To care for a pet bird is fulfilling. Like any pet, birds quickly become part of the family. When it comes to living in an artificial environment like a bird cage, however, they may lack a lot of the natural resources that they would have otherwise had in the wild. Lacking these resources can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in your feathered friend. T

Vitamin Deficiencies

Most birds with a deficiency have a vitamin A deficiency. This is particularly true of birds that live predominately off seeds and peanuts. All-seed diets are extremely low in vitamin A. When a bird has this kind of deficiency, the cells that line the reproductive, digestive and respiratory tract go through a structural change. Since they can no longer secret mucous, they cannot prevent environmental bacteria from penetrating.

In addition to Vitamin A deficiency, birds may also experience a lack of calcium, Vitamin D3, phosphorous and low levels of other vitamins and minerals. These particular deficiencies, however, are a direct result from the type of diet the bird is on. For more information shop with Vet Products Direct for bird supplements.

Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies

When it comes to a vitamin deficiency, your bird may show signs in different ways. It all depends on the vitamin, the bird’s diet and the bird itself. With a vitamin A deficiency, the bird may end up with respiratory problems as a result of the deficiency. If your bird lacks vitamin D3, then it may not be able to absorb enough calcium to stay healthy. Seed diets are going to be low in calcium. Likewise, many birds do not receive an adequate amount of D3 through sunlight. A lack of calcium will lead to curvature and deformation of the long bones or vertebrae.

Not only does this effect a lot of the bird’s physical health, but it can also affect reproductive health. For instance, birds that have a calcium deficiency will produce thin-shelled eggs. These eggs have less of a chance for survival. If you have hens, then a calcium deficient hen may end up with egg binding and have a hard time laying eggs. Egg binding is potentially fatal. For birds that lack calcium or vitamin A, it may manifest as dry and itchy skin.

The Helpfulness of Bird Vitamins

Usually, your pet’s diet is the reason why your pet has vitamin and mineral deficiencies. If you don’t do the right amount of research, it’s easy not to realize what you need to feed your bird. There are a lot of different diets, depending on the breed. You should always make sure to ask your vet about the appropriate diet. However, there are some vitamins that would be better off being taken through vitamin. With bird vitamins and minerals available, there is no reason why a bird cannot have a properly balanced diet.

Take Care With Vitamins

As with any type of Vitamin or mineral, you need to monitor your pet afterward. Make sure that you take care when you treat your bird with vitamin D3 for instance. Too much of a vitamin can cause severe problems. For instance, too much D3 may lead to calcium accumulation in the kidneys. Macaws are the most notorious for this. If you decide to use liquid supplements, your bird may need time to get used to the bottle.

When it comes to caring for a pet, you always want what’s best for it. Raising birds is not easy. It takes a lot of time and work that many people don’t have. Since your bird is not in its wild habitat, it may need help along the way to stay fit and healthy. This is where vitamins and supplements come into play. They can help your bird feel more like itself again.