Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/5/2007

Question
Hi I have -

My name is Shannon and I have a Green Cheek that is only seven months old.  Last night my husband and I were eating a bowl of cereal and hunter drank some of the milk from the bowl.  My husband and I did not know that birds are lactose intolerant.  His right eye is swollen shut and it almost looks bruised around the white area.  He is not eating and we are giving him water from an eye dropper.  He has been sleeping a lot today and does not seem to be able to keep his balance.  Can you please tell me if it is possible for him to be having an allergic reaction ?  Can drinking to much milk cause an eye to swell ?  We have three cats and they are all healthy.  Hunter rules the house and the birds.  Please let me know what your recommendation would be.

Thank you,

Shannon

Answer
Hi, Shannon.  Thanks for posting!

Being lactose intolerant means a bird can't digest dairy products.  This would normally result in digestive upset, not a swollen eye.  I've never heard of nor experienced any parrot having any type of reaction from drinking milk or eating dairy products.  I think the eye problem is a separate issue.  Birds can have allergies to things, but it doesn't make common sense that a bird would have an allergic reaction to milk when it isn't designed to consume milk to begin with...a bird vet would know this for sure.  

Did the eye problem develop AFTER the bird drank the cereal milk?  What type of cereal and did the bird eat any of the cereal?  You'd have to take your bird to an avian veterinarian in order to know for sure.  I wouldn't let the eye problem go too long without seeking bird vet evaluation (unless it clears up in a day or two).  The balance problem concerns me, as it could indicate (with the swollen eye) that your bird could have some type of respiratory infection/problem.

Chrys