JAMES HARRIS, DVM
Trapped food can distend crop
 My 10-year-old African grey parrot has what looks like a golf ball hanging from her neck. Is this just food in her crop? I was told that the ball started out small about one year ago. Does this need to be removed or can it be cleaned out?
-- James Rawson
 A "golf-ball" size distention of the crop could be caused by any one of a number of things. It could be a tumor, malignant or benign, or tissue swollen from some type of infection, parasite or foreign object such as a splinter. It could be what is called a diverticulum - a pouching of the wall of a tubular organ caused by a weakening of the muscle and tissue. Any of these problems can cause the lump to grow over time; in the latter case, possibly with trapped food. It's possible a pocket could be cleaned out, but it would only refill again. Your bird needs to be examined and possibly x-rayed to find out exactly what is going on. Surgery could be necessary. To repair a diverticulum, for instance, a veterinarian would need to remove the weakened section of the wall and suture healthy tissue over the defect.
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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