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View Full Version : Kodos diagnosed with fatty tumor


kangandkodos
12-01-2007, 06:04 PM
This morning when we took the cover off the bird cage, we noticed that Kodos was keeping one eye closed. The eyelid looked a little funny too, so we took him to the vet. His eye is fine, but they did a check-up while he was there and he's gained 2g since his last check-up in May. He now weighs 43g (:eek:), while he should weigh about 35g (according to the vet). The vet showed us the fatty tumor on his chest.
So, the prescription for Kodos is more exercise and less food. I know we tend to put way more food than they need in the cage, but that's because we're worried that Kang won't get any otherwise, because Kodos is kind of a bully about food. The vet suggested we just put a small amount in their bowls in the morning, and then they'll be without food for most of the day and we'd put more in at dinnertime. My fear is that Kodos will just eat it all, and Kang will go hungry.
Has anyone else had to put one bird on a diet when you have more than one housed together? What did you have to do to make it work? We can't really house them separately because they have separation anxiety. Any suggestions?

Squeak_Crumble
12-01-2007, 06:14 PM
well maybe put in feed in a bowl outside the cage and leave kodos in the cage so kang can eat.

Squeak_Crumble
12-01-2007, 06:17 PM
and take kang out.lol

kangandkodos
12-01-2007, 06:23 PM
Good suggestion and it seems so obvious. We'll see how it goes. We're going to start weighing them periodically on the kitchen scale to monitor things, so I guess we'll know if Kang is getting enough to eat. I'm not sure if he'll eat if Kodos is still in the cage and he's not. They usually spend all their time trying to get back to each other if they're separated. But it doesn't hurt to try!

atvchick95
12-01-2007, 08:32 PM
how many food dishes do you have in ur cage? if you have just one, try adding another one so they both have thier own I've got 4 food dishes (one is actually a med. sized dog dish for a dog crate) and one water dish for 6 birds, but even when i just had 2 I had 4 dishes in the cage

I've also got water on top of the cage - it's actually their bath tub BUT they'd rather drink out of it instead lol

kangandkodos
12-02-2007, 03:55 PM
I do have two food bowls, but Kodos likes to eat out of whichever one Kang is currently using. I guess if I had more than two, Kodos wouldn't be able to guard them all!
Actually, so far it's not a problem. Now that they're getting a small amount of food at breakfast and then dinner, instead of having a large amount in the cage all day, they pretty much pay attention to what they're eating and not what the other bird is eating. I was worrying for nothing!
Thanks for the advice, anyway!
(My birds also would rather drink out of their bathtub than bathe in it. Weird.)