Diabetes Mellitus In Birds

Let's discuss about diabetes mellitus in birds. Like humans, animals have hormones and require the right balance of hormones and the proper amount of blood glucose. This article will focus on diabetes mellitus in birds as well as other possible hormonal disorders.

Hormonal disorders can affect many different animals including birds. One type of hormonal disorder is diabetes mellitus. This is not very common, but it also sometimes occurs in reptiles. Diabetes Mellitus is a glandular disease meaning it affects an animal's glands and the secretion of hormones. Diabetes mellitus in birds often affects obese birds, so make sure your bird maintains a healthy weight in order to prevent this disorder.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus in birds includes  increases in things such as thirst and urine. Birds will also have increased levels of blood glucose, but that will be determined from tests done by a veterinarian. Similar to how diabetes mellitus is diagnosed in humans, it is diagnosed in birds with blood glucose tests. A veterinarian will also test blood for insulin levels.

Hormonal disorders in birds are typically caused by problems with the animal's glands. Glands that control the secretion of hormones begin to secrete imbalanced amounts resulting in these disorders. What causes glands to start secreting abnormally? Surgery, injury and tumors can all cause changes that result in hormonal disorders. Certain diseases can also affect a bird's glands.

When glands secrete too much or too little of certain hormones affects the animal's blood levels of certain hormones. For example cancer in a male bird's reproductive organs can cause too many female hormones to be released. Cancer in a female bird's ovaries can result in male characteristic because of the secretion of too many male hormones. 

Treatments vary depending on the specific type and cause of hormonal diseases. Treatments for Diabetes Mellitus in birds are usually insulin given trough injections or in a bird's water. Your bird may always require medication for its hormonal disorders while diabetes mellitus in some birds is only temporary.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.