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Client Education for Avian Nutrition. Sara Witherell and Saundra Anderson. Case Study- “Oscar” the African Gray. Signalment 22 year old, M, African Gray Presenting Complaint: Scratching under wings, owner sees blood. What history questions would you like to ask “Oscar’s owner?. History
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Client Education for Avian Nutrition Sara Witherell and Saundra Anderson
Signalment 22 year old, M, African Gray Presenting Complaint: Scratching under wings, owner sees blood
What history questions would you like to ask “Oscar’s owner?
History • Been with current owner for over a year • Stays in cage, no toys, is not handled and is home alone most often • Eats seed and ‘people food’ (70/30) • Poor cleaning/husbandry of cage • Not very vocal • Picks every once in while for ~5min. at a time, usually when there aren’t many people around
“Oscar’s” Abnormal P.E. Findings • General appearance- excessively thin • Musculoskeletal- R wing excoriated, reddened along humerus and radius/ulna • Digestive- beak is slightly too long
Immune suppression Obesity Low body weight Behavioral changes Exfoliative dermatitis Poor wound healing Abnormal beak growth Epithelial dryness and exfoliation Molting abnormalities Feather picking Metabolic bone disease/Osteopenia Pruritis Common Abnormal Findings on Physical Exam in Birds with Malnutrition Oscar’s Findings
Helpful Hints for the “Big Switch” • Let another bird ‘teach’ your bird • Pellets near the highest perch • Morning/Night- feed old food • Mixing foods • Warm and grind pellets • Remove all perches • Hand feeding • Don’t give up too soon!
“Oscar’s” Case –Recommendations • Provide a more balanced diet- switch to pellets and supplement with seed mixture and appropriate “people food” • Clean cage weekly, food and water bowls daily • Make Oscar a play area and provide toys, consider letting Oscar out daily
Commercial Formulated Avian Diets • Exact Complete Daily Diets, Kaytee Products, Inc. (800)529-8331 http://www.kaytee.com/ • Harrison’s Bird Diets, HBD Inc. (800)346-0269 http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/ •Mazuri Caged Bird Diets, Purina Mills, Inc. (800)227-8941 http://www.mazuri.com/ • Pretty Bird Daily Select Diets, Pretty Bird International, Inc. (800)356-5020 http://www.prettybird.com • Roudybush Maintenance Pellets, Roudybush, Inc. (800)326-1726 http://www.roudybush.com/
References • Brush, L. DVM & O’Handley, P. DVM. Feeding Your Feathered Friend, SCS 693, Special Projects, 1998. • Harrison, Harrison, & Ritchie. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application, Wingers Publishing, Inc., New York, 1999. • http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_VM06 • http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com • http://www.pubnix.net/~mhagen/docu/nutpanel.htm • Vrabel, Kristin, DVM. Common Pet Bird Maladies Associated with Malnutrition. Michigan Veterinary Conference, 2002.