24 year old Rose-breasted Cockatoo with fatty liver disease

[Jaznblu]

Hoping somebody has some good suggestions. I have owned this Rose-breasted Cockatoo for 14 years and he has a very strict diet of micro grains from China Prairie along with about 6 zupreem natural Kibbles daily. He was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with fatty liver disease. wondering if anybody has suggestions on additional supplementation's. I am switching him over to roudybush low-fat on advice of my veterinarian. I have worked in the veterinary field for over 30 years and unfortunately there are not a lot of great avian ones in my area. He said to stop all seeds and I'm wondering and this may sound silly, but he eats psitticine micrograins and I was always told that that was one of the best things to feed him as he will not eat vegetables. I have cooked him other recipes in the past to no avail. Any help or advice is much appreciated while I continue to try to get my veterinarian to figure something out here

 

[Jaznblu]

I should clarify that his micro grains are sprouted.

 

[MonicaMc]

Liquid Vetri-DMG
Natures Answer AF (Alcohol-Free) Milk Thistle
Aloe Detox


Have you tried finely chopping up vegetables and mixing those in with his sprouts? Just start out with carrots, corn or broccoli florets. You can use a food processor to get some of it into tiny pieces. Then just mix these in with his grains. If he likes it, you can start mixing in more and more vegetables with each meal!

 

[LauraC]

My bird, Fuji, has had high liver readings (high bile acid readings). My vet has me give him Opt Omega drops.

 

[ChristaNL]

If there is nothing else...they'll eat their vegies (speaking of tough love...)
so if there is a matter of choosing life versus "me no likey"


There is a beautifull (and painfull) episode of someone with the same problem - the bird got so overweight it had huge fatty lumps hanging from the chest.
Same problem: "he does not like ....foods"
After a few weeks of struggle... it would totally eat leafy greens (whole leafs woven into the cage).


(sorry I lost the link - will post it when I find it again)

 

[EllenD]

I don't at all suggest withholding food from your bird as a way to get him to eat veggies, as this can create other issues, such as psychological issues, behavioral issues, etc., especially in a Cockatoo...

I would discuss Milk Thistle asap with your vet, it's probably the best natural supplement and overall best "medicine" for treating FLD...

As far as her diet goes, if you've had her for 14 years and the diet of Chinese micrograins has resulted in FLD, then obviously it's not working for her...all birds are different, just like all people are different...why do some people smoke for 50 years and never get lung cancer? Same idea here...

Roudybush low-fat pellets is a good start, along with trying all difference recipes of Chops, mixing them with her sprouts (which are also very good for her). You just have to keep trying different veggies, different recipes, different sizes, shapes, etc. until you find things that she'll eat, and in the meantime the Roudybush low-fat pellets will be an excellent diet for her. As far as seeds in-general go, I'd stay away from fatty seeds obviously, no sunflower seeds, no millets, etc., but there are also low-fat, healthy seeds that are very good for birds, along with grains, legumes (beans), rice-based products, etc...

 

[MonicaMc]

To be clear, this is the food that is being discussed and the food I use to make sprouts/chop for my own birds.

Avian FRESH Diet Parrot Food-Micrograin? (Sprouts only): China Prairie Products

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, I hope you are able to find helpful therapies to manage your RB2's FLD issues.



Many members have used a specific form of aloe to help combat FLD. Might try the search engine for targeted threads.



Might try this search to help locate a certified avian vet: https://www.aav.org/search/Default.asp?
I realize you have worked in the field more than 3 decades, but perhaps?