Kiki regurgitates SunShine Factor

[caiquehead]

My beloved and very sweet and not noisy caique (surprising? there are some out there!) has been afflicted with a gastro infection.
I have a superb avian vet here in Montreal, Quebec who has put him on appropriate medication.
Last week, she added SunShine Factor, to boost his immune system.

He had 2 doses (1 per day) on Thursday and Friday. Doesn't seem to like it, but he's a good boy and takes his meds as required. This morning he threw-up after taking his SunShine Factor!! Not the little regurgitation that he sometimes does when he tried to "feed" me, but 5 full on regurgitations.
I called the vet and she told me to discontinue use.

I'm curious, though. Have any of you experienced this? With this particular supplement? He seems fine-ish, so I'm not horribly alarmed, but nevertheless concerned. Please, let us know!

 

[jasper19]

I have given some of that to angel here and there. How are you giving it?

I just mix a very small amount into her food, and it kind of attaches onto her pellets. Discoloring them slightly. So it is not much that i use i guess. She has not had any problem with that.

 

[Mallory]

How much was a "dose"? Sunshine Factor is just red palm oil. Oil (a fat that is liquid at room temperature) is rich even for our stomachs, I would imagine a parrot would struggle to keep down a large amount of it. Personally I do buy the Harrisons Power Pellets which come coated in Sunshine Factor, and the birds love it, but whether it is immune boosting is debatable. I've heard it more used for feather and skin health, similar to the effects of flax seed/salmon oil for dogs. There is debate as to whether palm oil is necessary or even healthy for our birds, I personally do not use it except in the occasional treat and I believe my birds are better off getting fats from unprocessed sources in their diets like occasional varied nuts and seeds.

I do not want to start an argument/heated debate but I personally believe palm oil is a marketing "super food" for parrots. It's like the trendy foods touted to have amazing health or weight loss benefits for humans - acai, flax seeds, quinoa/"ancient grains" and chia seeds being a good example. Yes these foods have health benefits but businesses will take those mild health benefits and make them seem like life-changing supplements. Everything in moderation, and when it comes to our birds, fats including palm oil should definitely be in moderation.

 

[rosembers]

You can use it as a substitute for vegetable oil in birdie breads (I use Harrisons bread mix and there are instructions to mix the ingredients using Sunshine Factor instead of the vegetable oil). That would make for an occasional lighter dose for his little system. As Mallory said, a straight dose of any fatty oil would likely make anyone's stomach feel upset. Good luck with your little one!

 

[Bandespresso]

Like others have said: Sunshine Factor is red pal oil which is great as a supplement but definitely doesn't do any immune-boosting. Did you put it in his food or just from a syringe? If you just gave him a dose from a syringe, you can pretty much equate that to you chugging a cup of oil....nasty!! It is super great to add to pellets, though. Personally, I add unrefined organic coconut oil to Espresso's chop and some to her pellets as well....it's cheaper than Sunshinefactor with about the same benefits. I'm a little confused about why your vet said it is immune boosting, though. There are so many other things to boost birdie immune systems!