Wine-Colored Stains on Paper Towels = Normal Metabolites for Some Parrot Babies

[Ladyhawk]

I wish I had known this prior to my recent heart attacks, both on Fridays before the weekend when no avian vets would be available. Ack! My little blue-fronted Amazon's paper towels were stained and I didn't know what to do.

This was absolutely panic-inducing because my beloved double yellowheaded Amazon recently passed away and one of his symptoms was blood in the urine. Looking back, I think some of the color was from blood and some might have been those normal metabolites. During his last week, I had him over paper towels so I could examine his droppings carefully.

Imagine my panic! Dr. Speer said Gabby died of a metabolic issue, not something contagious. Besides, I haven't had my little one near any of Gabby's things, except a thoroughly-disinfected plastic toy. It had me utterly confused and yet completely panicked...until I came across this: Common Problems that can Happen with Baby Chicks : Responsive Sheffield Blue Zen Cart Template, by Picaflor Azul

Here's the lowdown:

DARK (WINE COLOURED) STAINS ON BEDDING

Normal Metabolite in urine of some species (Greys, Amazons, Pionus), usually occurs when bird is kept on paper towels.​

Huge sigh of relief! This is something I did not know. When I was raising lots of babies, I used soft pine shavings. I took the slight risk of ingestion in order to keep a large number of babies clean. So, now I know something new.

:02::02::02:

I hope this thread keeps someone else from panicking. Still, my Gabby bird really did have blood in his urine, so be vigilant.

 

[SailBoat]

Great Thread! Would be something to provide an individual that thinks this stuff is simple!

I can understand the issue regarding 'some' paper toweling being rough and causing surface cuts, which results in bleeding prior or during a stool release. I can see where that would really mess with one's mind. But I am missing the connection between stool coloration, normal metabolites and being on paper toweling. Something to ponder.

Again, great Thread!

 

[Ladyhawk]

Great Thread! Would be something to provide an individual that thinks this stuff is simple!

I can understand the issue regarding 'some' paper toweling being rough and causing surface cuts, which results in bleeding prior or during a stool release. I can see where that would really mess with one's mind. But I am missing the connection between stool coloration, normal metabolites and being on paper toweling. Something to ponder.

Again, great Thread!

No, this stuff is never simple! I have quite a bit of experience at hand-raising parrots, but I would never claim to be an expert. The staining scared me half to death! I used to raise my babies on soft pine shavings over paper towels and clean them out with every feeding. Yes, there was a slight chance of ingestion, but keeping the babies clean seemed more important. With just one baby, I can use soft paper towels over normal towels with washcloths to sleep on and she stays clean except at night when we all sleep. There's a big mess to clean up in the morning.

My best guess is something in the urine interacts with something in the paper towel to produce the wine staining. I tried pouring some ammonia over one of her droppings in the bathroom and I was able to get some staining that way, too, but not as much. Ammonia can cause color changes. Maybe ammonia and the "normal metabolite" interact with something in paper towels. I don't know for sure. Still, major panic even after raising a lot of African greys and Senegals.

My baby is saying she's hungry again, so I'd best get the food prepared.