Comments on: Obese budgie with secondary fatty liver disease

By: BirdDoctor

BirdDoctor — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 19:19:56 +0000

In reply to Laurie.

Hi Laurie,

This is a great question and one that I get regularly! Here is the simple answer, think about how strange Popeye looked because he ate so much spinach!!! While not exactly true in humans, the high oxalate load in spinach can bind with calcium (preventing its absorption) and contribute to metabolic bone disease in some birds. Metabolic bone disease is most notable in young growing birds fed spinach. Of course, lots of other factors contribute to metabolic bone disease (which includes rickets, osteoporosis and osteomalacia). And a little spinach is likely to cause no harm. However, I recommend not feeding spinach at all to pets because some do preferentially eat spinach over other veggies.

I hope this answers your question!

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 18:58:15 +0000

In reply to BirdDoctor.

Hello,
My parakeet is part of a flock of four. They all eat the same food, but only my five year-old male is presenting with a rounded protrusion on his bottom and appears to have trouble breathing lately.
He otherwise eats well, still chirps and sings, still flies around although not as well as he used to, and still gets where he wants to go by walking or climbing. The other 3 are trim and healthy. They eat a seed mix and daily mixed veggie chop (broccoli, spinach, carrots, parsley, sugar snap peas, and apples) — I noticed you say no spinach? All of my birds love spinach, and I’m wondering what why this is not something they should eat?

By: BirdDoctor

BirdDoctor — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 03:21:29 +0000

In reply to Carol.

Carol,

Nutriberries are made of human grade grains and can be a good component of the diet. With budgies, I tend to also add in extra flax, chia, hemp and other small human grade grains, plus pellets and some chopped veggies (no spinach).

Sincerely,

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 23:52:37 +0000

Hi Dr. Echols,
Would Lafeber Class Nutriberries be considered as a seed mix of whole grains for budgies along with pellets?

By: BirdDoctor

BirdDoctor — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 04:11:37 +0000

In reply to Nika.

Nika,

First and foremost, your bird needs to be seen by an avian veterinarian. It is inappropriate for me to guess what may be going on and potentially lead you in the wrong direction. I recommend going to https://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803 to find an avian veterinarian in your region (realizing this person may not be close to you). Proper diagnosis is critical to treatment of any medical condition.

Sincerely.

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

By: Nika

Nika — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:40:46 +0000

My budgie was only feeding with seeds especially millet and now he is sick.. He can’t drink and eat so I need to force feed him.. He was sick for 5 days and I think it’s getting worse.. In my town there isn’t a vet for birds so I searched on internet and i read about fatty liver… He is getting sick every 2 months, and then he gets better.. I gave him a apple vinegar and I don’t know how to help him.. can you give me some advice how to help him… He is 5 years old budgie and he was very playful, but now he is totally without energy

By: BirdDoctor

BirdDoctor — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 17:07:13 +0000

In reply to Kittie.

Kittie,

If you are seeing an open wound with exposed organs, please take your bird to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Even if you cannot find an ‘avian’ veterinarian, consider going to an emergency hospital where they can provide at least basic care. If this is truly an open wound with exposed organ tissue, your bird may not have much time.

Sincerely,

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

By: Kittie

Kittie — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 07:10:15 +0000

I just found out about all these and is devastating how I found out that my budgie has it. My birds are free flying in large room with volt cealings. I adopted twiter a few months a go after she was living in a cage for who knows how long. Yes, seeds have been her diet and I noticed she gets excited when I bring fresh vegetables for the other parrots. I feel so guilty because I bring the plate down stairs with the other parrots. I started to get distracted by no leaving an extra plate for the budgies when I move the other parrots down stairs. Today, she seems engorged, sad, quite, no like her. I found a wound underneath her belly it looks like an open scar with an organ starting to come out. I am so scared, the avian here takes weeks for a visit. I would like to know what steps to follow up to keep her safe and healthy. I need to buy time until I she gets her checkout from the Avian.

By: BirdDoctor

BirdDoctor — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 00:38:16 +0000

In reply to blue.

If your budgie has simple fatty liver and no other underlying hepatic diseases, the problem should resolve uneventfully after 3-6 months of feeding a more appropriate diet and instituting exercise.

I hope this helps!

Sincerely,

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

By: blue

blue — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 03:06:43 +0000

My budgie is fat and lethargic. He has been eating seeds and does have a fat stomach(but not as fat as the pic above). I will make sure he exercises everyday and has a balanced diet. But if he has fatty liver, then can it be cured by exercise and good diet?