Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parakeet with breathing trouble diagnosed with aortic atherosclerosis
By Mans, Christoph & Brown, Cynthia J·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2007·Avian and Exotic Pet Service, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Radiographic evidence of atherosclerosis of the descending aorta in a grey-cheeked parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhopterus).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A 16-year-old male grey-cheeked parakeet was brought to the vet because he was having trouble breathing and seemed less active. His diet mainly consisted of table scraps, including a lot of animal products. X-rays showed issues with his heart and blood vessels, and further tests confirmed serious heart problems. Unfortunately, his health worsened quickly, and he passed away just five days later. A postmortem exam revealed severe hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and damage to his heart and lungs.
People also search for: grey-cheeked parakeet breathing problems · parakeet heart disease symptoms · bird diet and heart health
Abstract
A 16-year-old male grey-cheeked parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhopterus) was presented for dyspnea and decreased activity. The bird's diet was primarily table food, with a large proportion of animal products. Radiographs revealed a linear mineralized structure in the plane of the aorta and an enlarged hepatocardiac silhouette. Left atrial and left ventricular enlargement and a left ventricular systolic dysfunction were diagnosed by echocardiography. The bird's condition progressively declined, and it died 5 days after presentation. A postmortem examination revealed marked atherosclerosis of the aorta, great vessels of the heart, and coronary arteries with myocardial degeneration, pulmonary congestion, and ascites. Little is known about the risk factors of atherosclerosis in psittacine birds, and dietary influence, if any, is not understood.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18069172/