Fatty Liver Disease: Brief Overview
Fatty Liver disease, also known as Hepatic lipidosis, is unfortunately a common medical concern in captive parrots. It mainly comes from a high fat diet, like from seeds and peanuts, and not enough exercise. This could be from having too small of an enclosure, not being let out enough, and not being able to fly because of slipped wings. Although Fluff and Feathers is not a veterinarian but a behavioralist and trainer, here is a generalized overview of the disease using peer reviewed, scientific polished work.
Fatty liver disease is when the liver is replaced by fat because of a high fat diet, vitamin B deficiencies, and obesity. Any extra calories not being used ends up being stored in the bird’s liver. It is also seen with hand-reared birds (especially cockatoos) that were overfed or weaned too late because the formula is calorie dense and baby birds are less active to burn it all off. It is a slow progressive disease. It is seemed more commonly within females, but that is not to say it is uncommon for males to have it, which questions if hormonal levels also have a part in fatty liver progression.
It is generally not noticed until the disease has progressed pretty far within the bird. If you take your bird to the vet frequently, it recommended they go for yearly checkups till they are elder, than every 6 months, it may be detected faster. Some common symptoms include plumage change like glossy black feathers (from exposure of melanin), feathers changing to a yellow color when they were not once yellow, red or bronze feathers that were not once, and even orange colors. Other signs are an enlarged liver in x-rays (hepatomegaly), weight loss, diarrhea, distended abdomen, breathing difficulties, yellow or green droppings (due to biliverdin a green bile pigment being excreted). The skin may become dry and itchy, which can lead to an increase in feather destructive behaviors (learn more about them here). Overgrown beak can also be a concern, leaving the beak bruised, more sensitive, and soft, increasing the chance of it breaking.
Essentially, the liver becomes useless. Epithelial cells called hepatocytes that cover the surface of the organ and its tissue get fatty buildup on them. They end up dying and being replaced by scar tissue that shrinks the size of the functioning liver. The remaining liver tissue ends up getting hard and thin, disallowing function. When the liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood, then brain function decreases and neurological concerns increase.
Treatment for fatty liver generally starts with every caretaker changing the diet and increasing liver-aiding foods. An excellent supplement for the liver is milk thistle. It can reverse early damage along with a diet change. Milk thistle has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Mill thistle helps with preventing the disease to come back, as well as supporting the liver. This does not mean to not receive medication intervention from your trusted veterinarian. Medications may also be used to be able to help the healing process, or protect what function the liver has left. If you need help finding an avian vet, view our blog post here.
Fatty liver is usually easily managed once diagnosed. With appropriate intervention, this disease is not a death sentence, and your bird can still live a good life! What does fatty liver disease tell us? We need to immediately change the care we give our birds diet and increase exercise to get weight off. Your vet will be able to guide you to the diet they recommend. Fluff and Feathers has some rescue birds with fatty liver disease, and we prefer the pellet brands TOPs and Roudybush. If you are having difficulties with diet conversion, feel free to contact us to set up an online consultation to go over diet conversion and get your bird eating fresh foods and a low-fat pellet.
Miesle, J. (2019). Nutritional Requirements of Companion Birds. IVIS Review in Veterinary Medicine. www.ivis.org
Milpacher, Desi. (2008). The Benefits and Limitations of Milk Thistle as a Nutritional Supplement for Birds.