OBESITY
General information
As with other pets, obesity is a problem often encountered with birds. Our
pet birds are usually confined to a cage, have their wings trimmed to prevent
flight, and receive little if any exercise. This, in conjunction with high fat
diets, often leads to obesity and its associated problems.
What is obesity?
In dogs and cats, obesity is defined as a pet that weighs 15% or more than
its ideal weight. While we don't have as clear-cut a definition for birds, this
is probably a safe guideline to use.
What causes obesity?
Obesity is the result of taking in more calories than are burned off by the
pet. Unlike their wild counterparts, pet birds are not given the opportunity
for daily exercise, which includes flying to escape predators and to look for
food. Birds burn off few if any calories in their daily lives. Additionally,
most owners incorrectly feed their pet birds by offering a diet consisting mostly
or totally of seeds. Seeds are not only deficient in many vitamins and minerals,
they are high in fat (which is why birds like them: the fat makes them taste
good). A high-fat diet and no exercise predisposes birds to obesity.
Are there any problems associated with obesity?
Obese pets have an increased risk of many diseases, including arthritis, heart
disease, and cancer. Many obese birds develop hepatic lipidosis, also called
"Fatty Liver Disease". These birds are extremely susceptible to infections
and stress; many obese birds have been known to die just from the stress of
an examination at the veterinary surgery. Finally, obese birds have a higher
anesthetic risk than normal-weight birds.
How do I cure obesity in my bird?
Switching birds from an all-seed diet to a more suitable diet consisting of
pellets, fresh vegetables, and fruit will decrease its daily intake of calories.
Be advised that birds that are hooked on a seed diet may not easily switch to
the preferred pelleted diet. Your veterinary surgeon can give you tips on slowly
switching the diet (a bird's diet should NEVER be switched quickly, as the bird
may refuse to eat and literally starve to death).
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