Home
Parrot Supply Store
Parrot Profiles
Parrot Comparison
NonToxic &Toxic List
Parrot Training
Parrot Stories
Submit Bird Stories
Parrot Questions
Parrot's Cove
Breeder Supplies
Suggest a Breeder
Breeders List
Your Photo Products
Organic Pellets/Mixes
Travel Cages
Flight/Breeder Cages
Discount Bird Cages
Stainless Cages
Play Stands/Gyms
Manzanita Playstand
Canada Orders
Overseas Shipping
Ask the Vet Questions
Suggest Avian Vet
Find an Avian Vet
Warranty Info.
Customer Comments
Contact Us
 

lovebird seizures

My lovebird, 3 years old, has occasional seizures. She falls off her perch, screems and her head is back and her claws are cluched. It only happens at night, and only once maybe a month. I hold her so she doesn't hurt herself and in a few minutes she is okay, but they are severe and her heart is racing terribly when they happen and she has no control over herself.
I have had her checked. Changed her diet to not include any human food, just cover her a little to avoid too much heat at night. I have done everything I can read about. Do you have any suggestions, PLEASE! She is my child.
Thank you!!!!!
Joyce Ann

also, she is a fertile female with no mate. she nests every few months. I don't let her shred paper and make a nest, I just take the eggs after she lays them. any ideas??/

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Ask the Vet.

Comments for
lovebird seizures

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 28, 2008
 Seizures and egg laying
by: Tracie

I would suggest NOT taking away the eggs. Don't encourage egg laying, but if she lays an egg, let her sit on it or them.

Taking away the eggs will encourage her to keep laying more. If you let her sit on the eggs she will likely quit laying and eventually abandon the eggs.

Many birds become aggressive when they sit on eggs, don't worry about it, just love her just the same.

I would suggest you look up a breeder in your area, you can look at my breeders list if you like, and call one of them and they will help you too.

Tracie
Apr 28, 2008
 Lovebird seizures
by: The Vet

Seizures in birds can be difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat.

What is her diet? One of the causes is calcium deficiency. Since she is laying eggs, this would be the first correction I would make. If she is not eating a pellet diet as 80% of what she ingests, then calcium deficiency is a good possibility.

If these seizures are categorized as 'idiopathic' any number of causes can be blamed - genetics, toxins, epilepsy and brain tumors, are just four of the common causes.

Depending on the etiology, control measures are possible. Some birds have done well on Phenobarbital as a control measures and even valium has been successful in some cases.

You should start with someone who can give her a complete avian neurological examination, then have blood work to test for calcium deficiencies, and lead and zinc poisoning, switch her diet to Harrison's pellets, and consider further diagnostics such as MRI or PET scans and some specialty hospitals may be able to do an EEG.

If you can determine a cause, then the appropriate treatment can be initiated. Please let me know what you find.

Dr B

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Ask the Vet


footer for parrot page