Heavy Metal Poisoning

HMP occurs when a parrot ingests a particle of heavy metal. Once ingested it begins to poison the parrot, affecting the kidneys, blood cells, intestines and nervous system. This makes the parrot very ill and can cause rapid death.

The following metals are lethal to our parrots:

• Brass
• Zinc
• Copper
• Lead
• aluminum
• Rust
• Symptoms

HMP must always be taken very seriously. The smallest amount of metal will poison your parrot. Symptoms may onset quickly and if left untreated, death is almost assured.

The main symptoms of HMP are:

• Abnormal Droppings - bright green almost fluorescent in color, or blood in their stool
• Lethargy
• Shallow respiration - their tail will bob up and down with each breath
• Regurgitation
• Weakness
• Falling of their perch
• Dizziness, unable to stand up, can't walk or fly
• Diarrhea
• Sudden feather picking, irritated behavior
• Fluffing up their feathers to retain body heat and hunkering down close to the perch
• Vomiting. This is different to regurgitation. Parrots shake their heads vigorously when vomiting and food will often be found on the top of their head.
• Head tilting abnormally
• Increased thirst
• Increased defecating
• Often the parrot will just seem 'unwell' or not acting themselves
• In severe cases seizures may occur

Never hesitate to seek veterinary assistance

If your bird starts exhibiting any of the above symptoms, take them to a vet immediately. It's not worth waiting to 'see how everything goes'. Many birds have died needlessly because their owner was hesitant to seek veterinary advice. I always advise owners to take their parrot to the vet even if they seem mildly unwell. Remember that parrots hide illness extremely well and by the time they begin exhibiting symptoms, they are usually very sick.

Playing it safe at home

We can help keep our kids heavy metal free by adding the following natural chelating agents to their diet: Note-the following foods are only to be used as a preventative measure only.

• Fresh Cilantro (also called Coriander or Chinese Parsley)
• Brazil nuts
• Pumpkin seeds or Papitas - helps remove zinc and magnesium
• Sunflower seeds - not in excess
• Activated charcoal - this can be crushed and sprinkled over your parrots wet food e.g. egg and biscuit mix once a week. We feed 2 - 3 grams per parrot.
• Regularly adding these foods to your Eckie's diet will help remove toxins that have built up in the system and keep the liver and kidneys in tip-top shape.

Cilantro (coriander or parsley) can be chopped finely and sprinkled over fruit and vegetables, mixed as a birdie pesto or even offered in a nice big bunch.