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Hi everyone. My 30 year old Galah PB has just developed a fatty tumor. I know it a common affliction for Galahs, especially ones with a less than ideal diet. Poor old PB lived his first 25 years on basically sunflower seeds only. So I am not that suprised that he's developed one. But now we have to decide the correct course of action to take. I am a bit apprehensive about removing it. At his age I think the anesthesia might be of significant concern. And the lack of a proper avian vet compounds that risk considerably. So I am here to ask for input from anyone who has ever had experience with these or other benign tumors in larger birds. Do you reckon the risk is likely to outweigh any positives that could be gained from removing the tumor? I don't belive at this point that it is having a negative impact on his quality of life, but......if it continues to grow I am concerned that it might begin to obstruct his vent. But.......he might be close enough to the end of his lifespan given his history. I just don't know....and would like your thoughts......

I'm sorry to hear about PB. I also have a Rose Breasted Cockatoo. I don't have any experience with fatty tumors so I don't know how much help I could be. Although I got him when he was five, my guy gets a good diet so hopefully I won't have to deal with this situation.

My gut would say to have the tumor removed, but I am concerned that you said you don't have access to a good avian vet.

I'm guessing that you've been able to improve PB's diet. Can't Galahs live to be 50ish if they remain healthy? I've heard of other birds that weren't fed properly for years that ended up living to be pretty old.

I'm sure someone else will be on soon to help. In the meantime, I will be keeping you and PB in my thoughts.

Thanks Petdiva. I should clarify that PB is at least 30. His second owner knew the original owner for 25 years before she became old and frail and had to give PB up. He only stayed with the second owner for 6 months or so. He could actually be a fair bit older. I took him in 5 years ago. When he came to me he had been living in a dog crate, no toys, sunflowers only. The second owner tried half heartedly to change his diet, but gave up fairly easily. It took me over a year...nearly 2....and a heck of a lot of wasted veggies before I was able to convert him over myself. I just hate the thought of putting him through the stress of such and invasive procedure if it's avoidable. And given that he was fed rubbish for so long I doubt he will live to the age that a Galah who has always been fed properly would. I've also noticed in the last few weeks that his pink is becoming considerably darker. That is typically indicative of liver function issues. So....once again....I just don't know what would be the right thing for him.

As far as I know and understand, fatty tumors are treatable without surgery. You would be looking at a good diet (15% legumes, 30% grains, 45% veggies, 10% fruits - with cooked eggs, pasta, whole grain breads, sprouted seeds, and other supplements added in as well) mixed with a good pellet mix. On top of that, being flighted would help. At least 30 minutes of actual flight/exercise a day should be done, preferably more. Just do not over-exert the bird! Mix in some supplements that are good for the liver (aloe detox, dandelion greens/roots, milk thistle, etc) and this all should help. You may even want to ask the Feeding Feathers YH group... and here's an article from there that you may find helpful.




Fatty Liver Disease

FLD....it can be the result of a diet lacking in certain nutrients. One common misconception about FLD is that sunflower seeds cause it...they do not. A diet that is ONLY or mostly sunflower seed however would be lacking certain *nutrients* that could possibly cause FLD. Fat alone is not the cause, nutritional deficiencies are. BUT when treating FLD, it’s important for fat to be taken out of the diet or decreased to almost nothing in order to help the liver to heal. FLD is when fat builds up in the liver due to not being released, as it should be.

Nutrients needed in the diet, in adequate amounts in order to help avoid FLD are vitamin B12, choline, methionine and folic acid. One great food source to provide all of those elements is eggs. It should be mentioned that even with a FLD bird, eggs and other foods should still be fed in moderation and as a part of a varied diet. For example a 600g parrot may enjoy 1/2 tsp. of scrambled egg once maybe twice per week. A FLD patient shouldn't be eating butter so either hard boil the egg or if you scramble, stir with a fork in a bowl, add to boiling water that contain a drop of vinegar. Cook (only takes a few seconds) and remove with a slotted or other spoon. Drain and pat dry on paper towels.

Sources of B12 (for birds)
eggs
yogurt
chicken
sea greens

Sources of folic acid are (B vitamin):
green leafy veggies
peas
broccoli
fruits
chicken
brown rice
eggs
whole grains

Sources of methionine (amino acid):
meat
eggs

Sources of choline;
green leafy veggies
egg yolk
wheat germ

Also offer plenty of beta-carotene rich foods. You'll need to feed a good base diet, and incorporate foods that I have listed that you and your vet feel will be of help.

When treating FLD, dietary changes need to be made, and also EXCERCISE needs to be part of the daily routine. All it takes is 5 min. a day, having a parrot walk on the floor to help it lose weight. Be sure not to push your parrot too much. If you see it breathing hard, let it rest, don't overdo, especially if just starting an exercise routine. Walking on the floor is excellent exercise and exerts about 2.4 times the energy as when a parrot is resting. Flying the way most birds do in our homes, from point A to B exerts probably about 2.7-3.0 times the resting energy rate. When treating FLD hot peppers should be avoided because they are to stimulating to the liver. They can be offered once FLD is healed however. Essential fatty acids can be added to the diet to offer help. These can be supplied in small amounts of cold pressed refrigerated (and preferable dated) flaxseed or hempseed oil, or large amounts of sprouted grains daily or occasional small pieces of fresh cooked salmon. EFA oils are excellent but you only need a tiny bit. Approximately one drop, once a day mixed into food for a parrot around 250g or 2 drops once a day for parrots over 500 g.

A large key to revitalizing the liver is to keep fat low in the diet while the liver is regenerating and diet fats should continue to be watched on a permanent, lifetime basis.

If you like you may want to give cranberry juice for a month. The sweetened Ocean spray-1 part juice to 4 parts of water. Or you can give 1/2 tsp. unsweetened once a day to a 600 gm parrot...other dosages can be figured out from that. Avoid all red meats as they are acid forming and the diet should be alkaline for healing. Good foods to include in a healing diet may be yogurt, seafoods, dried fruits (without sulfites), leafy greens, sea greens, eggs, beets, carrots and garlic. Artichokes are also a good food but my birds tend to play with them, rather than eat.

For this diet or herbal help, it’s extremely important that you consult with your veterinarian; to discuss your plans and make sure they are the right paths for your particular bird. Discuss with your vet about giving glycerite base dandelion root and milk thistle tinctures. Also probiotics it should help to normalize liver function in birds being treated.

Shauna Roberts



And most importantly, try and ensure you speak about some of these things with an avian vet (or a few!).

Thanks but.....PB isn't going to start eating that good a diet. I can only get him to eat seed, apples, and a few greens. I've tried and tried with other healthier foods, and I still offer him whatever the other birds are getting.....but short of starving him into submission, he's just not going to eat anything else. It took me a loooooong time to coax him out of the dog crate and into a proper cage, and in order to get him to fly I would have to literally toss him up in the air. Even then I suspect he would just plummet to the ground. He's just too old and set in his ways at this point. He is fairly active in his cage, but even getting him out of his cage is a real drama. He isn't aggressive, but is very cage bound, and the stress of trying to change that at this point would have a negative impact towards his emotional wellbeing that would probably be worse than the tumor. I would love to be able to take him to an avian vet.....but....there isn't even one in this state and I would actually have to get permits to transport him to and from the closest avian vet which would be 9 hours drive and a state away from here. Once again...the stress of such an endeavour would probably be harder on him than coping with the tumor. I rarely come up against any issue with my birds that I can't nut out on my own....but because of PB's history...the standard....sensible....course of action isn't necessarily the best option. At this point his behaviour hasn't changed in any way that would indicate to me that he is experiencing any discomfort. So I am more intereted in finding ways to manage his condition as effectively as possible.