Hello from OH-IO

[Panazon]

I share my life with an 8 year old Panama Amazon named Lolita. Lolita was hatched by a breeder in Utica, Ohio in June 2007 and came home with me in November 2007.

Let's see:

- Lolita has been on a strict diet of Harrison's Adult Lifetime and a power treat or 2 each day. She also receives a small piece of homemade organic bird-bread which includes Harrison's AVIx Booster in it's recipe.

- Lolita receives annual check-ups with a certified avian veterinarian including full blood-work etc. She visits periodically for wing and nail trimming. To date Lolita's blood work has come back with perfect readings.

- Lolita has been a joy. Always talking and whistling she has become part of the family over the past 8 years. Early this spring she had her first bout with raging hormones and though the squaking and vocalizing have been a little trying at times, for the first time in 8 years she is now letting me pet and scratch her head, chest and neck for the very first time. So for anyone with a parrot who doesn't like to be touched, BE PATIENT! It took Lolita 8 years and a few extra hormones to allow it!

Well that's all for now. I look forward to reading and participating in this group.

Mike & Lolita

[Pajarita]

Welccome, Mike and Lolita! Yes, zon ladies get very affectionate when hormonal, mine have companions so they don't need to rely on me for the scritches

I will ask you to do some in-depth research about amazon diets because they cannot be free-fed any high protein food and require more produce than other species. Does the bloodwork include a bile acids test?

[Panazon]

Thanks I will check and report back.

-Mike

[Panazon]

Tried to PM you but I'm not sure it sent as the message remains in my "Outbox" Anyway.....

So in looking at Lolita's bloodwork from last November her AST was 224 (130-350 u/l) and her BA was 38 which I do not see a range listed for.

Thoughts? Thanks!

-Mike

[Pajarita]

I answered your pm before I saw the same reply here so, for continuity sake, I will repeat it here.

AST is not liver specific and it doesn't show off values until the liver is 75% compromised so, although avian vets use it as a diagnostic tool, it's actually pretty useless for liver function. Her bile acids levels are normal (there are no actual accurate ranges by species but, generally speaking, anything under 100 is considered normal) but young birds, like young people, can eat a bad diet and still have good blood work results. The problem starts as they get older but one of my mottos with birds have always been 'better safe than sorry' so I always recommend feeding them a good, fresh food diet from day one and that means raw produce (organic when necessary) every day as well as cooked veggies and whole grains. It's not more expensive than pellets although it does take more planning, shopping and a bit more preparation time (because you still need to feed produce when you feed pellets, anyway) but it's soooooo much better for them - and zons are EXCELLENT eaters so it's not only healthier for them, they actually enjoy it immensely!

[Roonil Wazlib]

Welcome

Yeah, get her on some fresh fruit and veg She might not like it straight away, but she'll play with the food, and perhaps begin nibbling. (make sure to check the a list of toxic vs non toxic - no avacardo) I don't know so much about diets of other parrots, but mine is on 80% fresh fruit (eckkie) other parrots don't need that much, but should be at least roughly 40% of daily diet i think.

Anyway, good to hear that shes healthy and happy Do you take her outside or do tricks with her?