metal poisoning

I got a phone call last night from my breeder friend and she and I were trying to decide if we should put a goffin on Calcium EDTA while we await blood test results. One of things we have to do often is decide whether to start treatment right away because most tests take a few days to weeks to get back and unfortunately by the time someone drops a bird off with us it usually doesn't have that long.

Anyway it got me thinking and I am gonna just make a short list of birds we have treated for zinc or other metals and what the symptoms were...

Mike (CAG)... severely underweight, would not gain weight, all feathers on left side of body had been plucked off. Taken to vet, zinc levels moderately high (not lethaly high). One months of Calcium EDTA (chelating agent) and we re tested... Lower but not low enough. Contined treatment for another month (.2cc injected 2 times daily)... finally last zinc test (at 200 dollars again), and normal. He put some weight on, grew in some feathers and went on to finally father a fertile clutch. Poor guy went through hell

We also took his mate into the vet for testing and treatment.

Blue (Hyacinth Macaw). Silly bird ate everything in sight for a while when she was weaning... We noticed that her breast muscle wasn't developing despite daily flying sessions. Took her in had some tests run and xrays done. She had eaten some tiny bit of metal. Removed the metal and then treated her for metal toxicity as well. She went on to be just fine and we sold her. (Owner was made fully aware of any and all treatment and that the vet had given her a clean bill of health).

Sometimes the only warning you have with metal poisoning in it's early stages is that the bird is thin, and unfortunately a thin bird can be sick with just about anything. That poor grey and his mate were given to me and still wound up costing about 1200 in vet bills in the first two months.

If you ever get a bird from someone who likes to use breakfast cereal as a treat or food, PLEASE take it in for zinc test. NEVER feed cereal to a bird if you can avoid it... they can only have a tiny bit because of the amount of iron and zinc in cereal.

Just thought I'd share....

I share my rice krispies w/merlin a couple of mornings a week. Only tblsp or so, I have been trying to get him to eat fruit. I cut up berries & peaches in the cereal (no sugar) & mix them up. I should have caught this since several family members have hemochromotosis which is excessive iron retained in the blood. They never eat cereal when they visit because of the iron. Wonder if I have cause to worry. He's definitely not underweight.

He's probably fine, but I'd watch him. Zinc and iron can build up over a long period of time.... so keep in mind later on if he starts looking thin or plucks a particular side of his body to have him tested then. (At least that's what I'd do).

Can you tell me if nickel would cause poisoning?

I have used EDTA to treat lead poisening in wild swans with sucess

stephend said:

Can you tell me if nickel would cause poisoning?

Click to expand...

Zinc, Lead, Copper or Mercury are the most common. Some of the things that can cause lead poisoning, old lead based paint, curtain weights, fishing sinkers, solder, wine bottle foil, exposed back of mirrors, fly wire, copper wire, wire off cuts, lead shot, lead flashing, leadlined windows & ornaments & costume jewellery.

The signs vary from sudden death to slow almost unnoticeable disease, Metal poisoning affects various nerves in the body, the intestines, immune system & the kidneys. Nerve damage can be associated with paralysis or weakness, including foot paralysis. Loss of appetite, vomiting & diarrhoea are common signs. Too much urine, pink or excess urates & drinking more water than usual can be signs of kidney dammage. Other signs can include self mutilation of feathers & skin & increased susceptibility to other diseases.

Radiographs often help the diagnosis of metal poisoning. Blood tests may also be used.

The cure consists of a series of twice daily injections to bind the heavy metal already absorbed into the tissues, twice daily tube feeding liquid food. Metamucil & Calsenate to stop more being absorbed & supportive procedures to help the various organs to heal. However some birds prove to be beyond cure. Most poisoned birds recover sufficently to go home after 5 days of this treatment.

Prevention is definitely safer & better for your birds.

thanks for sharing