Urgent Advice Needed: Lovebird Regurgitation and Grit Issue

[mariambn]

Hello,

I wanted to bring up a situation regarding my lovebird to see if anyone else has experienced something similar.

First, I want to clarify that I am taking my lovebird to an avian vet and have been following up weekly regarding this issue.

Two months ago, my lovebird began exhibiting abnormal regurgitation behavior. Instead of normal food, he was vomiting a white liquid that lasted between 15 to 40 minutes. The vet checked for bacteria and yeast in his crop/droppings, but found nothing. He then performed an X-ray and noticed a buildup of grit or sand in the stomach, which he identified as the cause of the vomiting. Because lovebirds are small, he said that the equipment was not suitable for him to extract the grit or perform a stomach wash. Instead, he prescribed a liquid made of oil and peanut to act as a laxative, which I was instructed to give him twice a day to help facilitate the passage of the sand. I have been doing this for the past two months, but today the vet advised me to stop, as using the oil for an extended period is not good for the bird. While the amount of sand has decreased in his stomach, the remaining bits have not changed in the last three weeks. The vet suggested I monitor him and hope that the remaining sand will pass as he eats more vegetables.

It's often advertised that grit is good for birds, but the vet clarified that it’s only suitable for ducks and chickens, not for parrots like lovebirds or parakeets. Grit does not exit their system easily, which can lead to situations like mine. I would appreciate any insights or advice from others who may have faced similar issues with their birds.

Thank you!

 

[Zara]

Sorry, I have no experience with that.
But I do know that often small parrot owners are misled into thinking they need grit for their birds, when actually no hookbill needs it as they hull their seeds and nuts first, unlike softbills and poultry.

I hope your bird is able to pass the remaining grit. Did your vet say what would happen if they are unable to pass it through droppings?

 

[mariambn]

Sorry, I have no experience with that.
But I do know that often small parrot owners are misled into thinking they need grit for their birds, when actually no hookbill needs it as they hull their seeds and nuts first, unlike softbills and poultry.

I hope your bird is able to pass the remaining grit. Did your vet say what would happen if they are unable to pass it through droppings?

The vet didn't say much, but it is clear that the bird will struggle. The prolonged regurgitation is exhausting for him, and we have already dealt with two bacterial infections as a result. He received antibiotic treatment twice within less than two months.

 

[Shezbug]

When birds eat things they should not it is often advised to feed peanut butter (I have also seen papaya and mashed pumpkin suggested) to help the item move along- I wonder if feeding things like papaya, mashed pumpkin and peanut butter daily might be beneficial to help move the grit along.

 

[mariambn]

Hello,

I wanted to bring up a situation regarding my lovebird to see if anyone else has experienced something similar.

First, I want to clarify that I am taking my lovebird to an avian vet and have been following up weekly regarding this issue.

Two months ago, my lovebird began exhibiting abnormal regurgitation behavior. Instead of normal food, he was vomiting a white liquid that lasted between 15 to 40 minutes. The vet checked for bacteria and yeast in his crop/droppings, but found nothing. He then performed an X-ray and noticed a buildup of grit or sand in the stomach, which he identified as the cause of the vomiting. Because lovebirds are small, he said that the equipment was not suitable for him to extract the grit or perform a stomach wash. Instead, he prescribed a liquid made of oil and peanut to act as a laxative, which I was instructed to give him twice a day to help facilitate the passage of the sand. I have been doing this for the past two months, but today the vet advised me to stop, as using the oil for an extended period is not good for the bird. While the amount of sand has decreased in his stomach, the remaining bits have not changed in the last three weeks. The vet suggested I monitor him and hope that the remaining sand will pass as he eats more vegetables.

It's often advertised that grit is good for birds, but the vet clarified that it’s only suitable for ducks and chickens, not for parrots like lovebirds or parakeets. Grit does not exit their system easily, which can lead to situations like mine. I would appreciate any insights or advice from others who may have faced similar issues with their birds.

Thank you!

I wanted to provide an update in case anyone else is facing a similar situation. Unfortunately, my lovebird 'lulu' suffered for several months due to a grit issue. I had one last X-ray done in June 2025, which was eight months after the initial diagnosis. The avian vet noted that there was a decreased amount of grit in the stomach, but when I asked why my bird's condition wasn’t improving, he mentioned we needed to get the grit down to zero. After the vet went on vacation, my bird's condition worsened over the next two months. I then took him to another vet, who suggested that we do blood tests and another X-ray. Sadly, my beloved bird passed away just two days before we could conduct the tests. He had stopped eating, and when I took him to the emergency vet, they told me to feed him via a tube but did not want to hospitalize him. The next day, he sat at the bottom of the cage, so I took him back to the emergency vet. This time, I insisted on hospitalization. Unfortunately, just eight hours later, he vomited and died. I am frustrated that vets who label themselves as avian or exotic specialists often seem to lack proper knowledge. The first avian vet who diagnosed the grit neglected to check other organs and did not consider the impact that the grit and abnormal regurgitation had on the liver. The last two vets I consulted wanted to perform various tests but claimed it was impossible due to the bird's small size and their lack of equipment and expertise to treat small birds.

Lulu you were loved, RIP 2015-2025

 

[sunnysmom]

So sorry for your loss.