Aloe Detox For Parrots with Elevated Liver Values

[Birdman666]

When I got my BFA several years ago, she was near death. Her liver values were so high my vet essentially told me she should be dead already...

I came across this on Carolyn Swicegood's Land of Vos site, and tried it, along with a change in diet to fresh foods. Two months later this bird's liver values were within normal limits!

ALOE DETOX-- About a year ago, I wrote an account in an on-line newsletter of an adult female eclectus that I own who became seriously ill. After undergoing every imaginable test and treatment protocol by two veterinarians, no diagnosis could be made and the bird was sent home to be "kept comfortable." In desperation, I went browsing in a health food store with the hope of finding something that might save my beloved bird. Both vets had mentioned liver damage so I decided to try a liver-detoxifying agent called Aloe Detox by Naturade. I was shocked at the immediate response--her appetite returned, she began perching for the first time in weeks and she became responsive to her surroundings again.

After a couple weeks of steady improvement and when she seemed normal again, I took her back to one of the treating vets for blood work. He was pleasantly surprised just to see her alive, and he drew blood for re-testing. He phoned me with the results of the CBC and said "If I had not drawn the blood myself, I would not believe that it came from the same bird. All of her liver values are completely normal!"

In hindsight, I wish that I had kept a log of all her treatments, including the Aloe Detox, but the dosage that I used was, at best, unscientific, being simply all that I could get into her. I made her drinking water half Aloe Detox, soaked her bird bread in it, and put it on everything that she would eat. Being a non-toxic product, I felt that there was no danger of overdosing her. Due to the serious nature of her condition, there was nothing to lose.

Through the internet and by word of mouth, Aloe Detox has become popular with quite a few Avian vets in the U.S. and has been credited with saving many birds, which is most gratifying to me. I think that it should be an integral part of all Avian first-aid kits.

Product description: NATURADE Detoxifying Formula, Double Strength Aloe Vera Gel (200:1) with Aloe Pulp and Natural Herbal Blend: Milk Thistle, Burdock, Dandelion, Echinacea, Green Tea, Red Clover and Blue Cohosh. Cost: $15 per quart. Where to buy: health food stores or NATURADE web site at: Naturade science-based nutritional products and dietary supplements
Dr. Greg Harrison, Avian vet of Lake Worth, Florida, also recommends Aloe Vera. In his book, Avian Medicine, Principles and Application, he makes the following recommendation: George's Aloe Vera (Warren Laboratories) Available as a lotion for topical application on pruritic lesions or as a liquid for oral administration. Solution for treating pruritic skin lesions is made by mixing one-half ounce of Aloe Vera oral liquid with one teaspoon of Penetran, two drops of Woolite and one pint of water.

 

[ShellyBorg]

Thank you for posting this!

 

[Birdman666]

I am convinced that this particular product saved my bird's life. I don't know why more isn't said about it. It's not a secret.

I am told by some folks that using too much of this stuff long term could cause a decrease in liver function because the bird becomes dependent upon it. But short term use for birds that have elevated liver values - THIS IS A NO BRAINER!!! It's not toxic. Use it.

Unlike a lot of the other "snake oil" products on the market, I know for a fact that this stuff works!

I mixed it 50/50 with fruit juice, and then let her drink as much of it as she wanted. Gave it to her several times a day that way.

Part of it was getting her off the crappy diet, and into fresh and healthy, but a lot of it was the Aloe Detox.

 

[MonicaMc]

I kind of swear by milk thistle. I've given it to my bourke parakeet when she was sick, and it helped her get over her infection. My a-vet on the other hand swears by DMG. I use both with her.


I used aloe detox in the past, but I can't say if it made any difference or not.

 

[Kalidasa]

Is that the stuff made by Lily of the Valley? Because they make the same thing I believe. I used to drink that stuff myself

 

[SoCalWendy]

I kind of swear by milk thistle. I've given it to my bourke parakeet when she was sick, and it helped her get over her infection. My a-vet on the other hand swears by DMG. I use both with her.


I used aloe detox in the past, but I can't say if it made any difference or not.

Me too, milk thistle is the best. Don't know about for birds but for humans. Any one taking ANY prescription or over the counter medications should also add milk thistle to their daily regime. Let me tell you, 2 years ago my liver enzymes were in the hundreds, my liver hurt. I started taking milk thistle, my levels are now in the 20's. My Rheumatologist was shocked! She tested my liver again. Two years ago she didn't want to prescribe me anything because my liver was so bad. She asked me what I have been doing and I told her Milk thistle.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Aloe Vera is very good for healing from the inside out, as well as used externally.

 

[MonicaMc]

Is that the stuff made by Lily of the Valley? Because they make the same thing I believe. I used to drink that stuff myself

I know of Lily of the Desert which is not by the same manufacturer as Naturade. Could be wrong but I thought one of them stopped making the aloe detox.

Found one of them at Whole Foods.


SoCalWendy, as far as I know, my bourke parakeet doesn't have liver failure... as per her last blood work, most everything was within normal ranges... but it still helps to keep her healthy! I figure this is because the liver helps to detoxify the blood, and when they get an infection in the body, the liver can't function as normally as it should... so the milk thistle helps to give it that extra boost that it needs to clear the infection from the system.

Could be wrong, but I've used milk thistle on her a few times to clear up infections without using medications... and so now, if I keep her on it, she's less likely to get an infection. That means less stress on her if I don't *have* to take her to my a-vet.... not that I'm trying to avoid a vet visit, but where my a-vet is currently, I hate the drive to get to her! I probably would not be able to use her as an emergency during normal business hours, especially during the winter. (she's supposed to move back to town, but I don't know when!)

 

[henpecked]

I wonder how far advanced the liver issues where? I understand "she should be dead" part. BUT liver issues often result in things like massive infections because the immune systems are compromised. i too feed massive amounts of VitA rich natural foods and products like "Sunshine Factor". I'm sure i improve liver functions but ,how to recover from the infections/cancer after they occur? I too have vets who are amazed by my birds "resolve" and continue to survive. But i've yet to save them from compromised liver functions. I understand you can reverse damage in the earlier stages but after the secondary symptoms appear is this really a cure? The average parront is not aware of liver damage before the show of these secondary symptoms, ie: massive infections/cancer from a compromised immune system. At what point can you expect aloe vera to cure? BTW i grow several different palm nuts to feed my birds just because of the Vit A content.Once the damage is done (and we're able to notice it/ be aware of it)your suggesting there's a cure? I'm going to try it, we have zero to lose, but i just can't stop the infections. I guess i'm amazed you where able to catch it before the onset of the secondary symptoms.I wish some of my older rescues where so lucky.maybe all it takes is money, last week's labs cost me 400$, still no definitive answers.

 

[Kalidasa]

Actually I ran across it seeing people use it as a hangover cure and tried it myself a few times when I had tied one on (years ago lol). It didn't work.

 

[MonicaMc]

I wouldn't necessarily consider it a "cure". It may be possible to return a birds liver function back to normal, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they can be taken off of a diet/supplement geared towards helping the liver. They may still require a special diet, meds and/or supplements for the rest of their life.

It probably depends on a case by case situation as it may very well depend on just how badly the liver has been damaged.

 

[Christinenc2000]

I hate to drag up a old thread but searching for this topic brings up A LOT . My question is do any of you use this as a prevention ? I was told to use it twice a day for one week twice a year and it will help his health. Just curious if any one uses it .
Thanks

 

[Hawk]

When I got my BFA several years ago, she was near death. Her liver values were so high my vet essentially told me she should be dead already...

I came across this on Carolyn Swicegood's Land of Vos site, and tried it, along with a change in diet to fresh foods. Two months later this bird's liver values were within normal limits!

ALOE DETOX-- About a year ago, I wrote an account in an on-line newsletter of an adult female eclectus that I own who became seriously ill. After undergoing every imaginable test and treatment protocol by two veterinarians, no diagnosis could be made and the bird was sent home to be "kept comfortable." In desperation, I went browsing in a health food store with the hope of finding something that might save my beloved bird. Both vets had mentioned liver damage so I decided to try a liver-detoxifying agent called Aloe Detox by Naturade. I was shocked at the immediate response--her appetite returned, she began perching for the first time in weeks and she became responsive to her surroundings again.

After a couple weeks of steady improvement and when she seemed normal again, I took her back to one of the treating vets for blood work. He was pleasantly surprised just to see her alive, and he drew blood for re-testing. He phoned me with the results of the CBC and said "If I had not drawn the blood myself, I would not believe that it came from the same bird. All of her liver values are completely normal!"

In hindsight, I wish that I had kept a log of all her treatments, including the Aloe Detox, but the dosage that I used was, at best, unscientific, being simply all that I could get into her. I made her drinking water half Aloe Detox, soaked her bird bread in it, and put it on everything that she would eat. Being a non-toxic product, I felt that there was no danger of overdosing her. Due to the serious nature of her condition, there was nothing to lose.

Through the internet and by word of mouth, Aloe Detox has become popular with quite a few Avian vets in the U.S. and has been credited with saving many birds, which is most gratifying to me. I think that it should be an integral part of all Avian first-aid kits.

Product description: NATURADE Detoxifying Formula, Double Strength Aloe Vera Gel (200:1) with Aloe Pulp and Natural Herbal Blend: Milk Thistle, Burdock, Dandelion, Echinacea, Green Tea, Red Clover and Blue Cohosh. Cost: $15 per quart. Where to buy: health food stores or NATURADE web site at: Naturade science-based nutritional products and dietary supplements
Dr. Greg Harrison, Avian vet of Lake Worth, Florida, also recommends Aloe Vera. In his book, Avian Medicine, Principles and Application, he makes the following recommendation: George's Aloe Vera (Warren Laboratories) Available as a lotion for topical application on pruritic lesions or as a liquid for oral administration. Solution for treating pruritic skin lesions is made by mixing one-half ounce of Aloe Vera oral liquid with one teaspoon of Penetran, two drops of Woolite and one pint of water.

Hi Birdman,

Yeah I swear by this stuff....

Back a couple years ago, I was cleaning the cages. Greys cage first, then moved the cage back in place but forgot to adjust the wheels on cage bottom. If the wheels aren't set right, or turned, the cage can become off balance and the cage door can slam shut. Well...that's what happened. My grey was on his perch, and I moved my Senegal to the Greys cage so I could clean his cage, and as the Senegal sat on the door, the door slammed shut by it's self, breaking the senegals leg.

I felt like an idiot, rushed the bird to the vet, and sure enough it was broken. Poor thing was in pain badly. The vets wife was a former intern at U of M in Ann Arbor where she placed casts and artificial limbs on people. She came up with this very light weight cast she made for the bird and fit almost perfectly on Birdell. Problem was the medication for bird was a bit harsh, to help with pain, yet can cause liver damage.

Birdell was getting weaker and not eating, losing weight, and just sit all day, or should I say lean on it's side. I was afraid of losing this bird as it wasn't well at all.
The Vet, recommended that Aloe and tried it sparingly....within about 4 days Birdell sprang to life and was chirping... I now give my birds a few drops once a week as a safe guard and they are the happiest and healthiest birds with perfect test results.

My wife and I grow just about all the ingredients in the Aloe detox in our yard....She has a green thumb and quite the herbalist. The aloe plant on it's own is quite good for the birds, as is Dandelion's, Very rich in vitamins.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Hi Hawk. I saw your reply to Birdman . This thread is about two years old But I just read your current reply to Mark. Thanks for the information

 

[Hawk]

Hi Hawk. I saw your reply to Birdman . This thread is about two years old But I just read your current reply to Mark. Thanks for the information

Yeah it is an old thread...but a good one...That Aloe stuff I use once a week, or about every 10-12 days...It's like an apple a day keeps the doctor away thing. Great for the birds. Some people will say green tea is not god for parrots, but mine love it, and the Aloe mixture dose have green tea in it.

We grow 30 plus different types of herbs and flowers all beneficial for the birds. They have a large variety of things on top of their normal diet to keep them in check. Plus we have 5 different fruit trees, cherry, plum, peach, apple, pear and grapes.

We have 2 refrigerators....one for the birds alone...!!!

 

[Christinenc2000]

Thank you that is just what i needed to know. So I was told mix 50/50 with juice give twice a day for a week and to do that every 6 months . Sound good ?

 

[Flboy]

Hawk,
How do you use the aloe? It grows like a weed here.

 

[Hawk]

Hawk,
How do you use the aloe? It grows like a weed here.

I use the inner meaty part, sliced into thin strips or diced, mix into weak green tea , sprinkled with finely chopped dandelion, then boil and let cool down....my birds drink it right from the cup. Vet says my birds are very healthy and quite lively.

 

[4dugnlee]

So how about Aloe Vera Juice? The kind you buy in the gallon to drink for your health. Can that be used for parrots at all? I read that you can put a little mixed in with water for their misting baths. I tasted it and I would not be able make myself drink it...at least not straight..lol.

 

[Taw5106]

I just received my order of Aloe Detox by Lilly of the Valley. I could not find the Naturade detox. I started administering using a teaspoon. Venus associates good stuff in a teaspoon so I put about a half a teaspoon of detox in the spoon. She consumed about half of it so she got 1/4th a teaspoon of aloe detox inside herself. That is much more than I expected her to consume. It has a lite, minty smell to it, it's pleasant. I placed the remaining amount in the spoon into her water. I do have a concern wasting the detox mixture in her water. I change her water three times a day so I am reducing the volume of water because of this. I give her 1/2 cup of fresh water three times a day. If I give her 1 teaspoon of aloe detox with her water and reduce it to 1/4 cup water, I have to figure out the ratio. Bottomline I know that she will not get a full teaspoon.

My question, does anyone know of or have a recommended minimum dosage of the aloe detox to be given per day? I am logging my administration to track it. Thanks!