{"id":144341,"date":"2024-05-31T14:00:33","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T19:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/windycityparrot.com\/?p=144341"},"modified":"2024-05-31T14:00:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T19:00:33","slug":"can-you-help-my-48-y-o-amazon-that-developed-cataracts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/?p=144341","title":{"rendered":"Can You Help My 48 Y.O. Amazon that Developed Cataracts?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Are there any special things to do to help my parrot?\u00a0 He is 48 and has developed cataracts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"> I am keeping him in the same cage and not changing things around but he seems to fall off his perch more than usual.\u00a0 Suggestions?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Catherine responded,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you for caring for your elderly Amazon parrot.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazons do tend to live longer than other parrots and thus also can start to suffer from aging more visibly from arthritis, cataracts, and other issues.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cataracts in parrots can be removed but they are costly and highly risky to deal with the surgery and recovery.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Usually preparing a cage to offer easy travel is a better option.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the bird loses more of its sight, please get it settled into a suitable cage with perches and toys that it may be living with for the rest of its life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/can-a-macaw-parrot-get-cataracts\/<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cage between 20&#8243; and 30&#8243; wide is best so the bird can easily reach everything. Attaching rope perches that lead to and from the bird&#8217;s main seating area will help with controlling falling. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/product\/comfy-rope-perch-large-21-inch-35-6-cm-long-by-booda\/<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The medium 3\/4&#8243; to large 1 1\/4&#8243; thick ropes are easier to hang onto than smooth dowel perches. If you prefer wood, please consider natural wood perches so they are not so slippery.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/can-lighting-benefit-my-blue-crown-conure-with-cataracts\/<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping the bird&#8217;s cage in the family room where you and other family members can be heard, even if your bird cannot see them will be comforting. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/a-look-at-a-cockatiel-pulling-wing-feathers-and-cockatiel\/<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please leave some background music or radio for company when you are out. Without sight, your bird will enjoy the sounds for comfort.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your bird can enjoy a good life even without full sight, as long as its family members are still around and attentive.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Written by Catherine Tobsing<br \/>\nApproved by Mitch Rezman<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Google&#8217;s Gemini,<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p class=\"first-token\" data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:28\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Unfortunately, there isn&#8217;t a one-size-fits-all answer for treating cataracts in parrots.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe title=\"Parrot Cataract Surgery\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WprDMjkgxK0\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"first-token\" data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:28\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"> The best course of action depends on several factors, including the severity of the cataracts and your parrot&#8217;s overall health. Here&#8217;s a breakdown of the possibilities:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:61\">\n<li data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:61\">\n<p class=\"\" data-sourcepos=\"3:3-3:362\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong class=\"\">Surgery:<\/strong> This is the most effective treatment for cataracts, but it&#8217;s also the most invasive. Avian veterinarians or veterinary ophthalmologists can perform cataract surgery on parrots, though it&#8217;s considered a moderately difficult procedure. They&#8217;ll be able to discuss the risks and benefits with you to determine if it&#8217;s the right option for your bird.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"5:1-6:0\">\n<p data-sourcepos=\"5:3-5:294\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Management:<\/strong> In some cases, if the cataracts are mild and not causing significant vision problems, surgery might not be necessary. Your avian vet can recommend ways to manage your parrot&#8217;s condition, which might involve environmental enrichment to help them navigate despite vision loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:224\">\n<p data-sourcepos=\"7:3-7:224\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Limited medical options:<\/strong> It&#8217;s important to note that, unlike humans, there aren&#8217;t any medications or supplements proven to reverse cataracts in parrots. There have been anecdotal reports of dietary changes helping, but these lack scientific backing, and consulting a vet is crucial before making any dietary modifications.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:274\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Here&#8217;s the key takeaway: <strong>Schedule an appointment with an avian veterinarian or veterinary ophthalmologist<\/strong>. They can examine your parrot, determine the best course of treatment, and answer any questions you have about cataracts and their impact on your feathered friend.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are there any special things to do to help my parrot?\u00a0 He is 48 and has developed cataracts.\u00a0 I am keeping him in the same cage and not changing things around but he seems to fall off his perch more than usual.\u00a0 Suggestions?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":144378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_mo_disable_npp":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[239,193,194,197,246,203],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-144341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amazons","category-bathing-and-health","category-bird-parrot-anaotmy","category-bird-enviornments","category-handicap-birds","category-veterinarian-related"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-2-1.png?resize=512%2C445&ssl=1",512,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-2-1.png?resize=463%2C348&ssl=1",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-2-1.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-2-1.png?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1",512,512,false]},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed-2-1.png?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phcfkq-By5","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=144341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/144378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=144341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=144341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=144341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}