(JB Wyngaarden and Lloyd H. Smith, editors, Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 17th Edition, W.B. Saunders & Company, Philadelphia, 1985. BW Ritchie, GJ Harrison, and LR Harrison, eds, Avian Medicine: Principles and Application. Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, 1994. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.)
There are many types of "treatment" for sick birds on pet store shelves. These products aren't approved by the FDA, so the safety is very questionable. This medicine is manufactured under very low standards as the FDA isn't overseeing the manufacturing process. The manufacturers use marketing strategies to sell unsuspecting customers these unsafe products.
The FDA gives very little attention to medicine for birds, fish, reptiles, and small mammals. The FDA mainly focuses on food animal medicine so the food supply is safe. Maybe in the future they will focus on other animals.
Most avian vets agree these products do more harm than good. Birds in the wild are professionals at hiding their illnesses as a survival mechanism. Birds have a high metabolic rate and thus they need constant nutrients. They usually have very little body fat and thus very little energy. If you don't think that there is an avian vet nearby and you try over-the-counter-medicine, the result is going to go downhill really fast.
Use of these medications makes you lose valuable time with your bird(s), and death is often a result. The best solution is to visit an avian vet, they will prescribe the right drugs or medicine.
Don't think you can save your bird's life with these unsafe remedies, visit an avian vet. It'll be worth it.
There are many types of "treatment" for sick birds on pet store shelves. These products aren't approved by the FDA, so the safety is very questionable. This medicine is manufactured under very low standards as the FDA isn't overseeing the manufacturing process. The manufacturers use marketing strategies to sell unsuspecting customers these unsafe products.
The FDA gives very little attention to medicine for birds, fish, reptiles, and small mammals. The FDA mainly focuses on food animal medicine so the food supply is safe. Maybe in the future they will focus on other animals.
Most avian vets agree these products do more harm than good. Birds in the wild are professionals at hiding their illnesses as a survival mechanism. Birds have a high metabolic rate and thus they need constant nutrients. They usually have very little body fat and thus very little energy. If you don't think that there is an avian vet nearby and you try over-the-counter-medicine, the result is going to go downhill really fast.
Use of these medications makes you lose valuable time with your bird(s), and death is often a result. The best solution is to visit an avian vet, they will prescribe the right drugs or medicine.
Don't think you can save your bird's life with these unsafe remedies, visit an avian vet. It'll be worth it.
