The disease that starves your bird: Psittacine Proventricular
Dilatation Syndrome PPDS) Psittacine Proventricular Dilatation
Syndrome (PPDS) is also known by many, less common names,
including Macaw Wasting Disease and Neuropathic Gastric
Dilatation. PDS is a disease that destroys gastric mobility and
as a result, birds are unable to absorb nutrients due to
improper digestion. Thought to be viral in origin, PPDS is
contagious and often devastating. Young or old, imported or
domestic and male or female birds are equally at risk for PPDS.
The proventriculus is the glandular stomach, where gastric
(stomach) juices are secreted. It is directly connected to the
esophagus. The ventriculus is the muscular stomach (what most
people know as the "gizzard") and is next in the gastric chain
through which food passes. Although most commonly affecting
macaws and cockatoos, any of the psittacines are susceptible to
this disease. Signs that the owner might see include: - Passing
whole seeds in the feces Progressive central n