Lipomas

[Bunny Whisperer]

Hello, I have recently got a zebra finch from a pet store, which seems to have developed lipomas. At the beginning it looked like a bald spot with an irregular yellowish-orange growth on top of his left wing, also left side of his chest and leg. It was beginning to spread to his right side too. I've had him about month now and it looks like the growths/tumors have shrunk, but also become very dry, hard and brittle. Is it a good sign? His left wing is drooping, which improved after the first few weeks (he gets much more exercise since I bought him), but now has become droopy again. Is it possible that the now hardened lipomas impair the movement of the wing? I read that the main cause of lipomas in birds is obesity, all seed diet and lack of exercise. What should I feed him? I don't think that pellets are a good choice for any animal. Finches are natural seed eaters, but seeds are high in fat. Are some types of seeds better than other to be fed in such a condition? His seed mix is comprised of White Proso Millet, Japanese Millet, Canary Grass, Rape, Niger and Black Lettuce Seeds. I also give him eggs shells and F-Vite. He recently started eating fresh greens and vegetables and boiled egg. I treat his skin with Sovereign Silver and Neem leaf infusion. It softens the yellow layers of the lipomas which then peel off. Is there anything else I can do to help him? Any information would be very helpful. I’m going to post more photos soon Thanks a lot!

[Sally]

I haven't had to deal with this problem, so not much help. Finches are seed eaters, but they definitely benefit from a more varied diet. You are on the right track by offering veggies and egg food. I agree about the pellets. Though they are designed to be a perfectly-balanced food, I think it is better to offer a more natural way of sorting through seed and hulling it. Hopefully, others will have better advice for you.

I did want to welcome you to the forum. There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where you will find many articles on diet and nutrition and the Zebra finch. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer locale-specific questions later on. Do you have just this one finch? If so, once he is better, you might want to think about getting a buddy for him, as finches do like the company of other finches.

[MiaCarter]

It's hard to tell from the photo, but a majority of the bumps you see on birds are actually feather cysts.

Lipomas generally don't shrink. (Although they can.) They usually get bigger with time. A cyst, on the other hand, could get larger and smaller. It could disappear entirely and then re-form.

The yellow coloration is spot on for a feather cyst.

The location is right for a feather cyst too. The wings are the most vulnerable area for this particular condition.

These cysts form when the feather doesn't emerge as it should. It bunches up inside the follicle. Sebum - a mix of oils and keratin - also accumulates in there.

So unless you're positive it's a lipoma, I'd lance it. Apply a warm, wet compress for about 5-7 min. (I'll wrap a heat pack with a wet washcloth)
Then, knick the skin with the corner of a sterile razor. You'll need tweezers to pluck the offending feather. Drain the cyst, flush with saline if you have some, then apply a dab of antibiotic ointment and you're done.

They tend to recur in the same place once the follicle is damaged. And there may or may not be a feather involved in the future cysts.

As for diet, you're on a good path. The fresh foods are really good for them.

Here's a rundown of what I feed:
http://wp.me/p4JWrl-i2

Best of luck with your birdie! He's very lovely. He has such a pretty cheek color.

[Bunny Whisperer]

Hi! Thanks a lot for your advice and the warm welcome : ) I'm familiar with the information on the Finch Information Center website. I also feed my Zebra sprouted seeds, bee pollen and I make him herbal infusions to drink. It took me some time to convince him to eat greens, veggies and softwood.

You're right about the pellets. I don't know how they're supposed to be a perfectly-balanced food if they're seed-based, dry, processed, stuffed with artificial vitamins and I bet the main ingredient is corn

I have already reserved another zebra finch from a very good breeder and will be getting it probably in a month : ) Something I should have done in the first place (instead of getting one at a pet store), but I'm glad I can help my finch anyway.

I'm pretty sure, the condition he has is Lipomas because the growth occurs on top of the skin, not within, and every day it peels off more, showing healthy pink skin underneath. Lipomas do shrink as the fat gets reabsorbed and expelled from the body. The crusty layers that remain on top of the skin are made of cholesterol that doesn't dissolve that easily. Here are some more photos of it:

[Sally]

Since you appear to be very interested in alternative medicine, you might like this Yahoo group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EssentialBird/info

Lainey Alexander is the owner/moderator of that group, and she is very knowledgeable about alternative medicines. She has lots of experience in treating various problems with essential oils, herbal infusions, etc. Someone there might be able to offer suggestions on organic/herbal methods of treatment for lipomas.

[Bunny Whisperer]

Thanks so much! I'm definitely going to check it out! I really hope he gets better soon..

[MiaCarter]

Oooh, that's a lot of crusting and peeling, even for a lipoma.

What's curious is that it's all the way down to his leg, which doesn't appear to be affected by any fatty tumors.

Generally if it was a deposit or simply skin that was damaged from getting stretched by the growth, it would be a very localized lesion. Usually directly over the growth.

It's difficult to tell for sure, but it looks like the affected area comprises a much larger area -- far beyond the site of the growth, as it looks to be under the wing on the side and on the leg too. (Unless the growth encompasses that entire area?)

Also, lipomas would have a different presentation from what you described. They occur below the skin, but above the muscle.
http://www.birdvet.com.au/birdcare/bird ... ipomas.htm

They arise in the adipose tissue, below the skin.
http://www.dermatocor.com/images/skin/lipoma.aspx

Here's a better look at the various layers.
http://showmesomeskin.wikispaces.com/fi ... t_copy.jpg

In short, going by the photos, this doesn't look like any lipoma I've ever seen. And I've seen lots over the years. (Have a few removed from my dogs and parrots in jars actually. LOL Nice mementos.)

Are there any other symptoms? Like skin weeping or an odor or anything?
Thinking along the lines of some sort of fungal or skin infection.

Personally, I'd go to a vet for this one. An exam, skin scraping and fine needle aspiration of the mass would be beneficial.
If you do go to the vet and get a diagnosis, I'd love to hear what the verdict is!

ETA - I'd also get a pair of tweezers and remove the crusted tissue that's caught up in the feathers.
That gunk is going to inhibit air flow and promote bacteria growth, making a condition ripe for infection.

[dutch]

Bunny Whisperer....I have never seen that. ..the bird looks like it's in pain

It needs to see a vet asap

[Bunny Whisperer]

I went to a specialist with my zebra. He had lipomas due to a liver cancer caused probably by inappropriate care (poor diet and lack of exercise) provided by the breeder or pet store. He died unfortunately. I don't know how old he was, but it must have been going on for a while.

[Sally]

I'm so sorry you lost him. You were correct with your initial diagnosis, but there wasn't anything you could do for him. Often at pet shops, they don't get a proper varied diet. Even with breeders, not all provide good nutrition, which is basic to good health.

[Bunny Whisperer]

It was too late to help him : ( Just makes me angry at people that get into breeding animals and don't do it properly. My bunny was pretty attached to my zebra and got really stressed for two days after his passing, which ended up with an ear inflammation. Bunnies are very sensitive to stress and often react to it with a physical illness. But he's much better now. I was actually surprised a bunny and a finch would like each other so much.

[MariusStegmann]

When I was a kid, we had a German Shepherd dog and a bunny who were very attached to each other.

[MiaCarter]

Aw, poor guy.
I'm utterly shocked that those were, in fact, lipomas. That's not a presentation I've ever seen before, with that degree of peeling, especially in the area surrounding the lipomas, like on the leg.
I'm glad you followed up, as that's how we learn.
But I'm sorry to hear the ultimate outcome.

And poor bunny.
Bunnies are super sensitive. I hope he's feeling better. I've had a few bunnies who were roommates with my guinea pigs.
Growing up, my friend had an enormous bunny who was litter trained and had free reign of the house. I don't recall the breed, but it was one of those huge breeds that's larger than a large cat. He was such a cool little guy.

[Bunny Whisperer]

It looked different because I softened the tumors with sovereign silver, which then started too peel off with new skin forming underneath. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of what it looked like before the beginning of treatment. Massaging broke down the fat deposits under the skin which caused lipomas to shrink which also contributed to peeling. I'm pretty sure I could have healed his skin if he hadn't had his liver so much damaged already : (

My bunny is litter trained and and only uses his cage as a toilet ; ) Bunnies are really smart if you let them. He's pretty much recovered, just have to put ear drops in his ear for a few more days : )