Kwik Stop Styptic Powder?

Zookcan

New member
Nov 4, 2020
5
0
Northwestern PA, United States
Parrots
Pikachu (Pineapple GCC ♀)
Hey there, have a dire question for you all. Just got my bird's nails done here at home and we had to use a little styptic powder for one of them. My bird, a GCC, doesn't really struggle that much or squawk, but she may bite something as much as she can and unfortunately while I was trying to put some styptic powder on her nail, she lunged for the q-tip.

Pikachu immediately let go but she got a little bit of powder in her mouth (I think it was the bitter taste that convinced her to let go of it,) And it only took a tiny amount to seal up the blood on her nail. She doesn't really fiddle with her nails so she didn't actively try to lick it off, and once the clot was made I simply had her dip her toes in the water to get off any excess (not that I applied very much to begin with.)

I have been looking all over online for opinions on Styptic Powder and what to do if it is ingested, and all of them have ranged to being safe if only a little amount is ingested to being toxic and the bird needing to be taken to the vet immediately. I've seen alternatives like corn starch and cayenne pepper as well.

I'm not sure if the vet and the local groomers that I've taken her to use styptic powder as well, just that I have seen stuff of that color be used on her nails in the past (she's a little long in the quick.) and we've had no problems.

However, I don't want to base my thoughts on just past experiences, so I thought I'd reach out and ask for your experiences/thoughts as well? Should I be using styptic powder at all? Should I be concerned since she ingested a little earlier? It's been about an hour and she's eating, drinking, and acting just fine, but I also don't know how long it takes for anything poisonous to start actively doing damage.

Thanks and stay safe <3
 

bug_n_flock

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
Kwick stop is the brand I have always known to be safe. It is what my boss at the parrot shop used on birds at the store, her own birds, and customer birds who came in for grooming. If I am correct it is copper free and designed to be fine for birbos.



I keep a bottle or two on hand but usually just reach for good old flour when/if needed(not often).
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
I have had it used on my birds. There are some complaints/dangers associated with it if ingested (not sure how much). Silver nitrate swabs are similar, but they rely on a chemical to cauterize the wound and do not involve powder (just rolling a swab in the area). NEITHER is risk free, but in a pinch, I have used both.
 

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