Laura and I home from the vet

[tawny30]

We just got home a couple hours ago. She had an exam and blood work done.
He said she is a bit chubby and her colors are. He said he is not too concerned though. he said she is probably dull and chubby due to the all seed diet she was on for at least 2 yrs..it takes times to remedy that...He told me to NO seed ..Is his opinion on these guys. He said to stick with zupreem and if that doesn't do the rick go to Harrisons which he said is a wonderful food.
He also used to run a quarantine station in Miami. He said he tag says she comes from a Miami quarantine station but he told me getting the year she came is tough to impossible.
He said her respiratory system is FABULOUS and looks like she has never had an issues there.
He took bloodwork to go a workup but that will take a couple days.

All in all we are in good shape though :)

Some tips he gave us for Amazons..in case anyone cares.
1. He said he believes in NO seed at all
2. he says stay away from lettuce and celery as they provide nothing..he says sweet potatoes, beans, melons and broccolli and cauliflower are GREAT.
3. He also said that a vitamin is a good thing if you want to do that and high in A is important :)
4. He said zupreem is a good diet but that if I did not see a change (he says her feathers are full and a bit of flaky feet and beak) he said to go to harrisons which is an awesome diet formulated by an avian vet (laugh) he said he even likes it..he is a fruit and believes in trying anything his birds eat.

[mgood01]

Sounds like great advice. I'm assuming that Nutriberries fall into the "seeds" category. My BFA gets a daily dose of peanut butter, a very small amount, but she's gotten so used to it that she will be agitated for the entire day if she doesn't get it. When she sees me open the cupboard where I keep it she will fly across the room and land on my shoulder.

I'm a big believer in spirulina as well, lots of vitamin A.

[tawny30]

spirulina? I will need to look into that one :) and yes...my hubby has mine addicted to getting a peanut too haha..but we bought some birdy bread which I am hoping will replace that!

[birdlady49]

Obesity is a common problem with amazons more than any other birds. So anything they eat should be nutritional. Seed is not particularly nutritional. The advice your vet offered is wonderful as is the advice to add spirulina (though it's expensive as all get out).

A diet rich in Vitamin A foods will greatly improve the feather condition too.

[tawny30]

Yeah so I have heard about the obesity. He said luckily she is not as "bad" as he would expect knowing she spent the last 2 yrs on a seed alone diet.
She is now on zupreem and we never really did add seed back to the diet. I asked because we got mixed reviews on having no seed in the diet..but I have total faith in my avian vet, he rocks!
I am going to check her vitamins and see if they are high in vitamin A. She is also on zupreem which he said is good..but he said if it doesn't do the trick to go to Harrison's so we may try that.
She also have chipping on the beak and a bit of peeling on the feet but she already looks 100% better.
She gets a peanut now and again as a treat...and fresh veggies which are rich in vitamins..none of the garbage like celery haha
Oh and we ordered some yummy birdy bread :)
So hopefully she will be in tip top shape soon!

[tawny30]

Oh and any suggestions on where to get this spirulina? I think I may give it a try.

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by tawny30

Oh and any suggestions on where to get this spirulina? I think I may give it a try.

Health food stores. It's powdered and will be in the vitamin supplement area next to the wheat grass powder.

[tawny30]

Originally Posted by birdlady49

Health food stores. It's powdered and will be in the vitamin supplement area next to the wheat grass powder.

Oh thank you! I will have to stop on by one today and see if I can't find some.
I know the gal has a chipped up beak and the dry feet too..the poor gal..but she is already looking much better then when she got here.

[tawny30]

From what I was reading..this stuff can be stored for a long time since it is very stable.
I found some online which sounds like a pretty good price and would last forever so thought I would share.
Spirulina Powder Hawaiian, 1 lbs (454 g)

[mgood01]

Thanks. That's definitely a lot of spirulina. It's an acquired taste for the birds, which is another way of saying you need to sneak it into their food. A very tiny amount goes a long way nutritionally. It's great to put a little bit in the birdie bread batter.

My BFA is also on Zupreem, and I have the spirulina powder in a little spice bottle with fine holes on top for shaking. I shake a little bit over the pellets so she gets some when she's munching on those.

We've just moved into a new place so I'm doting on the birds a little more than usual. Zoey, the BFA, is VERY clingy right now, new surroundings and all. She wants to be on my shoulder all the time, which is a habit I am trying to break her of, but it's tough.

I've actually just ordered a full-spectrum bulb that I'm going to put in the bird's room. We've gone from a place where her cage was right by window to having her cage in a corner where there isn't as much natural light as she's used to. Hoping that having the full-spectrum light on a timer will cheer her up a little.

Am I crazy to think my bird is depressed? :-D