Avian Nutrition: Practical Applications

Introduction

Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition), VTS-H (Internal Medicine, Dentistry) presented this distance-learning event for the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Avian & Exotics Club as part of the Lafeber Company Student Program.

 

Abstract

Diet is one of the most important factors known to influence the health of pet birds, and it is critical for veterinary health professionals to discuss nutrition with pet bird owners. Improper nutrition is the cause of many health problems and is the leading cause of death in pet birds. This non-interactive webinar recording offers an introduction to the clinical approach to companion parrot nutrition. Topics covered include common clinical findings associated with malnutrition, nutritional assessment of pet birds, as well key nutrients. This discussion concludes with a comparison all-seed and formulated diets as well as dietary conversion to a healthy diet.

Additional RACE-approved webinar recordings on avian nutrition available on LafeberVet include:  Clinical Avian Nutrition for Veterinary Health Professionals and Avian Nutrition Basics.

 

Outline

Download of PDF of the detailed outline.

 

I.  Introduction

• Diet plays a pivotal role in influencing both health and the development of disease
• Every species of bird has specific nutritional requirements

II.  Life stage nutrition

• A practice of feeding foods that are designed to meet your bird’s optimal or best nutritional needs at a specific age or physiologic state
• Nutritional vary from neonate to adult to senior with other life stage variations in between

III. Improper nutrition

• The cause of about 90% of health problems and the leading cause of death in pet birds
• Clinical signs of improper nutrition in birds include:
• • Tattered feathers
  • Curling and splitting, especially the black or discolored wingtips
  • Peeling, dry, flaky skin
  • Overgrowth and flaking of the nails and beak, bleeds easily when trimmed
  • Ocular discharge
•  Nutritional deficiencies appear to accelerate the aging process in our   avian patients, primarily through the loss of moisture and tissue elasticity
•  Malnutrition > decline in the overall health > invites opportunistic pathogens, poor immune function > bacterial, fungal infections

IV.  Patient assessment

• History, using open-ended questions
  • Presenting complaint
  • General information
    • Where did they get the bird from?
    • Do they have any experience with pet birds?

• If the bird is a hen…
  • Has she ever laid eggs?
  • How many eggs are usually in a clutch, etc.

• Housing
• Exercise? Flight?

• Medical history
• Husbandry
• Nutritional history
  • What is offered? What is actually consumed?
  • How is the bird’s appetite?

• Where are they fed?

• Who feeds the bird?
• A nutritional evaluation should be performed on every bird that comes in every time

• Physical exam, including…
  • Body weight
  • Body condition scoring
  • Malnourished ≠ emaciated (obese bird)

V.  Key nutrients

• Water
  • All birds should have access to fresh, clean water at all times
  • Water should be changed on a daily basis
  • Birds typically accept the county or the town water, but it is recommended that well water be boiled before allowing the bird to drink freely.
    • Well water can sometimes be contaminated by bacterial colonies in the pipes leading to the faucet
  • Sanitation
    • Clean dishes daily
    • Disinfectant at least twice a week
  • Automatic waterers
  • Keep drinking and bath water separate
• Protein
  • The minimum recommended protein allowance for maintenance in companion birds is ~12%
  • Essential amino
    • Budgerigars (glycine)
  • Excess protein
    • Renal disease
    • Behavioral changes, such as biting or feather picking, nervousness, rejection of food and regurgitation
  • Protein deficiency
    • Poor growth
    • Poor weight gain
    • Poor feather quality, plumage color changes
    • Poor reproductive performance

• Fats
  • Essential fatty acids, linoleic and arachidonic are required in birds for membranes and cell organelles
  • Lipogenesis place primarily takes place in the liver in birds
  • High energy diet
    • May lead to hepatic lipidosis, especially if exercise is restricted
    • Congestive heart failure, cardiac disease, respiratory disease
    • GI upset or diarrhea
    • Oily feathers
  • Low amounts of dietary fat
    • Weight loss
    • Reduced disease resistance
    • Overall poor growth

• Carbohydrates
  • The most important energy source for birds
  • Soluble carbohydrates
    • Starches, disaccharides, monosaccharides
    • Lactose is a disaccharide, but it is a poor energy source due to low lactase activity
  • Insoluble carbohydrates: fibers
    • Psittacine birds lack cellulase and cannot digest cellulose
    • Therefore fiber should be limited, not excluded, but limited in a bird’s diet.
  • Inadequate dietary carbs
    • Leads to utilization of glucogenic amino acids
    • Problems with growth/reproduction and neurologic system problems
  • Vitamins
    • Vitamin A is extremely important
      • Helps to maintain the health of skin
      • Hypovitaminosis A
    • Renal failure, excess vitamin D and vitamin A
    • Vitamin B or thiamine deficiency is clinically and morphologically manifested with paralysis of limbs and muscle atrophy beginning from the flexors of the toes and ascending towards the extensors of legs and wings.
  • Minerals
    • Minerals are responsible for the structural integrity of the body
    • Calcium
      • Essential for bone and eggshell formation
      • Necessary for blood coagulation and nerve and muscle function
      • Calcium should be supplemented for birds on a seed-only diet.
    •  High dietary phosphorus can negate adequate amounts of calcium in the diet
    • Ca:P ratio should range from about 1:1 to 2:1
    • Supplements are typically unnecessary if the bird is on a healthy diet

VI.  All-seed diets

• Cons
  • Vitamins and minerals are added to seed hull, which is then removed (not ingested) by the bird
  • Can result in vitamin-mineral-protein deficiencies and excess fat

• “Seed junkies”

• Nutritional value is lost when stored

• Pros
  • Easy to offer
  • High acceptance rate
    • Birds do love seed diets
    • Keeps the tongue busy
• Less expensive than some formulated diets.

VII.  Formulated foods

• Recommended to provide a complete and balanced diet
• Available in a variety of sizes; owners should select the proper size for the species and individual bird
•  Pellets
  • Grains, such as corn, soybean, and oat groats, are ground up
  • Then vitamins, minerals, and other components are added to make a balanced food

• The food material is generally not cooked and the diet will have a longer fiber chain

• Pellets may not be as palatable as extruded diets

• Extruded
  • Finely ground grains are mixed with vitamins and minerals
  • The mixture is forced through an extruder under pressure and high temperatures to create a specific shape

• The different shapes and colors can be stimulating for some birds

• Whole grains products
  • Whole grains and seeds are mixed with vitamins, minerals, and additional components, then the entire mixture is bound together
  • Similar to pellets, but the ingredients are not ground down

• Examples:  Nutri-Berries (NB), Avi-Cakes (AC)

• Can be useful for transitioning a parrot from seeds to a healthy diet

• Pros of formulated diets
  • The grinding process produces a consistent pellet, which makes it difficult for birds to pick out their favorite part
  • here is quality control with regards to ingredients and manufacturing

• Longer storage is possible

• Cons of formulated diets
  • More expensive when compared to seed diets

VIII. Produce

• Fruit
  • A necessary part of the diet for some species, such as lories
  • Given the high proportion of sugar and water, should not be offered in excess to most companion parrots (< 2 times per week)
•  Vegetables offer greater nutritional benefit
  • Fresh or cooked, dark green, red and orange vegetables should be offered on a daily basis.
  • Exception:  comfrey
    • This herb is popular in canary aviaries
    • Can result in liver damage
  • Place fruit and vegetables in separate containers
  • Time restriction for soft foods (< 30 minutes) to reduce microbial growth

IX.  Dietary conversion

• Conversion from an all-seed diet to a formulated diet can sometimes be challenging, but is generally not that difficult even in older birds
• Veterinary healthcare professionals must educate owners on what to look for when transitioning a bird from seed to pellets.
  • Ensure the pet is ingesting the new food, not simply crushing the food
  • Monitor fecal production
    • Amount produced
    • Color of the fecal material

Recording

 

Post-test

Take the brief post-test to earn 1 hour of continuing education credit. With a passing grade, you will receive a continuing education certificate in jurisdictions that recognize AAVSB RACE approval.

Test your knowledge

 

RACE approval

This program was reviewed and approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) program for 1 hour of continuing education in jurisdictions that recognize AAVSB RACE approval.