James Harris, DVM
Allergies one possible cause of necrosis
 My 10-year-old double-yellow-head Amazon has had a history of foot necrosis. It has been a few years since he has had any serious problems. I just gave him a seed treat for large parrots (nuts and sunflowers) made by Pretty Bird. Within 10 minutes he was eating at his feet and acting as though they itched. He has not had any seed for several months as I give pellets, fruit, veggies, pasta, and small amounts of other table food. Could such an immediate flareup of foot problems be linked to the seed? Or to the nuts?
-- Callie Saff, East Bradenton, Florida
 FOR READERS who aren't familiar with the condition, Amazon foot necrosis (so called because it seems to afflict only Amazon parrots) causes the skin on the feet and, less commonly, on the legs and wings, to die. Skin appears dry and dark and sloughs off or is pulled off by the bird, leaving open sores. Self-mutilation often is involved; however, the cause of necrosis is not known. Possibilities include viral or bacterial infections, general hypersensitivity, or an allergic reaction to food. To successfully treat the condition, you must stop the bird from mutilating and use antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections. Necrosis tends to recur; it takes considerable veterinary involvement and owner cooperation to clear it up.
An acute onset of foot chewing shortly after eating a new food item does suggest your bird is allergic to the seed treat. Remember, seeds north of the border do not exist in the Amazon's native habitat of Mexico and Central America, so they are not a part of his natural diet. You might try to solve this mystery by waiting awhile and offering him the same treat later, to see if he has the same reaction. But in general, I would stick with the diet you described, which is well balanced, and skip the seed-nut treats from now on.
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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