Mary Allen
Diabetes mellitus is a disease that does not only affect humans. Birds can also suffer from diabetes. But where does diabetes in birds come from? How does the disease manifest itself and how can it be treated?
What Symptoms Indicate Diabetes Mellitus in Birds?
When a bird suffers from diabetes mellitus, it is not immediately obvious at first glance. However, a sick bird shows different behavior. He drinks significantly more than usual and as a result, also urinates more. In this way, the bird unconsciously tries to regulate its sugar balance.
At the same time, the bird usually eats more than usual, but still loses weight significantly. This is because the bird’s metabolism can no longer properly utilize the nutrients in the food and they are simply excreted.
As the disease progresses, the bird becomes more and more lethargic and apathetic. If left untreated, diabetes mellitus can ultimately be fatal to the bird.
What Causes are Responsible for Diabetes Mellitus?
It has not yet been clarified how diabetes mellitus can develop in birds. However, veterinarians assume that, like in humans and other animals, it is a result of a disturbed hormone balance. When examining sick birds, it was found that they sick birds had elevated levels of glucagon. As a result, the sugar, which the body cells actually store as an energy source, is released from the cells and transported into the bloodstream. As a result, the body cells slowly die and the sugar is excreted unused.
In order not to perish completely, the bird’s metabolism adjusts over time. It burns more fat and protein to provide the necessary energy for the body’s cells. Protein is a component of muscle fibers, so the bird’s body must break down the muscle mass in order to fuel itself.
How Can Diabetes Mellitus be Treated in Birds?
The treatment is basically the same as in humans. The vet administers insulin to the sick bird, which regulates the sugar balance in the blood and allows more sugar to be stored in the body cells again.
The insulin concentration must be precisely adjusted to the bird’s metabolism so that the therapy can be successful. If too little insulin is given, the bird will not improve. On the other hand, if too much insulin is administered, the bird can suffer hypoglycemia and fall into a coma.
For this reason, a veterinarian keeps a sick bird for observation in the practice for a few days in order to be able to observe improvements or deterioration in the patient’s behavior. However, once the right amount of insulin has been found, the bird can go home. In order to keep the sugar balance constant, veterinarians recommend:
- Birdseed with low sugar content
- Close observation of food and fluid intake
- Avoiding obesity and possibly a diet