Egg Bound Lovebird

Pumpkin is a four-year-old peach face Lovebird who was brought to the hospital for lethargy, weakness, and an inability to fly. She lived alone in a galvanized cage with a nest box and several toys. Her diet consisted of seeds, but vitamins were added to the water. She had been laying eggs for the past few years.

The physical exam showed multiple problems which included a swollen choana (throat), increased respiration with a nasal discharge, dry flaky skin, weakness, emaciation, and a large abdominal mass. Blood was collected for diagnostic testing. A gram stain of the choana and feces showed the presence of large numbers of abnormal gram-negative bacteria. Pumpkin was immediately hospitalized and started on antibiotics and fluids. Once she improved, an x-ray was taken. The x-ray shows multiple small metal fragments in the ventriculous (stomach) and a large egg. The cloaca (vent) was lubricated and we attempted to manually remove the egg. The egg broke inside of Pumpkin, but we were able to aspirate(remove) most of the yolk with a needle and syringe. The eggshell was quickly passed. Pumpkin was also started on a drug that would bind the metal in the ventriculous and prevent heavy metal absorption by the body.

On day two, Pumpkin was much improved. The blood test showed a very high white blood cell count, a low calcium, and liver disease. The high white blood cell count indicates a severe bacterial infection. The low calcium is due to a seed diet, which contains no calcium, and the body using the remaining calcium to make eggs. The liver disease could be due to several reasons including a high fat diet from seed (which will eventually destroy the liver), the bacterial infection attacking the liver, or absorption of the metal in the ventriculous.

The blood results indicated that we needed to start Pumpkin on calcium supplements and a drug to help the liver.

On day three, Pumpkin had more energy and was eating formulated bird pellets. She was sent home in a hospital unit, on three different drugs, and a new balanced diet. She recovered completely and was placed in a new powdered-coated cage without a nest box.

In conclusion, egg-laying complications in birds are very common. Most egg related problems can be prevented with a proper diet and cage. The diet should consist of 90% formulated pellets. This discourages egg laying because it is much lower in fat than seed. Also, a nest box should not be used because it stimulates egg-laying behavior. All egg-laying behaviors should be prevented or stopped because it frequently causes life-threatening complications.