If the tumour is not ulcerated or necrotic, initial treatment involves dietary modification and additional exercise. Iodine supplementation in the form of Ioford in the drinking water is also recommended at this stage. Lipomas that do not respond to this treatment often become ulcerated or begin to interfere with locomotion.
Management of Lipomas (non-ulcerated and non-necrotic)
- Introduce a low fat diet (low sunflower seed content).
- Balance nutrition by following the Ongoing Health Programme.
- Use an Iodine supplement to stimulate the thyroid gland and metabolism of fatty tissues.
- Stimulate exercise twice daily to help with weight and fat reduction.
- Return in 2 weeks for re-assessment of the tumour.
Fat tumours are associated with normal fat depots throughout the body. The presence of these fat depots may lead to multi-focal development of lipomas. The aim of the above regime is to remove or minimise these surrounding fat depots to allow complete removal of the lipoma. If the tumour is completely removed, removal is usually curative.
Management of Xanthomas (ulcerated and necrotic)
Once the tumour becomes ulcerated or necrotic the tumour changes in nature to a serious life-threatening form called a Xanthoma. Xanthomas tend to overly fat deposits, hernias and chronic abscesses, and are non-discrete thickened areas of yellow, friable skin that bleeds easily. In these cases surgical removal is required. If the tumour is left untreated, the bird becomes susceptible to sudden bleeding episodes and may bleed to death.
Surgical Removal of Xanthomas
Once the fat tumour becomes ulcerated or necrotic, immediate surgical removal becomes necessary. The ulcerated and necrotic skin associated with xanthomas often complicates surgical removal of these tumours. Our aim for surgery is to completely remove the xanthoma and any surrounding necrotic or ulcerated skin. If this is achieved, recurrence is less likely.
Post Operative Complications
There is very little chance of post surgical complication following the routine removal of non ulcerated/necrotic fat tumours. The removal of xanthomas and ulcerated lipomas is a more complex procedure because of an increased likelihood of bleeding and stroke like syndrome (see surgery pamphlet overleaf). As well, the likelihood of self mutilation is increased following surgery because the bird has developed a habit of picking itself. Self mutilation lessens the chance of recovery as the wound is not allowed adequate time to heal.
Programme to help decrease size of tumour and prevent recurrence
Day of Week |
Water Supplements |
Food Supplements |
Friday |
Ioford1 |
F-Vite4 |
Saturday |
Dufoplus/Ioford2 |
Turbobooster3 Energy supplement, F-Vite |
Sunday |
Dufoplus2/Ioford1 |
Turbobooster3 Energy supplement, F-Vite |
Monday |
Ioford1 |
F-Vite4 |
Tuesday |
Ioford1 |
F-Vite4 |
Wednesday |
Ioford1 |
F-Vite4 |
Thursday |
Ioford1 |
F-Vite4 |