Please Help!!! Liver disease.

Croydongeeza

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Mar 25, 2015
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Please Help, I've just signed up to this forum today after finding out my pet Amazon codi has got liver disease.

We got him from a family friend last June or July and since then he has been predominantly on a seed diet as we were told that's what to feed him, as I learned more he's been having fresh veg for dinner every night with us but still on the seeds until this last week where I have been trying to ween him onto a pellet diet.

Codi has in the past had a few episodes where he losses he's balance, stares blankly and has no control over he's body, the previous owners told us this was down to him being tired, anyway to cut a long story short he had two more of these episodes Sunday so I've rushed him to a vet and bloods show liver disease but no increase in size of liver on x rays.

They said I can start him on a new diet and hope for the best, please help how can I make my codi better..
 

JerseyWendy

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Welcome to the forums. :)

I'm so sorry to hear of Codi's condition. Do you know how old is he, and for how long he was on the seed only diet? What type of Amazon is Codi?

Codi's 'episodes' sure sound quite scary. Has the vet ruled out any potential metal poisoning?

As for the liver disease, depending on how advanced it is, yes, you may be able to reverse it.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/44384-good-liver-disease.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/36179-aloe-detox-parrots-elevated-liver-values.html

Best of luck with your Codi, and please keep us posted, ok?
 

henpecked

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Welcome to the forum. I could write a book about zons and liver issue from on lack of Vit A. Too common on all seed diets. Research Vit A rich foods. Sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, etc. Feed a supplement such as "sunshine factor". It's a red Palm oil extract. Research red Palm oil. Butter is also high in Vit A but has a lot of fat. It will help to get him to eat more fresh veggies because all zons love butter. Feel free to ask lots of question , i have much experience with this issue. You can make it better but it can also be fatal.
 
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Croydongeeza

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Yes codi is 13 to my knowledge, I think he was mistreated before we got him, when we got him we were told this is what he eats and given a bag so that's what I've been getting him since, but obviously since learning more he has dinner with us that consists of peas corn broccoli spinach, plus I give him fresh fruit also.
The vet told me yesterday it was liver disease from he's bloods, he's x rays were normal though although slightly overweight.
I'm worried that it's quite advanced because of the seizures. They can only check by biopsy but they don't want to really do that.
 

Frumpydumple

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Apr 21, 2013
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My birds: Skyler/Sky, violet Indian Ringneck. Mother's birds: Norman, African Grey and Mildred, Blue Crowned Conure.
Try Aloe detox. It is amazing.
 

Amanda_Bennett

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I've also had wonderful results with the aloe detox in my Orange Wing Amazon who was on a horrible diet when I got her and had liver and kidney problems.

I mixed it 1 Tablespoon detox to 1 Tablespoon organic apple and or cranberry juice and got her to drink as much as I could several times a day.

Mark (birdman666) saved one of his zons with this aloe detox. Maybe he will chime in soon with his story.
 
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Croydongeeza

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Does anyone know where I can get this aloe Vera product in the uk,I feel like I never see Cody drink,how can I get him to drink more. Thanks so much for your help. Cody came home today a very poorly but happy boy. I just pray this diet will help. I bought him a new seed mix today low in sunflower seeds and I'm going to offer him that with Harrison's pellets.
 

SilverSage

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Good for you for doing your research, and going to the vet when needed, you are a good bird owner and Codi is lucky to have you. I advise following the directions of those who have already spoken up. My vet told me that Vitamin A is to birds as vitamin C is to us, they need a lot of it for their immune system. He told me to feed as many orange veggies such as carrots, orange peppers, etc, as possible. If your bird is already eating veggies that's amazing! Try chopping the new veggies into teeny tiny pieces and mixing it with his dinner to get him to eat it. I have also heard amazing things about Aloe Detox but have no personal experience with it. Fatty Liver Disease does not have to be a death sentence, birds like Codi who have good owners like you can pull through :) keep it up and keep us updated!
 

Frumpydumple

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My birds: Skyler/Sky, violet Indian Ringneck. Mother's birds: Norman, African Grey and Mildred, Blue Crowned Conure.
[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lily-Of-The-Desert-Detoxifying/dp/B0019LT6QI]Lily Of The Desert Herbal Detoxifying Formula 946 ml: Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care[/ame]
 
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Croydongeeza

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Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

Codi settled in well last night and had a dinner of Brussels, spinach, Carol, peas, corn and sugar snap peas.

Had a nightmare trying to give him he's meds though as he won't let me hold him, so I tried to give it to him on bits a food and kept feeding it to him till it was mostly gone.

I was advised by the vet he needs 12 hours sleep, thing is I go bed about ten and out at six so have to leave he's meds to my girlfriend to try hive to him, but that will interrupt he's sleep. Any ideas anyone? I will upload a picture of codi later for you all to see him. It's so nice being able to talk to people who can help.. Thank you.
 
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Birdman666

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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
When I got my BFA she was dying of liver disease.

I changed her diet to high vitamin A foods, fresh and pellets, and got as much Aloe detox as I could into her...

Her liver values went from "with these liver values this bird should be dead" to "I can't believe this is the same bird! Her liver values are within normal limits!"

Seriously... DO NOT DELAY!!! Get as much aloe detox as you can into this bird. You can get a tub of the stuff at the health food store for like ten or fifteen dollars. Mix it 50/50 with apple juice, and offer it to your bird 3-4 times a day. Drink as much as you want...

It's not toxic, so there are no health consequences for overfeeding it to her. (Though some folks say long term use decreases liver function when you stop using it. I haven't seen any medical evidence of this, but I suppose it makes sense.) The consequences for letting liver disease fester? The bird dies. So, yeah, there is absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain!!!

I just had a little treat cup that I filled half way up with around 50/50 mix, and I kept it in the fridge. I hand fed it to her several times a day, so that way I knew she was actually drinking it.
 
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Croydongeeza

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Well codi has been doing ok,still eating he's veg and nutriberries,he doesn't seem to want to eat pellets but I crush them up with the nutriberries so hopefully he gets to like the taste.i never know if I feed codi to much,he has a bowl of food in he's cage at all times but also some foraging toys with a nutriberries in each. We also give him fresh veg for breakfast and dinner.

Got the aloe detox today,any ideas on how much or how to give it to him,codi always seems reluctant to drink he's water so maybe need other ways to give itto him. Tasted it myself and it's disgusting lol.
 

Bandespresso

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Well codi has been doing ok,still eating he's veg and nutriberries,he doesn't seem to want to eat pellets but I crush them up with the nutriberries so hopefully he gets to like the taste.i never know if I feed codi to much,he has a bowl of food in he's cage at all times but also some foraging toys with a nutriberries in each. We also give him fresh veg for breakfast and dinner.

Got the aloe detox today,any ideas on how much or how to give it to him,codi always seems reluctant to drink he's water so maybe need other ways to give itto him. Tasted it myself and it's disgusting lol.

Try to find a fruit juice he likes and mix it up in it but just make sure 100% natural juice. Espresso's favorite is carrot juice! Bonus: carrot juice has tons of nutrients. Good luck and keep us all updated!!!
 

Birdman666

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Sep 18, 2013
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Exactly.

Find your bird's favorite juice, and mix it in. Let him drink his fill.
 
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Croydongeeza

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I've been giving codi the aloe detox in apple juice and on he's veg for dinner and breakfast. Unfortunately he's still had two fits this weekend, I don't know what to do or what I'm doing wrong.
 

Birdman666

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Sep 18, 2013
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San Antonio, TX
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Fits? Is he having Seizures?

http://beautyofbirds.com/seizures.html

Generally speaking, a parrot having seizures due to liver disease, means it has progressed to the point where it is near end stage. He needs a vet!

Even then, it's only a 50-50 proposition once the disease is allowed to progress that far... What you realize is that you're trying to reverse something that is on the verge of complete renal failure. That doesn't go away overnight. You can reverse the process, but it generally takes months to improve. Don't expect it to happen after one or two feedings. Pecker was on a strict diet, combined with as much aloe detox as I could give her - PLUS she was as strong willed a critter as you will ever encounter - which I think is also a factor in recovery from illness. (Too stubborn to die!)

It's not your fault, but I have a feeling this bird is very, very ill.

Again, get as much aloe detox as you can in him, but even at that, they may have waited too long to intervene.

That is an individual bird thing. Some pull out and make a miraculous recovery. Others just don't.

It's not your fault.
 
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