Converting Birds From a Seed-Only Diet.... dedicated to Phyllis Collins


A dry seed-only diet does not provide enough nutrients to allow your bird to live a long, healthy life.  In the wild, our pet birds would be eating both fresh and dried seeds, grasses, leaves, various fruits, vegetables and berries, insects and grubs.  If you have the time and are capable of duplicating the nutrients in this diet at home, your birds will be just fine.  If, however, you do not have the time or are not capable of duplicating the nutrients in this diet at home, you should consider converting your bird to a pellet/vegetable/fruit diet.

Pet birds that have been hand fed by the breeder are fed a pellet based handfeeding formula and are usually weaned onto a pellet diet supplemented by fruits and vegetables. If you obtain your pet bird directly from the breeder and continue this diet, your bird will be eating a healthy diet, although there is certainly more that you can add.

Many of the smaller birds, such as Budgies and Cockatiels are not hand fed and are raised on a seed diet. Unfortunately, these birds seldom have their diet supplemented by fruits or vegetables as they are often obtained from a breeder who produces the birds in huge numbers. These are the birds that you are likely to find in a pet store.

It is important to get fruits, vegetables and pellets part of your bird’s diet as soon as possible, but a bird that has never eaten these foods does not realize that they are food.  There are several mixes you can buy to cook a nutritious meal for your bird as well.  Your bird will benefit greatly if you try all of the suggestions from the following links, but even one will improve his nutrition from a dry seed-only diet.

You do not have to remove dry seeds from your bird’s diet completely. The seeds can still be mixed in with the pellets or used as a treat or just kept in a separate dish, but hopefully once he is used to eating more nutritional foods, will not be a major part of his diet.


Convert Your Bird to Eat Pellets


A dry seed-only diet does not provide sufficient nutrients for pet birds. Pellets by themselves are not sufficient either, but pellets combined with fruits and vegetables will provide your bird with a healthy diet.  There are several different pellet manufacturers and many of them also make more than one size and type of pellet. You may wish to purchase a few small packages of various brands in the appropriate size for your bird. Sometimes a size larger or smaller may interest your bird as well so be prepared to try other options. Many of the pellet manufacturers will send a small free sample of their product if you contact them directly.

Converting a bird to pellets does not happen quickly. Your bird will not recognize them as a food and will not immediately eat them. Do not remove the seeds in the hope that he will eat them when he gets hungry. Unfortunately, your bird could starve himself to death before eating something that he does not know is food.

Some suggestions to get you started on the conversion are:

1) If your bird eats fruits and vegetables, you can press some of the pellets into the fruit or vegetable.
2) Mix some pellets in with the seeds
3) Spread a little peanut butter on toast and sprinkle pellets on it.
4) Pour a little warm water or apple juice on the pellets – these must be removed before an hour has past due to the potential growth of bacteria.
5) If you make a bean mix for your bird sprinkle some pellets on top of it.

It is just as important to make sure your bird is eating fruits, vegetables, sprouts, birdie bread and other cooked foods.

A younger bird is easier to convert than an older bird is but for either, it may take months before your bird may decide to try those “things” that have been sitting in his cage.

It is possible that your bird will never convert to pellets. If you decide after a few months that your bird is one of the ones who will not convert, don’t worry about it as long as you have him eating as many other foods as you can. Some birds live to a healthy old age on a seed-only diet.



Convert Your Bird to Eat Fruits/Vegetables


Here are a few suggestions that may get your bird eating vegetables:

1) Push some seeds into a piece of broccoli, apple banana or any other fruit or vegetable.
2) Weave a carrot top or celery leaf in the bars of the cage
3) Try different size pieces of various fruits and vegetables – some very tiny pieces that you can put in a dish or some larger pieces that you hang up in the cage.
4) Eat the food in front of your bird and offer him a piece from your hand or from your plate.

Remember that it might take anywhere from a few days to a few months to convince your bird to eat these foods, but for your bird’s health, please keep trying.

Do not remove the seeds to try to make your bird hungry enough to eat the fruits or vegetables. A bird can starve himself before trying to eat something that he does not know is food.

Links to sites with recipes and information about feeding your bird.


http://www.roudybush.com/

http://www.lafeber.com/default.aspx

http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/

http://www.parrottalk.com/recipes.html


 

Protecting Your Pets: Flea Medicine Dangers


Sometimes, dogs and cats just don't mix. And neither should their medicines. The Animal Poison Control Center reports thousands of cases of pet owners using their dog's flea medicine on their cats. Veterinarian Dr. Michael Wilke says the main ingredient in dog flea medicine can be fatal for cats.  "Permethrin is very toxic to cats, they are not able to metabolize that insecticide properly and it can make them really sick, and even lead to death."

Dr. Wilke says he sees sick cats every summer. Pet owners try to save some money by using dog flea medicine for Fluffy and Fido.  "A lot of cats have a longer hair coat- they tend to groom more aggressively, these cats will lick these products off and not only absorb it but also swallow it, so it's much more easy for a cat to be poisoned that way."

Poisoned cats will have heavy salivation, drooling, tremors, and even full-blown convulsions. You can try to remove some the medicine with a warm, wet towel- then rush the cat to the vet. Some cases are mild- but symptoms don't appear right away. It's best not to take any chances. And prevention is key- begin by reading the label carefully.  "Make sure that you've got the right product for the right age, the right species, and the right dose, some of these are dosed according to weight."

Dr. Wilke says- not using flea medicine is not an option- he's actually seen animals die from infestations. But keeping the medicines separate on canines and felines is the way to go.

Almost 20 brands of dog flea control medicine contain the ingredient permethrin- and should be labeled "for dogs only."

Most are sold over the counter at drug and pet stores (largely ineffective), others are found at your vets office under the popular Advantage and Frontline brands.

 
 

Experts Say Be Sensible With Pocket Pets


This week a man whisked his 11 pet gerbils to a local animal shelter after hearing reports that a virus from a hamster killed three transplant patients.

Never mind that gerbils have not been known to carry the virus.

"We're getting calls about a number of these small rodent animals," said Dr. E.J Finocchio, director of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "It's an emotional reaction, and not the correct time to make these kinds of decisions."

The virus blamed in the recent deaths of three New England organ recipients isn't the first time cute little animals have passed nasty germs along to people.

Just a few weeks ago, federal health officials warned that such pets, including hamsters, mice and rats, can transmit a dangerous, drug-resistant form of salmonella. People in 10 states got sick, including children who were hospitalized.

Also a danger are turtles called red-eared sliders, and pet prairie dogs, which two years ago infected dozens of Midwesterners with monkeypox, a disease previously seen only in African rainforests. The outbreak was blamed on a Gambian rat from Ghana that infected prairie dogs at an exotic pet dealer in Illinois.

One reason there's been so much news about pet rodent diseases is that there are better methods of detecting the viruses they carry, said Dave Daigle, a spokesman for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The virus that caused the transplant deaths, LCMV, is uncommon and rarely fatal to humans. Health officials say the organ donor caught the germ from a pet hamster, and it was transmitted to the organ recipients whose weakened immune systems put them at higher risk.

"These animals are kept in houses, they're brought out of their natural habitats, and they're defecating and urinating in a very small place," Finocchio said. "People have to be careful when they take care of these animals."

But most people shouldn't fear getting sick from pocket pets, health officials say, as long as they handle them properly.

"We would not encourage people to turn their pets in," said Daigle of the CDC. "If you take the proper precautions it's not an issue."

Parents should make sure children don't kiss their pets -- a habit that might be hard to break but is an easy way to get salmonella and other nasty germs, health officials say. Pets should also be kept away from people food.

Pet owners should wear gloves when cleaning up after the family hamster or guinea pig, and young children should never clean cages, health experts say. Damp paper towels should be used for cleanup to make sure animal waste doesn't dry and turn into dust that can be inhaled.

Most of all, people should wash their hands after playing with an animal.

"Handwashing is the way to prevent the spread, at least in most cases," said Dr. Nina Marano, associate director for veterinary medicine and public health at the National Center for Infectious Diseases.

However, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems might want to stay away from pocket pets altogether. LCMV can cause miscarriages and neurological illness in infants.

People who are worried about getting sick from pets should just avoid them, said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Humane Society of the United States.

But in general, she said, "Pet owners that have these animals should not be terrified that they need to get rid of their hamster or rat or other small animal."

As for that man who gave away his 11 gerbils -- he came back later to get them when he learned gerbils aren't known to carry the rodent virus.


 

Protecting pets from heatstroke

We will soon be entering the the dog days of summer which means it is time to be concerned about protecting your animals from the heat. Both dogs and cats can become victims of heatstroke in a variety of places, some of which you may find surprising.

When we think of animals and heatstroke, dogs in cars is what usually springs to mind — and for good reason. A lot of dog owners love to take their dogs everywhere they go, and that often entails leaving them in a vehicle for a "few minutes" while they run a quick errand or two.

Unfortunately for the pets, interior vehicle temperatures can quickly rise to levels that can cause heatstroke, irreversible brain damage or death. Even if you have taken great care to park in the shade and have left the windows cracked, the car can still heat to dangerous and deadly temperatures within minutes.

Studies have shown that in 72-degree weather, the temperature inside a car parked in the shade will reach 93 degrees within 10 minutes, and as time goes by the temperature will continue to rise.

Cats can suffer heatstroke, too, and it doesn't usually happen in a parked car. Cats usually suffer heatstroke right in the home. Many homes in our area don't have air conditioning, and we rarely leave windows open and fans running when we aren't home for both   security and financial reasons.

And sheds and garages can become overly warm even when they are located under shady trees. Cats prefer warmer temperatures than dogs, but in closed spaces with little or no air circulation, they can quickly become overheated.

Dogs and cats lack an efficient "cooling system." In hot and humid weather, human bodies sweat to cool off, but dogs and cats don't have that ability. They do have a few sweat glands located between their toes, but those don't help much in very warm weather. They do pant when they become hot, but panting alone is not enough to keep up with the temperature.

Early signs of heatstroke are deep, coarse-sounding, rapid panting, restlessness, such as pacing back and forth, and excessive thirst. As the heatstroke progresses the animal will become lethargic, his tongue will darken, his mucous membranes will become dry, and his pulse and body temperature will increase.

Next, the mucous membranes will become very pale and the animal may begin vomiting and having diarrhea. If the heat stroke has progressed to the point of collapse, the animal will usually begin to have seizures. In the final stage, the animal will lapse into a coma before dying.

Heatstroke should be treated as an emergency. If you suspect a dog or cat may be suffering heatstroke, immediately   remove the animal to a shaded area and begin soaking his coat with cool, not cold, water. Cold water will shock the animal and could drop their temperature too low.

If he is able to drink, give him small amounts of water. If there is a body of water or tub available, immerse your pet, making sure to keep the nose above the water. If there is not a place to immerse your pet, you can wrap him in wet towels or soak him with a garden hose.

Once you have started treating your pet for heatstroke, call your veterinarian. Your pet may require further treatment to save his life, and heatstroke can cause complications that may manifest themselves from one   to five days later.

Make sure that your cat and dog have access to lots of fresh, cool water, and that they have a cool place to relax in.


 

Learning mouth-to-snout may save pet


ABCs of CPR for animals as taught to adults and children:

First, check to make sure the patient has a clear airway.

Then check to see if the patient is breathing.

Then check the pulse to make sure the patient has a heartbeat.

If the patient awakens during the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, be careful not to let him bite you.

It's the ABCs of CPR, but with a twist. The patients are dogs and cats — not people — and it's a growing trend.

Chris Bereki is an American Red Cross certified instructor of pet first aid and CPR, and teaches classes to both adults and children.

"And the more people we get up here, the more we need to be concerned, especially with the heat," Bereki said.

Bereki teaches her students about general pet safety along with first aid and CPR techniques. She has classes designed for ages 4-7, 8-11, and 12 and older. The adult class is four hours, and students become Red Cross certified.

Students in her class learn how to approach a wounded animal (slow, non-threatening), how to find the pulse (immediately behind the front-left leg, the inner thigh, below the wrist or ankle), and mouth-to-snout resuscitation.

Yep, mouth-to-snout.

She uses specialized "Rescue Critters" for her classes. These are stuffed animals with plastic bags inside them with air tubes connected to the snouts. That allows students to practice their resuscitation techniques.

Because diseases can be passed from animal to human, Bereki recommends using a breathing mask, similar to what is used in human CPR, or a cloth that can still allow air through. However, the official Red Cross Pet First Aid book does not recommend any such precautions.

Nichole Henderson took Bereki's class last winter, and said that the skills she learned helped her to notice when her dog became sick a couple weeks later.

"I noticed my dog's belly was bloated, and that he was having trouble breathing," Henderson said. "I took him into the vet, and it turned out his liver was failing."

While she eventually had to put the dog to sleep, she was grateful to be able to recognize the signs early and get her dog treatment.

While she has heard of the CPR techniques being used on lizards and birds, Bereki only teaches the technique for dogs and cats.

Deborah Youngblood took the class with her two daughters, ages 4 and 11. While she had grown up with animals and had used first aid before on them, she learned better how to bandage and wrap. It also got both of her daughters excited about treating animals.

"They both practiced doing bandages on their stuffed animals," Youngblood said. "Thankfully they haven't tried anything on their real cats."

Bereki also teaches general pet care in her class. While there are those who abuse their pets purposely, she said, there are also those who do it unintentionally.

"I was pet sitting for a friend once, and in the back yard they had this huge container full of water that had algae and stuff growing in it," Bereki said. "That was the dog's drinking water. They were unintentionally poisoning their dog."

Taking dogs on hikes offers various challenges, Bereki said. Various plant life is poisonous and can get stickers in the dog's paws, and owners need to watch their dogs closely for signs of heat stroke, which begins with rapid, hard panting.

"If you see them panting hard and breathing heavy, you need to start cooling them off immediately," she said. "This can be done with wet towels or slowly pouring cool water on them."



Best Regards,


Dr. Pennington and the staff of Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital