Polyuria and polydipsia due to vitamin and mineral oversupplementation of the diet of a salmon crested cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) and a blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna)

This paper describes a salmon-crested cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) and a blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) of one owner, both presented with polyuria/polydipsia and weight loss. A tentative diagnosis of hypervitaminosis D3 was based on the condition of hypercalcaemia, radiological findings and dietary history. On postmortem examination of the cockatoo, metastatic calcifications in the kidneys, lungs and proventriculus were seen. The diet was found to be oversupplemented with vitamin and mineral mixtures. The dietary concentrations of vitamins D3 and A were over 20-fold higher than the recommended levels. The diet also contained more calcium than is recommended. Although macaws are considered to be more susceptible to hypervitaminosis D3 than other psittacines, the cockatoo had more severe signs and died.