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)

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?

Mia,

Vasectomy does not change behaviors. Rather it prevents the males from fertilizing the females and producing viable young. I don’t believe vasectomy will alter escape behaviors.

Sincerely,

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian)

Charise,

We don’t have enough information to prove MBD reversal. Based on research in rodents and humans, metabolic bone diseases (such as osteoporosis) start in childhood and can affect bone structure and health for life. That is why it is so important to start with good bone health early in life!

Regardless, anecdotal information supports that lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, sunlight) have a positive effect long term. I would not call this MBD ‘reversal’. However, I would say we do get improvement!

Happy New Year!,

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian)

Carol,

This is a really good question. First, adding flax and chia into a parrot’s diet is a great means to increase dietary omega-3s. In most cases, adjusting the diet is all that is needed. If there is diagnosis or suspicion of kidney disease, arthritis or other problems that may benefit from omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, then I will often recommend the addition of more (as with VetOmega).

Is there such thing as too much omega-3’s. Well… potentially. However, we don’t have strong research to support omega-3 ‘toxicity’. I believe in a balance of good quality fats which includes omega 3’s, 6’s and 9’s. It is best for the fats to come from a variety of food sources.

I hope this helps,

M. Scott Echols, DVM, DABVP (Avian)

When feeding pellets, if it contains Omega 3 in the form of flax or chia seeds. Is there still a need to feed additional supplementation? How much is too much?

Hi,

Calcium levels are affected by many vitamins and minerals (especially magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamin D), reproductive status (especially in birds and reptiles), medications (steroids, bisphosphonates, certain antibiotics and more), numerous diseases (certain cancers, autoimmune diseases, kidney disorders, endocrine abnormalities and more), hereditary disorders (reported mostly in mammals), and some toxins (mercury, lead, etc). Calcium homeostasis is a very complicated and dynamic process. As you can see above, many factors can affect calcium levels in the body. Determining the cause of high or low calcium is sometimes easier said than done! Yes, there is a lot of information on this topic. Whole books and research studies have been dedicated to better understanding calcium metabolism. Not the easiest subject to fully understand.

I hope this helps,

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

What kind of toxins can affect calcium levels? Given that blood calcium levels remain in range usually would it be fair to theorise that these toxins could still affect a bird in this way even with normal levels or with lower levels of toxins. There seems to be a complex interaction between lead and calcium but not solid information on how lead does or doesn’t affect a bird particularly with egg laying. Is there information or understanding about if this can be an issue?