Liver Bile Acids?

[roseepting]

My vet says our new bird, Tindo has elevated (above 100) liver bile acid readings. He says they were at 113 a month and a half ago and still there 2 weeks ago. He said at first that it could be because the bird had been weaned to seeds. We have had him on pellets (Pretty Bird African Grey) since about a week before his last blood test. Now he thinks because the reading is the same as before we should xray his liver. He did say we could wait a month or two and retest which is what I am leaning towards. He didn't say what could be done if there is a problem with the liver. I am all for paying whatever if the bird is sick and it can be cured, but he is so active and beginning to talk and shows no sign of any problem. I know they hide things, but he is busy and happy. Any one have any ideas or had a similar problem and what did you do?

[pikachu]

Does his poop (the usual white portion) have a greenish tint to it?

[Greywings]

The liver is one of the few organs that can repair it's self to some degree so a clean healthy diet with fresh greens and a variety of foods will do him some good along with some exposure to unfiltered Sunshine. You may want to read about Milk Thistle drops as a detoxifier. Other than that it is kind of wait & see how he progresses then do what is required.

[roseepting]

Thanks for your help.. His poop is white and dark green/black. The vet said it was fine when he was there two weeks ago. I think I will call him back. I don't understand what he would do if he did xray the liver. What possible problems/treatments might be. He didn't seem to think it was urgent, yet said he wasn't comfortable blowing it off.

[Greywings]

I would think he could see if it was enlarged.

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

How old is your baby? For humans, newborn babies, sometimes have elevated liver enzymes, due to an immature liver. I don't know about birds livers, but I would be very careful regarding introducing anything new to your baby. Contact your vet, ask him what in the diet will be more taxting to his liver. Adjust diet accordingly. I would followup in three to four weeks with new lab test. I don't see how an xray would help checking out the liver. An ultrasound would be the first step. Just a thought from a radiology nurse. Nancy