When vitamin A deficiency occurs, the cells that line
the respiratory, reproductive and digestive tracts undergo structural change, making them unable to secrete mucous. Since
mucous acts as a protective blanket to prevent invasion from pathogens (disease- causing agents), vitamin A deficiency allows
environmental bacteria and other microorganisms to penetrate the mucous membrane barrier and set up "housekeeping" within
these tissues.
Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency depend on which organ
system is affected (for instance the reproductive, digestive, or respiratory tracts) and which microorganism or combination
of microorganisms is invading the patient.
The respiratory system is the most often affected.
Since the mouth and sinus are also lined by the cells that are compromised, you need only look inside the bird's mouth to
see the early signs of this deficiency. Initially, you see small white plaques on the roof of the mouth and/or at the base
of the tongue. The plaques ultimately become infected, forming large, obvious abscesses. The abscesses can distort the glottis
(opening of the windpipe), causing labored breathing and eventually mechanical suffocation. The abscesses can even grow so
large that they block the choana (the slit in the roof of the mouth). When this happens, the bird will exhibit profuse nasal
discharge and obvious swelling around the eyes. The pain from these pockets of infection will eventually cause the bird to
starve. The microorganisms can also spread throughout the bird's body with disastrous consequences.
A bird with vitamin A deficiency may show any of the
following symptoms: sneezing, wheezing, nasal discharge, crusted or plugged nostrils, unthriftiness lethargy, depression,
diarrhea, tail-bobbing, thinness, poor feather color, swollen eyes, ocular discharge, lack of appetite, gagging, foul-smelling
breath and "slimy mouth".
Few patients, if any, die as a direct result of the
vitamin A deficiency. They usually die from the secondary infections common to birds with weakened resistance and the inability
of the body to go through normal cellular regeneration (to heal itself). The secondary infections may cause organ damage that
will then lead to the bird's eventual death. Consequently, we treat the life-threatening infection first, dealing with the
underlying vitamin A deficiency with injections of vitamin It.
To treat the secondary life-threatening component,
we first conduct a series of diagnostic tests. We draw blood to help determine which organs are involved, we perform cultures
and antibiotic sensitivities to determine what bacteria or fungi may be present, and we analyze the stools to check for parasites.
We then hospitalize-the bird for at least one week
and treat it with appropriate medications based on the data from the tests. Often we also nebulize the bird, tube-feed it
and surgically lance the abscesses once the patient is stable. Although the bird may require a fairly long recovery period,
the prognosis is usually favorable unless secondary problems have caused irreversible organ damage.
Once again, the adage "An ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure" applies with this malady. Psittacines are generally quite resistant to disease, but, once afflicted, they
are often difficult to cure. This is especially true if the disease is induced by an inadequate diet, which is often compounded
many times by the selective feeding habits of the birds.
The majority of vitamin A deficient diets are also
lacking in other vitamins, proteins and minerals, so prevention must be aimed at an overall improvement in nutrition as well
as offering appropriate vitamin supplementation. In addition to a good quality, safflower seed-based mix, parrots should be
offered and taught to eat foods that are yellow and deep green in color (with a few exceptions).
To ensure your bird against a vitamin A deficiency,
offer it foods such as cantaloupe, papaya, chili peppers, broccoli leaves and flowers, carrots, sweet potatoes, turnip leaves,
collards, endive, butter, liver, egg yolks, beets, dandelion greens and spinach (see chart for relative vitamin A content).
The daily use of one of the many good quality powdered vitamins will also help keep this common, preventable disease from
afflicting your birds.
Foods High in Vitamin A
| Desirable Food |
IU Per 100 Grams |
| Red chili peppers (fresh) |
21,000 |
| Red chili peppers (dried) |
16,000 |
| Broccoli leaves |
77,000 |
| Broccoli flowers |
3,000 |
| Carrots (pureed) |
10,000 |
| Sweet potatoes |
9,000 |
| Turnip leaves |
7,500 |
| Collards |
6,500 |
| Endive |
3,500 |
| Dandelion greens |
14,000 |
| Spinach |
8,000 |
| Butter |
3,500 |
| Beef liver |
45,000 |
| Egg yolks |
3,000 |
| Canteloupe |
4,000 |
| Mango |
5,000 |
| Papaya |
2,000 |
| Foods Low in Vitamin
A |
| Corn |
Lettuce |
| Summer squash |
Bananas |
| White potatoes |
Apples |
| Grapes |
Oranges |
