 HOW TO TELL IF YOUR BIRD IS SICK
By Don J. Harris, DVM Birds in the wild instinctively hide illness in an attempt to avoid predators that prey on sick or injured birds. Pet birds are also just as effective in hiding illness as their wild counterparts, and it is up to bird owners to recognize subtle behavioral and physical signs that may indicate their birds are sick. BEHAVIORAL SIGNS MAY INCLUDE:
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 UNDERSTANDING YOUR PETS DIGESTION SYSTEM AND THE NEED OF A PROPER DIET
There is no greater service you can give your furry friend than to provide him with a proper diet. Proper nutrition is essential to good health and can affect your pet’s coat, skin, growth, energy, appetite, and ability to fight off disease and infection. Your pet rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla is an herbivore, which means he eats only plant material. As an herbivore, his digestive system is uniquely adapted to digest a variety of digestible and indigestible plant-based foods such as high-fiber hay, leafy greens, herbs and pellets. After the food your pet eats is chewed it moves through the esophagus and into the stomach. It then progresses through the small intestine, where the high-fiber part of your pet’s diet aids in moving the food through smoothly and quickly. Then an interesting thing happens – different sized particles of food go in two different directions. Large particles of food move from the small intestine directly into the colon and are eventually expelled from the anus as waste in the form of hard, dark feces you will see on the floor of your pet’s cage. Small particles of food take a little side trip to a special pouch called the cecum, located where the small and large intestines join for further digestion. In the cecum food is fermented by healthy bacteria and broken down into nutrients. This nutrient-rich material moves into the large intestine and is eliminated in the form of soft, greenish, mucous-covered feces called cecotropes or “night feces.” Your pet will immediately eat these nutrient-rich cecotropes. You may occasionally spot one in your pet’s cage. Not only do the cecotropes provide important nutrients, they also keep the healthy bacteria in the intestines stabilized, helping to ensure good digestion. Now that you understand your pet’s unique digestive system, you can see why nutritionists and veterinarians recommend you feed a diet of long stem hay, pellets, and dark leafy greens. Quality pellets and hay should make up the backbone of a good diet. Timothy hay is the most recommended hay type and you should offer this free choice to your pet. High quality pellets are important too. Make sure these pellets are timothy hay-based and include important nutrients like essential vitamins and minerals that hay does not provide.  HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR BIRD IS GETTING THE NUTRITION HE NEEDS FOR A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE?
What’s the best diet for your bird? The best diet for your bird is one that provides a reliable consistent source of balanced nutrition. It’s also a diet that your bird likes to eat and gives him an enjoyable eating experience, while preventing obesity and other nutritionally related diseases. Feeding a variety of foods does not guarantee good nutrition Bird owners feed their birds a wide variety of foods ranging from seeds to home-prepared foods to commercial diets. Unfortunately, feeding a variety of foods does not always prevent nutritional imbalances. Many of these diets lack important nutrients birds need to maintain their health. Often they are not balanced, providing too much of this vitamin or nutrient, or not enough of another. Home prepared diets are not necessarily healthy As a labor of love, some bird owners chop, cook and mix special foods for their birds. Not only is this time-consuming, it is impossible to make sure your bird is getting the correct balance of nutrients. Too much iron, too little calcium, improper levels of Vitamins A, D, E and K. How do you know? Supplement sparingly with fruits and vegetables If your bird enjoys fruits and vegetables, go ahead and serve them, but they should not make up more than 15% of your bird’s daily diet. Fruits and vegetables do not offer all the nutrients your bird needs, and some are high in sugar and fiber, curbing your bird’s appetite for a more nutritious food. ZuPreem® Avian Diets take the guesswork out of your bird’s nutrition When you feed ZuPreem Life-stage Avian Diets, you know your bird is getting balanced nutrition. From Embrace® Hand-Feeding Formulas to adult Avian-Maintenance™ FruitBlend® With Natural Fruit Flavors and Natural Diets, your bird will get the precise nutrition he needs for each stage of his life. Backed by more than 45 years of nutrition research, ZuPreem diets have high-quality fresh ingredients that result in highly digestible and very palatable foods. Food your bird will like to eat and you will feel good about feeding him. Food that will provide all the nutrition he needs for a long and healthy life.  ARE YOU WATCHING YOUR BIRD'S FIGURE?
Obesity is a common condition in companion birds and occurs when they consume more calories than they can expend over an extended period of time. Lack of flight activity and a diet rich in fatty seeds, like sunflower seeds, are common causes of obesity. Your bird could be obese if its body weight exceeds the normal body weight (within normal variation) for its species by 15 percent or more. Here’s how to tell if your bird is overweight Take a minute to perform a quick home exam. Start by noticing your bird’s stance. A wider than normal stance can be a sign of obesity. Next, check for a small roll of fat, a “double chin” visible under the beak. Also, look for small yellow or white fat deposits in the abdomen, along the flanks, inner thighs, upper breast and crop area. Finally, check for any bald patches where feather tracts may have separated due to fat under the skin. You can also weigh your bird To do this at home, use an electronic scale that measures in grams, not ounces, to detect small changes. Of course, the best way to be sure is to have your pet weighed and examined by your avian veterinarian. Health risks associated with obesity Obesity increases your bird’s risk of developing many serious diseases including heart disease, liver disease, fatty tumor formation (lipomas) and respiratory distress during exercise and play. Obesity is also associated with abnormal feathering, egg binding and infertility. What you can do If you suspect your bird may be obese, see your veterinarian for a complete and thorough physical examination as well as advice on how to change your bird’s diet to a healthier one. Along with more exercise, converting your bird from a seed only diet to a more nutritionally balanced diet that included pellets could be the answer. Remember that any weight-loss regimen for your bird should be done with your veterinarian’s guidance.  FIVE METHODS FOR CONVERTING YOUR BIRD TO A HEALTHIER DIET
For years, companion birds have been fed a diet comprised primarily of seeds. However, research shows a diet with a high percentage of seeds – particularly sunflower seeds, does not provide even the minimum nutrient levels your bird requires. A diet with excessive seeds can also be deficient in calcium and have excess levels of fat that may also lead to obesity and other nutritionally related diseases. Avian nutritionists recommend a diet like ZuPreem® which includes pellets fortified with the essential vitamins and minerals your bird needs every day. If your bird currently eats a high seed diet, you may want to consider switching to a diet that ensures the proper consumption of nutrients and promotes a healthier and longer life for your bird. Which method is best for you and your bird? There are many methods for converting your bird to a new diet, and your avian veterinarian can help you decide which method may work best for you and your bird. 1. Interval feeding For 20-30 minutes three times a day, offer 50% of his original diet along with 50% new diet in the same bowl. The bowl should only be ¼ full using this method. Remove all uneaten food from the cage after each feeding and check to see how much of the old and the new diet the bird is eating. If the bird is eating some of the new diet, reduce the amount of old diet and increase the amount of the new diet at each feeding until you are feeding only the new diet. This method assures your bird will not starve, but should still be hungry enough to begin experimenting with the new food. This process may take several days or several weeks, depending on your bird. 2.Ten-day gradual method Over a 10-day period, fill the food dish ¼ full several times a day maintaining the following proportions of the old and the new diet. Day Old Diet New Diet Day 1 90% 10% Day 2 80% 20% Day 3 70% 30% Day 4 60% 40% Day 5 50% 50% Day 6 40% 60% Day 7 30% 70% Day 8 20% 80% Day 9 10% 90% Day 10 0% 100% 3. Remove old diet until later in the day Starting at bedtime, remove all his old diet. In the morning, put fresh portions of the new diet in the cup. Leave the new diet in the cage until mid- to late afternoon. Then feed the bird’s previous diet for the rest of the day. Repeat this process for several days or until the bird is consuming the new diet. Then offer only the new diet at all feedings. 4. Back and forth method Starting at night, remove all food from the cage. In the morning, put the new diet in the food cup. Let the bird experiment with the new food, perhaps sampling one or two nuggets. Then after an hour, remove the nuggets and feed the old diet. Repeat the process throughout the day—new food for an hour, then the old diet. During the next 4-5 days, repeat the process but lengthen the time the new diet is in the cage, before offering the old diet. During the following week, keep extending the time the new diet is in the food cup, until you eliminate the old diet altogether. 5. Total new diet In the wild, birds often do not have options. They eat seeds one season, fruits the next, consuming what is available. Many authorities believe that some birds are able to make an abrupt transition because they recognize the new unfamiliar shapes as food and adapt relatively easily. Great care should be taken to confirm that your bird is eating enough of the new diet to maintain weight. 6. Food cup placement Many avian experts recommend placing the new diet in the highest food cup in the cage because birds will generally eat from this location first. Place the new food in this cup and watch his behavior to see if he is interested in the new food. If you need additional help or want more conversion tips call 1-800-345-4767 to talk to a ZuPreem Customer Care representative.  ARE YOU WATCHING YOUR BIRD'S FIGURE?
Obesity is a common condition in companion birds and occurs when they consume more calories than they can expend over an extended period of time. Lack of flight activity and a diet rich in fatty seeds, like sunflower seeds, are common causes of obesity. Your bird could be obese if its body weight exceeds the normal body weight (within normal variation) for its species by 15 percent or more. Here’s how to tell if your bird is overweight Take a minute to perform a quick home exam. Start by noticing your bird’s stance. A wider than normal stance can be a sign of obesity. Next, check for a small roll of fat, a “double chin” visible under the beak. Also, look for small yellow or white fat deposits in the abdomen, along the flanks, inner thighs, upper breast and crop area. Finally, check for any bald patches where feather tracts may have separated due to fat under the skin. You can also weigh your bird To do this at home, use an electronic scale that measures in grams, not ounces, to detect small changes. Of course, the best way to be sure is to have your pet weighed and examined by your avian veterinarian. Health risks associated with obesity Obesity increases your bird’s risk of developing many serious diseases including heart disease, liver disease, fatty tumor formation (lipomas) and respiratory distress during exercise and play. Obesity is also associated with abnormal feathering, egg binding and infertility. What you can do If you suspect your bird may be obese, see your veterinarian for a complete and thorough physical examination as well as advice on how to change your bird’s diet to a healthier one. Along with more exercise, converting your bird from a seed only diet to a more nutritionally balanced diet that included pellets could be the answer. Remember that any weight-loss regimen for your bird should be done with your veterinarian’s guidance.  10 STEPS TO A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARROT
By Liz Wilson, CVT
SELECTING THE RIGHT BIRD FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
By Don J. Harris, DVM Exotic birds can be delightful pets—just ask any of the millions of companion bird owners throughout the world who enjoy a rewarding and satisfying relationship with their feathered friends. Creating a long-lasting positive relationship with your bird may be the result of choosing the right bird for you and your family in the beginning. This crucial first step is part of being a responsible pet owner, but it is often overlooked in the rush to acquire a new bird. Identifying what characteristics you want in a bird, and researching different species and their characteristics can go a long ways in helping establish a long and happy relationship. Rarely will one bird fit more than a few of the desired characteristics. You may acquire a bird and expect it to speak, only to eventually realize this particular species never talks. Others may discover that a large colorful macaw is also a large intolerably noisy creature. Many potential owners have expectations that cannot possibly be fulfilled by the species they choose. The best way to obtain the “perfect” pet is to first determine which characteristics are most important to you. Then shop for the bird that fits those criteria. Certain species arise as leaders in a variety of categories, and this list can be used as a starting point in making your choice. Remember, there are always exceptions, so once you have narrowed down your decision to a particular species, look at the parents and gather information from the breeder about an individual bird’s behavior. Some bird owners may want to avoid certain “unpopular” characteristics like those listed below. Others may not see these same characteristics as undesirable. It’s up to bird owners to weigh all characteristics of a species or an individual bird to make the best decision. In the end, individuals interested in owning a bird should first decide what they expect from a pet bird. Once this question is answered, an appropriate species can be identified and researched. Only then can the potential for a long and mutually beneficial relationship be realized.
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