Urgent male eckie biting at himself frantically

[learnincurve]

Zinc's in a lot of stuff around the home. Two main things are coins and galvanised metal. I would be checking what the cage is made out of, what he is being bathed in and your taps. If the zinc is flaking off on the inside of your tap and then going in his bath water then would that explain why he's scratching his skin?

edit: probably not remotely relevant but I have chlorine allergy, the damn stuff rips my skin to shreds and it's added to the water in the UK. I have to wash myself in mineral water after every bath to clear the residue off myself.

 

[Hankmacaw]

This article has a pretty good list of sources of Zinc; Winged Wisdom Magazine. The A - Zinc of Zinc Poisoning in Birds

 

[murphys girl]

Waiting for yet another blood test result on the zinc after 5 days of chelation shots (twice a day, total 10 shots). What a nightmare giving that little angel a shot in the chest muscle. He seems to be better but he's still occasionally biting at himself so if the zinc level is still high the vet wants to do surgery (lavage) to remove the items in the gullet. Anyone have any experience with that one??

 

[Lady Jane]

No experience with heavy metals in birds. I bet you could write a book about it. Hugs to you and your bird.

 

[Hankmacaw]

No personal experience with lavaging the crop, but there is no cutting involved. I personally would do it, otherwise the foreign objects will continue to leech zinc and you bird may end up with permanent damage.

My Hank had his abdomen lavaged with Amphotericin B and that turned his Aspergillosis around. If your Dr. is good there should not be any detrimental results.

 

[Jeddy]

I will kept you and your baby in my thoughts. You are doing a great job trying to help him.

 

[iamwhoiam]

Hoping the best for your Eclectus and that the zinc levels have decreased!