Fatty Liver Syndrome
The Liver The Liver (next to the heart beneath the ribs) is made of two equal lobes. It cannot be seen or felt in a normal healthy bird. The liver produces proteins that provide muscle strength; manufactures blood clotting agents; metabolizes fat and sugar; removes drugs and other blood toxins; and also recycles red blood cells into bile.
Disease Physiology Fatty Liver Disease is characterized by a fatty infiltration of liver tissue due to the difficulties in metabolizing fat.
Possible Causes An all seed diet is thought to be a major contributor to this condition. All seed diets are high in carbohydrates, cholesterol & fat and are low in choline & methionine. Other causes can be anemia, anoxia, bacterial toxins, hypoglycemia, insulin deficiency, liver damage, starvation, stress, and vitamin e deficiencies.
Symptoms Symptoms are not limited to, but may include; blood clotting difficulties, depression, diarrhea, increased thirst, obesity, overgrown beak, overgrown nails, pale chest musculature, poor appetite, seizures, spots on beak and nails, urate (not stool portion of dropping) becomes yellow to green in color, and weight changes. (These signs & symptoms may also point to other liver problems including bacterial / fungal / viral infections; cancer; medication related; poisoning; or other liver disorder that only your Veterinarian can properly test, diagnose, and treat.)
Remedies Increase protein. Add certain Fruits and Vegetables to your birds diet (based on the species of the bird). See your Veterinarian for liver function blood tests and other testing and medication that may help to decrease the size of a fatty liver.
Possible Outcomes Complete liver failure causing premature death or a complete reversal with medications as well as a change in diet. (it is very important to redo blood tests in two weeks in order to evaluate effectiveness of treatments)
Updated on 07/16/03
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