be affected by the nuclear waste from Japan.
Jackie, Trixie & Billy in South Carolina
Dear Jackie:
Thank you so much for your very kind email. That is very sweet of you to say. However, I will be the first one to admit I don't know everything about parrotlets - I keep learning every day. That's probably one reason I still keep them after almost 30 years because there is so much to learn.
I am so very sorry to hear about the problems with Billy. You did not mention how old Billy is but I am going to assume he is a fairly young bird - under 5 years of age. Age can be important when liver is involved. Older birds frequently suffer from liver problems and its probably much like the aging process in humans.
You mention Billy is a color mutation. Does the vet think this is a congenital problem? Although there has not been enough data available to make a conclusion, one always has to think about congenital or even genetic problems in color mutations. After all, they are abnormal birds to begin with.
Diet is the usual culprit in liver problems in younger birds. Generally it is blamed on too much fat in the diet although to be honest, I haven't really heard a lot of this in parrotlets. Parrotlets are generally good eaters of a variety of foods and not just 'sunflower seed junkies' the way other parrots such as Amazons or Cockatoos can become. I also find that most parrotlet owners are more willing to take the time to provide a varied diet. Its easier to prepare a couple tablespoons of food rather than huge bowls.
I have never been a big fan of pellets. Probably because I have been around longer than they have. They were created for one reason - the convenience of the keepers. They can also have the added bonus for some birds, again, largely cockatoos and Amazons, of reducing the fat in the diet and helping to reduce fatty liver syndrome in these birds. I am not aware of any studies that have been done on parrotlets in this regard. Furthermore, all pellets are made from seeds - ironically, either sunflower or corn. Corn is not a nutritious grain, it has too much sugar and it is not part of the natural diet of parrotlets. We know that a diet that has a lot of processed foods is not good for people and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, liver problems, stroke and high blood pressure. I don't eat processed foods myself and I don't feed them to my birds. I believe that birds, like people, should eat fresh, whole natural foods. My birds' diet consists of 70% fruit, vegetables, greens, grains, legumes, sprouted seed and egg food. The rest consists of a very high quality parrotlet mix that I have used for 30 years and gave to Volkman's Seed Company. You can get it through www.birdseed.com and it is called "Parrotlet Super".
I now have three books out on parrotlets. The most recent is called "The Parrotlet Handbook" and was published by Barron's and is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon and my own website. It has a huge chapter on diet as well as healthful easy recipes that you can make for your own parrotlet.
I do have to say that I am not a vet nor do I play one on the Internet. If your bird is under a vet's care and you are following their protocol, I would not change anything without discussing it with your vet. I will say one more thing about a fresh food diet as opposed to a processed pelleted one, I was talking with the president of a very well-known food company when I was speaking at a convention. I told him what I fed my birds and he told me 'there is no way that any manufacturer can ever make a pellet as nutritious as what you are feeding. But most people will not take the time or effort to feed that kind of diet. So we make the next best thing."
Anyway, I hope you find some of this information helpful. Please keep me posted on Billy's progress. Thank you again for your very kind words and your prayers are appreciated although I am sure we will be fine with the radiation. After all, we went through Chernobyl and that was 1000's worse. But thank you. Take care and best of luck!
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
I think you may be an answer to my prayer. In November 2009, my blue mutation parrotlet, Billy, was diagnosed with an enlarged liver, and was prescribed milk thistle and lactulose. I have been giving him this daily since that time. What else can I do. My vet says that this condition is primarily linked to his diet. My vet says he should be on pellets, but I disagree due to kidney problems seen in parrotlets, especially mutations. Can you suggest a good diet for Billy? Please be specific. I give him a variety of good fresh foods and vegetables daily, progrow birdie bread, and Kashi whole grain pilaf. He also gets a good seed mixture, (although most of his food intake daily is NOT seed), a few cantalope seeds as treats, and Goldenfeast Treat Petite.
I have really tried with this little guy, as I have lost a parrotlet in the past to liver problems. Am I hopeless as a parrotlet mom?
I have prayed so long that I be led to help with Billy, and then I saw you on facebook. Why didn't I think about you sooner? The person that knows everything about parrotlets.
Thank you for any information that you can share.
I'm praying that you folks on the west coast won't be affected by the nuclear waste from Japan.
Jackie, Trixie & Billy in South Carolina
Dear Jackie:
Thank you so much for your very kind email. That is very sweet of you to say. However, I will be the first one to admit I don't know everything about parrotlets - I keep learning every day. That's probably one reason I still keep them after almost 30 years because there is so much to learn.
I am so very sorry to hear about the problems with Billy. You did not mention how old Billy is but I am going to assume he is a fairly young bird - under 5 years of age. Age can be important when liver is involved. Older birds frequently suffer from liver problems and its probably much like the aging process in humans.
You mention Billy is a color mutation. Does the vet think this is a congenital problem? Although there has not been enough data available to make a conclusion, one always has to think about congenital or even genetic problems in color mutations. After all, they are abnormal birds to begin with.
Diet is the usual culprit in liver problems in younger birds. Generally it is blamed on too much fat in the diet although to be honest, I haven't really heard a lot of this in parrotlets. Parrotlets are generally good eaters of a variety of foods and not just 'sunflower seed junkies' the way other parrots such as Amazons or Cockatoos can become. I also find that most parrotlet owners are more willing to take the time to provide a varied diet. Its easier to prepare a couple tablespoons of food rather than huge bowls.
I have never been a big fan of pellets. Probably because I have been around longer than they have. They were created for one reason - the convenience of the keepers. They can also have the added bonus for some birds, again, largely cockatoos and Amazons, of reducing the fat in the diet and helping to reduce fatty liver syndrome in these birds. I am not aware of any studies that have been done on parrotlets in this regard. Furthermore, all pellets are made from seeds - ironically, either sunflower or corn. Corn is not a nutritious grain, it has too much sugar and it is not part of the natural diet of parrotlets. We know that a diet that has a lot of processed foods is not good for people and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, liver problems, stroke and high blood pressure. I don't eat processed foods myself and I don't feed them to my birds. I believe that birds, like people, should eat fresh, whole natural foods. My birds' diet consists of 70% fruit, vegetables, greens, grains, legumes, sprouted seed and egg food. The rest consists of a very high quality parrotlet mix that I have used for 30 years and gave to Volkman's Seed Company. You can get it through www.birdseed.com and it is called "Parrotlet Super".
I now have three books out on parrotlets. The most recent is called "The Parrotlet Handbook" and was published by Barron's and is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon and my own website. It has a huge chapter on diet as well as healthful easy recipes that you can make for your own parrotlet.
I do have to say that I am not a vet nor do I play one on the Internet. If your bird is under a vet's care and you are following their protocol, I would not change anything without discussing it with your vet. I will say one more thing about a fresh food diet as opposed to a processed pelleted one, I was talking with the president of a very well-known food company when I was speaking at a convention. I told him what I fed my birds and he told me 'there is no way that any manufacturer can ever make a pellet as nutritious as what you are feeding. But most people will not take the time or effort to feed that kind of diet. So we make the next best thing."
Anyway, I hope you find some of this information helpful. Please keep me posted on Billy's progress. Thank you again for your very kind words and your prayers are appreciated although I am sure we will be fine with the radiation. After all, we went through Chernobyl and that was 1000's worse. But thank you. Take care and best of luck!
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
PDD or Fatty Liver Syndrome?
Hi Sandee,
I have a 6 yr old female green rump. She has been healthy most of her life up until the past 6 months. I'll try to keep this breif... But she has gone through many tests and doctors now. The only test that came back abnormal was her bile acids. She has something wrong with her liver apparently. Also, she got some xrays done and it shows a massive growth inside of her that is pushing on other organs causing a respiratory click, and straining when trying to defacate. The vets could not determine exactly what this mass was inside of her and she is too small and sensitive to go through a barrium series/endoscopy. I have done so much internet research and am just exhausted with this whole situation... $1600 later.... She is behaving pretty normally. But she still has the breathing and defacation problems, also her belly is extended.
She has been exposed to a couple other birds in her life but hasn't come in contact with them. Also she has eaten a lot of nuts in the past (high fat I know) but she is now on seed only - and I am trying to get her to eat lowfat pellets (not working well.) She'll eat fruits and veggies sometimes though. I also give her an herbal detox supplement that she drinks easily.
So, can you possibly make any assumptions about this? Thank you in advance for your help.
Betsy the worried mama.
Dear Betsy:
Thank you for your email. I am terribly sorry to hear about this situation with your parrotlet. I must say although I have almost 30 years experience with parrotlets, I am not a vet nor am I qualified to diagnose your bird. Since you are working with your veterinarian I can render my opinion which you should discuss with your veterinarian.
PDD is rarely found in parrotlets. That doesn’t mean it can’t be, I just know of only 1 bird that ever had that diagnosis and that was a bird that was in a pet shop that had an outbreak. PDD is characterized by the passing of whole foods, especially seeds, which the bird cannot process due to the inability of the proventriculus to function. It does not manifest as tumors or growths and tremendous progress has been made in both the diagnosis and treatment (there is now a test available) in the last few years. Avian bornovirus is the agent responsible for this disease and many birds have been treated with Celabrex to extend their lives. However, I do not believe this is the problem with your bird.
There is an old saying that I love to use “Don’t look for zebras, look for horses.” In other words, the most common or most likely scenario is the one to look at. In this instance, it would be liver failure or fatty liver syndrome. Although I would also suspect it could be a tumor or even an malformed egg that is stuck in the uterus, but I am assuming your vet has ruled out the latter possibility although in a female bird of that age, that would be my first suspicion. Parrotlets are very tiny and have very quick metabolisms and a high fat diet can result in FLS in a relatively short period of time. My guess would be that is the problem with this bird and I would focus on seeing if that issue can be resolved.
Changing her diet this late in life, particularly to pellets, is going to be very difficult but it is something worth trying although I have to admit I am not a big proponent of pellets or other processed foods. I don’t eat them myself and I don’t believe they are healthy for birds but that is something for you and your vet to discuss. After, all pellets are just processed seeds (usually corn which is low in fat but very high in sugar and something I don’t eat myself) plus artificial vitamins. I would recommend a diet rich in whole, real foods – lots of fresh vegetables, greens, fruit if you can (parrotlets are not big fruit eaters), grains, legumes, sprouted seed, etc. You might also check into holistic treatments such as aloe detox or milk thistle but only under a vet’s direction. Dr. Dave McCluggage is a certified holistic vet and has been one for more than a decade. You might want to see if you can contact him or ask your vet to contact him. I would also check with the Association of Avian Veterinarians www.aav.org to see if they have any recommendations for holistic vets.
I wish you the best of luck with this bird. She is very lucky to have such a caring owner.
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
Hi Sandee,
Thank you SO much for your response! I have felt so alone and frustrated during this whole ordeal and you are the only person who has given me hope and confirmation about my bird's condition. I have a couple more questions for you, please?
The reason why I suspected PDD was because she has had two occurences of undigested seeds in her droppings. When I first took her to the vet, they sent me home with oral baytril. After the first dose, she vomited and became deathly sick. (Later down the line I realized she probably got sick because her liver couldn't process it - you think?) She spent the night at the vet, was tube fed, and given injections of baytril. Then once I got her home and she began eating seeds again, I noticed she had undigested seeds in her droppings. She tested negative for giardia - and it went away after a couple days. A few weeks later I took her to get a FOURTH opinion where they finally did x-rays (definitely not an egg - but they said possibly a tumor or liver enlargement but couldnt tell for sure without further invasive tests), a bile acid test (finally now we see an abnormal test result), and attempted to draw fluid from her abdomen. Needless to say it totally stressed her out - and once again she had undigested seeds in droppings that lasted a couple days. I spoke with a couple people to see if this was a symptom of stress, but no one confirmed that. So my suspicion of PDD rose higher. What is your opinion on the undigested seeds occuring after high stress situations?
I suppose all other symptoms point to FLS. Her feathers are dull, and her bile acid level came back as 288 (vet said normal is 50 but she was not fasted.) The vet told me she would die within a few weeks and that was on January 6th. I have let her feathers grow in so she can start to fly a little more and get more exercise that way but she is so heavy she falls straight down. My next question - if she has FLS, will the liver gradually shrink back to normal size? And also, why do you think the vet didn't diagnose her with this? They sent me home with a supplement called "Booster" by "Heal-X" (have you heard of this?) and they recommended putting her on a series of weekly high doses of antiobiotics!! I declined the antiobiotics. They also recently called to suggest another bile acid test and I declined that as well.
I will get in contact with Dr. McCluggage and try to get his opinion as I think holistic treatment is the only way to go. In the meantime, please let me know your additional thoughts on the above....
Thank you so much for your time!
Sincerely,
Betsy
Dear Betsy:
Undigested seeds is a very serious thing as it means the body is unable to process food. That doesn’t happen because of stress. It can be a symptom of several things including PDD, liver failure or avian gastric yeast. I have to admit I am very surprised that your vet would prescribe injections of Baytril because a) there is no sign of bacterial infection and b) Baytril is very hard on the liver. Everything in this situation points to fatty liver including the scientific tests. Nothing has shown this to be PDD (and again, there IS a test) and stress would not cause that kind of shutdown.
As for recovery, I can’t answer that. We know humans do not always recover from liver failure and we know a lot more about human medicine than we do avian. We also cannot do things like transplants in parrotlets.
My belief is that the dog-cat-human (i.e., mammal treatments) do not work on birds very effectively. We have much more knowledge and experience with them and their reactions to medications. Birds, especially parrotlets whose livers are so tiny, just don’t handle those kind of modalities very well. I would recommend contacting Dr. McCluggage and working on holistic cures for fatty liver. It will not cause harm like medications can so if it doesn’t work, you are not contributing to the problem.
I hope this helps and please let know how things go.
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
I have a 6 yr old female green rump. She has been healthy most of her life up until the past 6 months. I'll try to keep this breif... But she has gone through many tests and doctors now. The only test that came back abnormal was her bile acids. She has something wrong with her liver apparently. Also, she got some xrays done and it shows a massive growth inside of her that is pushing on other organs causing a respiratory click, and straining when trying to defacate. The vets could not determine exactly what this mass was inside of her and she is too small and sensitive to go through a barrium series/endoscopy. I have done so much internet research and am just exhausted with this whole situation... $1600 later.... She is behaving pretty normally. But she still has the breathing and defacation problems, also her belly is extended.
She has been exposed to a couple other birds in her life but hasn't come in contact with them. Also she has eaten a lot of nuts in the past (high fat I know) but she is now on seed only - and I am trying to get her to eat lowfat pellets (not working well.) She'll eat fruits and veggies sometimes though. I also give her an herbal detox supplement that she drinks easily.
So, can you possibly make any assumptions about this? Thank you in advance for your help.
Betsy the worried mama.
Dear Betsy:
Thank you for your email. I am terribly sorry to hear about this situation with your parrotlet. I must say although I have almost 30 years experience with parrotlets, I am not a vet nor am I qualified to diagnose your bird. Since you are working with your veterinarian I can render my opinion which you should discuss with your veterinarian.
PDD is rarely found in parrotlets. That doesn’t mean it can’t be, I just know of only 1 bird that ever had that diagnosis and that was a bird that was in a pet shop that had an outbreak. PDD is characterized by the passing of whole foods, especially seeds, which the bird cannot process due to the inability of the proventriculus to function. It does not manifest as tumors or growths and tremendous progress has been made in both the diagnosis and treatment (there is now a test available) in the last few years. Avian bornovirus is the agent responsible for this disease and many birds have been treated with Celabrex to extend their lives. However, I do not believe this is the problem with your bird.
There is an old saying that I love to use “Don’t look for zebras, look for horses.” In other words, the most common or most likely scenario is the one to look at. In this instance, it would be liver failure or fatty liver syndrome. Although I would also suspect it could be a tumor or even an malformed egg that is stuck in the uterus, but I am assuming your vet has ruled out the latter possibility although in a female bird of that age, that would be my first suspicion. Parrotlets are very tiny and have very quick metabolisms and a high fat diet can result in FLS in a relatively short period of time. My guess would be that is the problem with this bird and I would focus on seeing if that issue can be resolved.
Changing her diet this late in life, particularly to pellets, is going to be very difficult but it is something worth trying although I have to admit I am not a big proponent of pellets or other processed foods. I don’t eat them myself and I don’t believe they are healthy for birds but that is something for you and your vet to discuss. After, all pellets are just processed seeds (usually corn which is low in fat but very high in sugar and something I don’t eat myself) plus artificial vitamins. I would recommend a diet rich in whole, real foods – lots of fresh vegetables, greens, fruit if you can (parrotlets are not big fruit eaters), grains, legumes, sprouted seed, etc. You might also check into holistic treatments such as aloe detox or milk thistle but only under a vet’s direction. Dr. Dave McCluggage is a certified holistic vet and has been one for more than a decade. You might want to see if you can contact him or ask your vet to contact him. I would also check with the Association of Avian Veterinarians www.aav.org to see if they have any recommendations for holistic vets.
I wish you the best of luck with this bird. She is very lucky to have such a caring owner.
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
The Parrotlet Ranch, Owner, www.parrotletranch.com
Join the International Parrotlet Society, – the World’s Largest and Oldest Parrotlet Organization www.internationalparrotletsociety.org
A Chattering Bird Builds No Nest.
Camaroonian Phrase
Hi Sandee,
Thank you SO much for your response! I have felt so alone and frustrated during this whole ordeal and you are the only person who has given me hope and confirmation about my bird's condition. I have a couple more questions for you, please?
The reason why I suspected PDD was because she has had two occurences of undigested seeds in her droppings. When I first took her to the vet, they sent me home with oral baytril. After the first dose, she vomited and became deathly sick. (Later down the line I realized she probably got sick because her liver couldn't process it - you think?) She spent the night at the vet, was tube fed, and given injections of baytril. Then once I got her home and she began eating seeds again, I noticed she had undigested seeds in her droppings. She tested negative for giardia - and it went away after a couple days. A few weeks later I took her to get a FOURTH opinion where they finally did x-rays (definitely not an egg - but they said possibly a tumor or liver enlargement but couldnt tell for sure without further invasive tests), a bile acid test (finally now we see an abnormal test result), and attempted to draw fluid from her abdomen. Needless to say it totally stressed her out - and once again she had undigested seeds in droppings that lasted a couple days. I spoke with a couple people to see if this was a symptom of stress, but no one confirmed that. So my suspicion of PDD rose higher. What is your opinion on the undigested seeds occuring after high stress situations?
I suppose all other symptoms point to FLS. Her feathers are dull, and her bile acid level came back as 288 (vet said normal is 50 but she was not fasted.) The vet told me she would die within a few weeks and that was on January 6th. I have let her feathers grow in so she can start to fly a little more and get more exercise that way but she is so heavy she falls straight down. My next question - if she has FLS, will the liver gradually shrink back to normal size? And also, why do you think the vet didn't diagnose her with this? They sent me home with a supplement called "Booster" by "Heal-X" (have you heard of this?) and they recommended putting her on a series of weekly high doses of antiobiotics!! I declined the antiobiotics. They also recently called to suggest another bile acid test and I declined that as well.
I will get in contact with Dr. McCluggage and try to get his opinion as I think holistic treatment is the only way to go. In the meantime, please let me know your additional thoughts on the above....
Thank you so much for your time!
Sincerely,
Betsy
Dear Betsy:
Undigested seeds is a very serious thing as it means the body is unable to process food. That doesn’t happen because of stress. It can be a symptom of several things including PDD, liver failure or avian gastric yeast. I have to admit I am very surprised that your vet would prescribe injections of Baytril because a) there is no sign of bacterial infection and b) Baytril is very hard on the liver. Everything in this situation points to fatty liver including the scientific tests. Nothing has shown this to be PDD (and again, there IS a test) and stress would not cause that kind of shutdown.
As for recovery, I can’t answer that. We know humans do not always recover from liver failure and we know a lot more about human medicine than we do avian. We also cannot do things like transplants in parrotlets.
My belief is that the dog-cat-human (i.e., mammal treatments) do not work on birds very effectively. We have much more knowledge and experience with them and their reactions to medications. Birds, especially parrotlets whose livers are so tiny, just don’t handle those kind of modalities very well. I would recommend contacting Dr. McCluggage and working on holistic cures for fatty liver. It will not cause harm like medications can so if it doesn’t work, you are not contributing to the problem.
I hope this helps and please let know how things go.
Sincerely yours,
Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.
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