Please READ THIS VERY IMPORTANT POST COMPLETELY. If you own waterfowl, gamebirds or pet parrots and feed Mazuri foods, THIS INFORMATION APPLIES TO YOUR BIRDS.
This afternoon I spoke with Dr Liz Koutsos who is a PhD nutritionist with Mazuri foods. She knows that I have been in touch with bird owners and I offered to put out this information on the internet.
Mazuri has experienced a number of animal food recalls due to what they believe was contaminated vitamin and/or mineral supplements. One of the vitamins and/or minerals (not vitamin D) came contaminated with high vitamin D levels. Because it was not a vitamin D supplement, this fact made it very difficult for Mazuri to isolate the source. Additionally, signs of vitamin D toxicity for most species take up to 60 days to manifest. These combined reasons explain the delay in identifying the problem, recalling the affected lots and removing the problem from the current diets.
Regarding waterfowl, gamebird and parrot food, the following foods manufactured between April 2 and May 8 have been recalled:
-Waterfowl Maintenance (no other duck/waterfowl diets were affected)
-Exotic Gamebird Starter
-All parrot diets
Vitamin D Toxicity: There are very few studies of confirmed vitamin D toxicity in birds (mostly limited to production poultry). The NRC published guidelines for the lowest level that chronic toxicity can be expected in poultry is 40,000 IU vitamin D per Kg of feed. If poultry are fed a diet with at least 40,000 IU/Kg vitamin D for 60 or more days, the following signs may be seen; lack of appetite, lethargy, ruffled feathers (from general poor condition and not feather development abnormalities) and occasionally high ionized calcium levels (this is different from regular ‘blood calcium’ levels which are poorly correlated with vitamin D toxicity).
‘Very high’ levels of vitamin D (much greater than 40,000 IU/Kg of food) may result in dystrophic mineralization- that is mineral deposits form abnormally on various tissues within the body. This is distinctly different from gout where uric acid deposits either in the joints or on tissues. Gout is generally caused by kidney failure. It is more likely that kidney failure will result from over supplementation with calcium than with vitamin D. Either chronic or acute severe vitamin D toxicity can result in death.
Regarding waterfowl/ducks: The amount of vitamin D in the Mazuri Waterfowl Maintenance was less than 9000 IU/kg feed. At this time, no cases (illness or death) of vitamin D toxicity in ducks have been confirmed.
Regarding exotic gamebirds: Some grouse and pheasant chicks have become ill during their first week of life. All birds have recovered so far (no deaths).
Regarding parrots: All parrot foods made during the recall dates were potentially affected and may have a ‘great excess of vitamin D’. Some deaths have been confirmed in parrots including budgies. The most common signs have been joint stiffness from possible calcium or urate deposits (these have not yet been differentiated). If left untreated, this joint stiffness may be the only sign followed by death. No other clinical signs have been reported.
All of the current Mazuri waterfowl, gamebird and parrot diets have normal vitamin D levels.
Please do not feed a diet devoid of vitamin D in an attempt to ‘remove excess vitamin D’. From what little we know, this may result in vitamin D deficiency. In turkeys kept indoors, these birds develop vitamin D deficient blood values within 2 days.
Regardless of the cause, if your bird is sick take it to an avian veterinarian. Vitamin D toxicity is very rare and difficult to confirm. A qualified avian veterinarian can best assess your bird and determine if vitamin D toxicity is a possibility.
If you feel your bird has vitamin D toxicity from a Mazuri food, please go to
www.mazuri.com. You may also contact Dr Liz Koutsos directly via e-mail at
[email protected] if you or your veterinarian feel that your bird has a true vitamin D toxicity.
Please share this information.
Sincerely,
Scott Echols, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice)
