Page 2 - Summer 2012

Basic HTML Version

by
Vicki Temple
BVMS, MRCVS
Millcroft Veterinary Group
This edition provides some handy hints and tips on
keeping parrots and ensuring your parrot stays fit and
healthy. Also included is an article looking at the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons practice
standards scheme and what it means for you
and your pet. We also have a fascinating article
looking at the evolution of dogs leading to
the domesticated pets we own today.
...to the Summer 2012
edition of Small Talk!
Keeping
Parrots
If I had to recommend
one change it would be
diet: For many years,
birds have been fed on
diets based on seeds
like sunflower and millet.
These are pretty much the
equivalent of us living on
nothing but burgers and chips;
they are very low in vitamins
and minerals and very high in
fat. Like junk food it's tasty but
birds fed mostly on seeds are
often obese, have poor immune
systems leaving them open to
disease and often have dangerously
low calcium levels. Some people use
vitamin and mineral supplements with
them but this is really just like us eating
junk food and taking a multivitamin - it's
never going to be as good as eating
a proper, balanced diet! So what
should we feed them? Just like
dogs and cats, there are
complete foods out there:
Harrison's, Nutribird and
Pretty Bird, to name just
a few, all make pelleted diets suitable for
all sizes of parrots and parakeets, from
Budgies and Cockatiels, to the big guys
like Macaws. Obviously, they still want
some fresh fruit and veg for interest but
the pellets ensure that every mouthful of
food contains the vitamins and minerals
they need to lead a long and healthy life.
Vets aren't just interested in 'fixing'
your parrot when it's sick; we want
your parrot to be as fit and healthy as
possible. Whether it's a pet or a breeding
animal we can give them a health
check to make sure they are in tip-top
condition. A quick and simple blood test
can screen them for any underlying
problems, including low calcium levels.
With so much conflicting information
on the internet, your vet can give you
correct, up to date information on any
queries you might have so a health
check appointment is the ideal time to
ask any burning questions you might
want to. Make us your first point of call
for information - we're not just here for
the dogs, cats and cattle!
Parrots
are beautiful, intelligent birds
which can make wonderful pets and
companions. However, they are often
misunderstood and a lot of the problems
I see are due to misconceptions on how
birds should be kept.