cockatoo with hypocalcaemia

Re: cockatoo with hypocalcaemia

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 09:08:08 GMT

thanks for that, I'll look into further investigation ref xrs etc. Looks like i also need to look more at the environment cages etc for toxic causes.

thanks

chris

Re: cockatoo with hypocalcaemia

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 20:14:50 GMT

Is this a galah? Male or female?

PU/PD can be dietary/renal/psychological/metabolic and you need a wider blood panel to assess renal and hepatic parameters in particular. A mammal renal panel is not of great value, you need avian specific markers - primarily uric acid, and hepatic enzymes are notoriously inaccurate in birds. As Gillian has said total calcium doesn't reflect available calcium and ionised levels are needed to assess true relative deficiency.

Leg weakness and ataxia can be due to intoxication (usually heavy metals in birds especially cockatoos who are very nosy), hypocalcaemia, hyper/hypoglycaemia, trauma, neuropathy (e.g. avian bornavirus, chlamydophila), articular gout, renomegaly compressing sciatic nerve, reproductive pathology and many others. Beware, a weak wobbly birdmay not necessarily have a musculoskeletal issue but debilitataion and any chronic disease can lead to this non-specific state.

Radiographs will be of great use to identify renomegaly, hepatomegaly and concurrent pathology. It would also be useful to do air sac endoscopy if abnormalities are detected to define them further or collect biopsies.

I think a more aggressive diagnostic approach is needed to try and get to the bottom of this. Birds like to get sick and deteriorate suddenly so don't be fooled into thinking this bird is stable.

Marie

Re: cockatoo with hypocalcaemia

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 19:44:57 GMT

[quote user="chris jones"]what would anybosdy do next to stabilise this calcium level, her diet is poor and she wont eat fruit!!!! I was thinking calcium gluc mixed in drinking water or orange juice ? [/quote]

The only liquid calcium of any use is Zolcal D, made by Vetark

http://www.vetark.co.uk/pages/Zolcal-D-for-birds.aspx

We almost always give it orally, usually by crop tube to ensure the full dose, but it can be given in drinking water if water consumption is normal.

As has been said, Vetark's supplements are the best! You should be able to get them through your normal supplier.

Re: cockatoo with hypocalcaemia

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 19:41:01 GMT

Have you got an ionised calcium level? As the albumen level is quite low the corrected calcium level may actually be OK...

Ideally you want some radiographs to assess bone density and general health. If it is a seed junkie it may have any number of issues going on....

Re: cockatoo with hypocalcaemia

Linda Filshie — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 18:09:15 GMT

A vet I previously worked with who was very into avian medicine was keen on vetark products. http://www.vetark.co.uk/Shop/Cage--Aviary-Birds/Bird-vitamin-supplements.aspx

Re: cockatoo with hypocalcaemia

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 15:25:41 GMT

thanks mark I didnt think of vit D will have to advise them to get the bird outside for a bit of sunlight. the diet is a bit of a problem , i think she is a seed junkie with no appetite for fruit but i have advised to try to get her interested in a mixed diet.

Which multivit would you recommend, i have started her on avimix powder but I dont think that she is getting enough (powder on seed husk)and was going to mix it with the water or orange juice as she seems to take oj quite well

chris

Re: cockatoo with hypocalcaemia

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:58:56 GMT

D vitamin is going to be an issue, probably not getting enough in the diet, and being England, not getting UVB exposure either. Nutrition is the big issue here, as you've correctly suspected. Multivit, UV light, slow change in diet from the big back of sunflower seeds to something a bit more mixed.