Parenteral Nutrition in Birds

Date: Originally written September 1997; revised November 10, 2007

By: Christal Pollock, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

Keywords: , , ,

Categories: Avian, 

Key Points

  • Metabolism slows during starvation and increases during critically illness.
  • Nutritional support is indicated in the patient with significant weight loss, extended anorexia, and/or a low serum albumin.
  • Tube feeding is the preferred method of nutritional support.
  • Parenteral nutrition is indicated if the bird cannot be tube fed or cannot protect its respiratory tract.
  • Parenteral nutrition solution is a mixture of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid.
  • Follow strict aseptic technique when compounding and administering parenteral nutrition.
  • Potential complications which can develop include hyperglycemia, glucosuria, hypophosphatemia, and sepsis.

If the gut works, use it. The preferred route for providing nutrition is enteral feeding since this preserves intestinal structure and function. Parenteral nutrition is indicated to prevent malnutrition when patients cannot consume adequate nutrients by oral feeding or tube feeding or when the respiratory tract cannot be protected. Parenteral nutrition is 100% bioavailable since nutrients reach tissue without the variations associated with gastrointestinal digestion . . .

To continue you need to be a LafeberVet.com member. (Français), (Español)

Pour continuer, vous devez être un membre LafeberVet.com

Para continuar, debe ser miembro de LafeberVet.com

Already a LafeberVet Member?

Please Login

References

Degernes LA, Davidson GS, Kolmstetter C, Munger L. Administration of total parenteral nutrition in pigeons. Am J Vet Res 55(5): p. 660-665, 1994.

Forbes A. Parenteral nutrition. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 22(2):160-164, 2006.

Griminger P. Lipid metabolism. In: Sturkie PD (ed). Avian Physiology. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag, p. 345-358 (1986).

Hwang TL, Lue MC, Chen LL. Early use of cyclic TPN prevents further deterioration of liver functions for the TPN patients with impaired liver function. Hepatogastroenterology 47(35): p. 1347-1350, 2000.

Janssen DL, Oosterhuis JE, Allen JL, et al. Lead poisoning in the free-ranging California condors. J Am Vet Med Assoc 189(9): p. 1115-1117, 1986.

Jenkins JR. Hospital techniques and supportive care. In: Altman RB, Clubb SL, Dorrestein K, Quesenberry K (eds). Avian Medicine and Surgery. Philadelphia, PA. WB Saunders. 1997: p. 246-248.

Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. TPN Worksheet. 2007.

Meguid MM. Past, present, and future of nutritional support. Nutrition 10(5 Suppl): p. 514-156, 1994.

Heiss C, Houghton M. Parenteral Nutrition Tutorial: Continuous vs. cyclic. 2000. Available at: http://www.csun.edu/~cjh78264/parenteral/initiation/initiation02.html. Accessed November 10, 2007.

Pollock C. Practical parenteral nutrition. Proceedings of the Annual Conference Association of Avian Veterinarians; 1997. p. 263-276.

Pyle SC, Marks SL, Kass PH. Evaluation of complications and prognostic factors associated with administration of total parenteral nutrition in cats: 75 cases (1994-2001). J Am Vet Med Assoc 225(2): p. 242-250, 2004.

Scolapio JS. A reviw of the trends in the use of enteral and parenteral nutrition support. J Clin Gastroenterol 38(5): p. 403-407, 2004.

Tarachai P, Yamauchi K. Effects of luminal nutrient absorption, intraluminal physical stimulation, and intravenous parenteral alimentation on the recovery responses of duodenal villus morphology following feed withdrawal in chickens. Poult Sci 79(11): p. 1578-1585, 2000.

University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. TPN Worksheet. 1996.

To cite this page:

Pollock C. Parenteral nutrition in birds. November 10, 2007. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/parenteral-nutrition-in-birds/