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drs. Jan Hooimeijer

07-05-2025 14:05

Nutritional errors casefile 1

Nutritional errors, casefile 1: a 3 year old canary with too tight leg ring, clearly short of breath and molting problems.

Nutritional errors...it remains a problem

Please note: this case file contains shocking images, but unfortunately it is the harsh reality...

45 years ago by Dr. Greg Harrison and others founded the International Organization of Avian Veterinarians. Even then, nutritional errors were already the main reason for health problems, behavioral problems and welfare problems.

After 45 years, nutritional errors are still the main reason for health problems, welfare problems and mortality at a young age. Veterinary medicine has made major mistakes in recent decades and this also applies to organizations that stand up for the interests of animals but completely ignore the interests of birds. When it comes to animal welfare, it is never about bird welfare. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and “Animal” Protection are bitter examples of this.

Since 1982, this problem has been central to me as an avian veterinarian. Standing up for the interests, rights and welfare of birds. That is why from now on we will periodically discuss the problem of nutritional errors and the importance of good nutrition in more detail using practical examples.

Nutritional errors, casefile 1

A 3 year old canary…

The complaint is that the leg ring is too tight (see photo). It appears that the scales of the legs have become strongly thickened, causing the ring to pinch the leg. The canary is also clearly short of breath and has molting problems where the new feathers are clearly worse than the old feathers.

A combination of problems, all caused by structural power supply errors.

The canary is fed the well-known canary seed mixture, which is a completely inadequate diet. Reason for abnormal mucous membranes and therefore shortness of breath. Reason for abnormal scales that cause the ring to become tight. Reason for poor feather quality and molting problems as an indication that the canary does not grow old.

The solution: switch the canary to the High Potency Fine granules from Harrison's Bird Foods. This ensures that the canary will recover and the problems will disappear. Instead of 4-6 years, the canary can now live between 15-20 years. In addition, the canary should also go outside as often as possible throughout the year and the bird-unfriendly perches in the cage should be replaced with branches.

 

 

 

 

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