JAMES HARRIS, DVM
Beaks that grow too fast
 Every three or four months I have to take my macaw to the vet to have his beak trimmed. My vet says this is not normal and may indicate disease, but doesn't seem in too much of a hurry to perform any tests. Louie is 16 years old and according to his former owners, he's had beak trims all his life. He seems healthy. Should I be concerned?
--Paul Robert, Alameda, Calif.
 One reason Louie may be needing frequent beak trims is that he simply
is not wearing his beak down faster than it grows. Try giving
him safe objects to chew, such as tree branches or toys made of blocks of wood.
This will provide him with chewing exercise that all parrots need and may keep beak
growth within normal limits.
An anatomical deviation caused by an early injury could be another reason why Louie's beak appears to be growing rapidly.
A bird's beak is a specialized nail
that, like your own nails, grows constantly. However, unlike fingernails, which grow only from the base out, a bird's beak grows in two additional directions:
from the middle out to the sides and from the deeper layer out to the surface.
Damage to any part of these growth areas, or an injury that affects how the lower beak moves against the underside of the
upper beak, can alter the beak's length.
The third scenario is that the beak is indeed growing rapidly due to, as your vet suggests, an underlying disease. In some birds, such as the
budgie, a fast-growing beak can be a sign of liver disease.
As with your own nails,
a beak's surface tissue is composed of protein, which the liver forms from amino acids. Some diseases change the liver's metabolism of amino acids, thereby causing the beak to grow abnormally fast.
To get to the root of the problem, speak with your veterinarian about Louie's
diet, housing, activities and care. He or she may suggest a complete blood count,
chemistry panel, radiographs or, as a last resort, a liver biopsy.
James Harris, DVM is owner and medical director of the Mayfair Veterinary Clinic in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. He founded Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has served as medical director and chairman of the board for the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley. Dr. Harris' numerous professional honors include California and National Bustad Companion Animal DVM Awards.
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