An Iodine Deficiency in Your Pet Cockatoo Can Cause Serious Illness

When you have a pet cockatoo, you should be on the lookout for any signs of iodine deficiency in your little friend. If you’re anything like me, you’d do anything to keep him healthy and happy.

Goiter, or enlargement of the thyroid gland, shows an external swelling of the bird’s neck. The growth presses against the crop and the trachea internally. Any exertion like flying and running will make the little bird out of breath very quickly. Breathing will be very heavy, and the bird will fall to the ground with outstretched wings and a pendulum on its neck. It may also make a high-pitched screech or whistle with each breath. To help itself breathe more easily, the little bird often rests its beak against the bars of the cage or on a parallel tree branch or perch.

If you don’t do anything about this condition right away, your pet cockatoo will get worse. You may start walking in circles, which is an indication of brain infection. Sudden death may then follow, caused by suffocation, heart failure, or weakness due to insufficient food intake.

With these severe thyroid symptoms, the bird can be given a prescription for iodine glycerin. The proper mix for cockatiels is one part tincture of iodine to five parts glycerin. Alternatively, a mixture of nine parts paraffin oil to one part iodine and glycerin, administered by plastic dropper in one corner of the beak intermittently over a 3-day period, can usually work wonders. If symptoms persist, see your avian veterinarian immediately.

An iodine deficiency can occur when drinking water is deficient in iodine. This used to be very common in captive cockatoos, budgerigars (rosellas, Bourke’s and others), lovebirds and parakeets. These conditions typically no longer occur due to commercial iodine-treated cage litter.

You can make sure to give your beloved pet cockatiel small amounts of iodine in various items. They are found in cuttlefish bones, sand from seashells, oyster shells, meat, milk, fish, and eggs. Fishmeal and cod liver oil are rich in iodine, but wheat germ is not. A recipe for white bread soaked in milk is a good treatment to prevent goiter.