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Obesity
in Psittacine Birds
Obesity can be a serious health concern in parrot species
just as it can be in people and other animal species. Obesity can cause
clinically detectable health problems when the body weight exceeds the ideal
body weight for an individual by only 15%. It is important to recognize and
correct this condition prior to the development of other health problems.
Risk Factors for Obesity
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Diet :
Dietary factors are the most important factors for obesity in
psittacines. Diets most often associated with obesity contain high amounts
of seed. Seeds such as sunflower, safflower and peanuts may contain as much
as 50% fat and therefore supply psittacine birds with too many calories (as
well as a poor balance of vitamins and minerals and marginal amounts of
protein). Even if you feed a healthy diet containing only some seed, your
bird may be eating mostly the seed portion of the diet, and can still become
obese if adequate amounts of seed is available to eat continuously. Even
pelleted diets and table food diets can lead to obesity if the bird is
eating too much of them. Some psittacine birds will overeat out of boredom.
Overfeeding chicks (particularly large cockatoo species) can cause obesity
in them and put them at risk.
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Lack of exercise :
Wing clipping, cage confinement, limited toys and infrequent play
periods outside the cage cause pet parrots to lead a more sedentary life and
burn fewer calories than their wild and aviary counterparts.
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Bird factors :
Some species tend to become obese easier than others. Amazons, large
cockatoos, cockatiels and budgerigars seem particularly predisposed. Elderly
psittacine birds and breeding hens are also at risk.
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Temperature :
Indoor psittacines are not subject to the same changes in
environmental temperature as outdoor birds and therefore do not have to
expend as much energy to maintain their body temperatures.
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Health problems :
The treatment of chronic egg laying birds with the hormone
medroxyprogesterone or testosterone increases the risk for obesity in the
hen. Some pancreatic problems and thyroid problems have been associated with
obesity in psittacine birds but are much more rare than the other risk
factors described above.
How Do We Recognize Obesity?
Often, obesity in a psittacine bird can be recognized by just looking at the
bird. Some findings to indicate obesity are:
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Presence of "rolls" of
fat around the abdomen and hip areas; "cleavage" on the
abdomen or breast regions.
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Inability to see normal dark pink muscle under the skin when the feathers
are wet down along the abdomen and hips; instead, the skin will have a
yellowish appearance similar to a broiler chicken due to excessive
subcutaneous fat.
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Breathing may seem more difficult
or labored.
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Inability to tolerate heat, such
as showing excessive wing drooping or open-mouthed breathing in a hot
environment.
Health Problems Associated
With Obesity
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Hepatic Lipidosis :
(Fatty Liver) Fat infiltrates the liver and results in poor liver
function. In extreme and long standing obesity, the liver becomes so full of
fat, it damages its own blood supply resulting in a weakened liver structure
and function. These damaged livers become so weak in structure that they can
"burst" and potentially cause significant and life-threatening
bleeding problems.
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Cardiovascular problems :
Obese parrots have a higher incidence of high blood pressure,
arteriosclerosis and congestive heart failure. Occasionally, a tendency to
show bleeding problems is also seen.
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Pancreatic disorders :
Pancreatitis and sugar diabetes are seen more frequently in obese
parrots.
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Thyroid disorders :
Thyroiditis and hypothyroidism are seen more frequently in obese
parrots.
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Lipomas :
Fatty tumors are more common in fat parrot species.
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Reproductive problems :
Hens with an abdomen full of fat are more prone to decreased
fertility, egg binding, and egg yolk peritonitis.
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Respiratory problems :
Parrots are less able to inflate their air sacs due to excessive fat
deposits in their bodies. They become less able to oxygenate their blood and
more susceptible to respiratory infections.
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Musculoskeletal / foot problems :
Obese parrots are more prone to bone and joint problems. Pressure
sores may develop on their feet due to the excess weight they are carrying.
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Handling / anesthesia / surgical
risks : Obese parrots are more
risky to handle due their fragile liver condition and cardiovascular and
respiratory compromise mentioned above. These birds also require higher
levels of isoflurane gas during anesthesia and may take longer to wake up
since they have compromised respiration and their fat stores can accumulate
isoflurane. Abdominal surgeries become sometimes more difficult due to the
presence of excessive fat.
Treating Obesity
The first step in treating obesity is to determine the
health status of the bird and identify any complications of obesity. Complete
blood counts, blood chemistries, and cultures may be needed in addition to a
thorough physical examination. Therapy can then properly be initiated:
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Diet changes :
Most adult parrots do not require more than approximately 4% fat in
their diets. Seeds should become only a minimal part of the diet or
completely eliminated from the obese parrot's diet. If you still want to
offer some seed, the large California gray sunflower seeds (unsalted) meant
for human consumption contain about half the fat as the smaller black
sunflower seeds included in most parrot seed mixes. Pelleted diets can be
used as part of a complete diet supplemented with vegetables, fruits, grain
products, beans, dog or monkey chow, etc. If pelleted diets are not used, a
vitamin and mineral supplement is recommended on the food. Limit the amounts
you feed: do not put a week's supply of food into the bowl. You can also
offer food for a limited time twice a day instead of allowing it to remain
in the cage all day.
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***
Allow several weeks to gradually switch to a new diet; begin by
mixing small amounts of the old diet in the same bowl as the new one, and be
inconsistent in your offering any reliable amount of seed mix any one day.
There should be no uneaten seed in the bowl at the end of any day. Offer
free choice fruits, vegetables and pelletized foodstuffs.
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Increase exercise :
Larger cages and more time out of the cage are recommended. Placing
new or more toys in the cage can also give the bird something to do while in
the cage to increase activity. 15-20 minutes of "aerobic exercise"
with your bird once to twice a day will help burn calories off.
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Medical therapy :
If complications are present, additional therapy may be necessary, as
well as careful followup. In some extreme cases, hospitalization may be
required.
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Annual examinations :
Be sure and keep up with your annual examinations, so that slowly
progressive obesity can be caught and recognized prior to the development of
potentially serious complications.
Information
Provided by:
Brian
L.
Speer
,
DVM, DIP, ABVP, ECAMS
Certified
in Avian Practice
European-Certified
Avian Specialist
The
Medical
Center
For Birds
3807
Main Street
Oakley
,
CA
94561
Phone:
925-625-1878
Fax:
925-625-8511
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