lovebird having seizures

Question
two days ago, i noticed my lovebird (about 12 years old) was eating a seed and went into a seizure,  his wing became extended and he seemed unable to control his balance.  he immediately tried to climb up his cage, but was struggling.  i looked up his symptom and found he might be iodine deficient.  i gave him tincture of iodine and glycerine, about two drops, yesterday and today i had to hold him to take the drop.  later i noticed he was trying to eat a seed and had another seizure.  i held him until he was calmer. i am worried he isn't getting enough nutrients,  what should i feed him?

Answer
Hi, Diane.  Thanks for posting!

If your lovebird is having seizures, you need to take him to an avian veterinarian immediately.  Not a cat/dog vet, but an exotic animal vet.  You should not guess, or use some type of symptomatic diagnostic aid from the internet or a book, to try and diagnose your pet.  There could be a number of reasons why your bird is having seizures, if these are indeed seizures (your bird could be having mild heart attacks, strokes, other), and a bird vet would be the proper person to diagnose and treat your lovie.  You could actually be doing more harm than good.  

Your lovie should be on a diet of pelleted food, fresh veggies, some fruits, whole grains, etc., etc.  Food variety is the key to a healthy parrot.  Seed should be held to an absolute minimum as seed is low in nutritional value and high in fat content.  Seed to a bird is like candy to a child.  They love it so they want it!  Visit my website for more info on diet:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

A bird won't eat something that it doesn't recognize as food.  Therefore, you have to keep offering the food every day...the bird will eventually try it.  However, at 12-years of age, your lovie might be reluctant to try new foods.  Also, if your lovie has been on an all-seed diet for 12 years, he probably has several health problems going on.

Come back if you have further questions.  I'd be interested in hearing what an avian vet has to say about your lovie's health.

Chrys