Poisoned conures

[Anansi]

Just seeing this thread. I'm so sorry you're going through this, Dani! I'll keep both Delta and Buddy in my prayers.

And thank you so much for sharing this experience so that others won't necessarily have to go through what you are right now. I certainly didn't know that vinegar had any efficacy against metal poisoning.

Speaking of which, what makes them so certain that's what this is? You know, before receiving any results from the lab.

 

[Agapornis]

Oh my gosh Dani, you have been thru the ringer this year! I'm so sorry! I had no idea birds could be poisoned from brand new cages, high end ones, at that. When I got my new HQ Flight Cage, I didn't even wash it first before setting it up and putting them in it. Every time I come to this forum I learn something.

Poor Delta and Buddy. Hang in there, our thoughts and prayers are with you!

 

[SilverSage]

Today both birds are stronger!

I don't think going after the cage company since I have so many other cafes by them and it really is more likely that it happened during shipping. I will be notifying the pet store however.

The vet said it IS a toxin. No viral or bacterial symptoms. All my bird eat from the same proverbial pot each day, meaning if it were in their food they would have all been sick. Their dishes are washed in the same sink, and all but two live in the same room, so anything in the air or on the dishes would have been more widespread in my flock. These two had just been moved to a new cage when I had to bring all my birds inside after the recent theft. Lady and Sam have been temporarily moved into Buddy and Delta's old cage as it is larger than the other indoor options I had available for them,many Sam and Lady are fine.

The perches and dishes came with the cage, the toys were the same things in their old cage. The toxin had to have come from the cage, and heavy metal is the most likely option. The vet said the symptoms line up with heavy metal but other toxins cannot be 100% eliminated. He said it would take extreme expense to line up the exact cause enough to treat, and that blood would have to be shipped to the mainland for testing, and e treatments for zinc or lead poisoning (my vet was nearly sure it was one of these two) is not available at the clinic, they would have to "locate the drugs." Basically, by the time they could treat my birds more specifically than I can at home, the crisis would be over and I would be several thousand dollars poorer.

 

[Allee]

Thanks for the update, Dani. I'm glad Buddy and Delta are feeling stronger, I hope with all my heart they continue to improve.

 

[RavensGryf]

Yay!! I'm so glad BOTH birds are feeling better !

 

[SilverSage]

Words cannot describe how I felt when I went in to check on them today. In all honesty I did not expect Buddy to make it through the night. He is still very weak, but he choked down on both the dry and fresh food he was provided, and perching a little. He still has to take frequent breaks and puts his head down, eyes closed, even from eating, but he also had a VERY full crop this afternoon! The fact that he has such a good apatite is a very good sign!

They are still in the brooder.
Today they got
Volkmans conure seed
Zupreem pellets
A big slice of watermelon
Chop consisting of carrots, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, banana, and LOTS of apple for the sugar and water content (lol the things I usually AVOID in my chop!)
And water with cranberry juice to hopefully help flush his kidneys.

I am concerned because both birds are molting and Delta has developed a yellow feather. This, according to my vet mentor, likely is due to liver damage by the metal. Both my vet and mentor agree that the poisoning likely began more than a week ago, perhaps even longer but likely something caused them to take it in more heavily all of the sudden. My suspicion is that the larger chunks that I have been feeding lately could have picked up the particles if they were dragged around the cage floor or something like that.

Anyway, I will keep you posted.

 

[Psittaciformes]

Gosh, that's horrible! Sounds super scary...

 

[plumsmum2005]

@ SilverSage apologies as only just got to see this thread and sincerely hoping that your fids are OK? Thank you for giving us the information.

Just like to say that Beetroot is a good food to feed relating to Liver function.

 

[saracuse]

I'm hoping for the absolute best for your littles.

Now that I'm seeing this for what seems like the 100th time, is vinegar, dawn and water preferred over other cleaners? The breeder (super reputable, I trust him completely) recommended that I use a 1:10 bleach solution to clean Tiki's cage and toys. I use poop-off regularly and the bleach solution twice a week. It doesn't seem to bother her, her cage has been cleaned with it all her little life.

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

Glad to hear they are improving and getting better by the day...scary stuff...really really scary...get well soon Delta and Buddy and I hope thst Delta doesnt have any permenant liver damage...they are in my thoughts and prayers...Please God they will continnue to improve and come out of this with no ill effects

 

[Jarsheart]

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I had a baby cockatiel with heavy metal poisoning, from a metal ball that he had ingested before I bought him. When I took him for his checkup, he was in renal failure. An x-ray showed the metal ball. He was put on two medications, and a low protein diet. He survived with no permanent damage, and today is a healthy 13 yr old. You are doing a great job. But is there any way for you to get the meds from the mainland ? They really helped my bird recover. Praying for you.

 

[Tropical]

Super relieved your birds did not get killed! What type of cage did you have? What brand?

I would be soooooooooooo angry if that happened to me... I would take legal action against that company selling lethal cages... if it is indeed the cage to blame! Definitely make them aware of it so they don't seriously harm more birds. I would have also kept a portion of cage and sent it to lab for testing... I would then also have proof of the heavy metal contaminants. I'm sick of companies selling harmful junk for profits at the expense of others. This happens all too often these days!

 

[SilverSage]

Both birds pulled through with no signs of permanent damage.

I actually have had 30 cages from this company and only this one problem. Living on an island almost everything comes in on a boat, and that's probably where the heavy metal was picked up. I consulted with the pet store and they keep many of their own birds in these cages and have sold hundreds of them, and mine were the first to report this type of problem.

As for what type of cleaner to use, there are many opinions. I use bleach and F10 on new cages to guard against bacteria, virus, and many toxins. Now I also do a vinegar rinse to remove any heavy metal. For normal cleaning I use Sol-U-Guard and nd Poop Off.


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[Blancaej]

Wow just saw this, so glad everyone was ok! Hugs!

 

[Tropical]

Is it a possibility the heavy metal poisoning came from those metal hooks toys are usually hung with?

After I watched this video I got worried and threw out all of my metal hooks and replaced them with plastic ones. Check out the vid here: [ame="https://youtu.be/wRRz-WOE-c4"]Metal Hooks, Metal Chains, Metal Bells - YouTube[/ame]

They supply links to places you can buy the plastic ones from

 

[GaleriaGila]

I use only solid stainless steel for chains, hooks, quick-links...

EDIT

Oh heck, now I'm scared they're just plated...
Out they go!
Plastic, here we come!

 

[Tropical]

I use only solid stainless steel for chains, hooks, quick-links...

EDIT

Oh heck, now I'm scared they're just plated...
Out they go!
Plastic, here we come!

Ya... that's exactly what I did. Best be safe than sorry

I bought these: Grreat Choice® Loveable Links Bird Toy | Toys | PetSmart

If you buy these buy TWO bags... I made mistake of only uuying one bag because these are super TINY! Y-ATP-RI1571G-50 Heart and Star Link Assortment 50 Pack - ACRYLIC/PLASTIC PARTS

 

[Tropical]

Shoot, sorry my bad I submitted duplicate post by accident!

 

[SilverSage]

No they didn't have any of those in their cage.


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[GaleriaGila]

Thanks, Tropical. I just bought a pile of 'em!