Birds and Heavy Metal Poisoning - A Deadly Combination

This week is National Poison Prevention Week, so I though it would be fitting to share a bit of information about a big problem for pet birds. Heavy metal toxicosis or lead and/or zinc poisoning. Of course, lead isn't good for any animal or person, but birds are especially sensitive to these metals. A bird only has to consume a small amount of lead or zinc to become extremely ill.

Amazon parrot.
Photo via Kamil Porembiriski

If you keep birds as pets, one of the best ways to ensure that they do not become sick from heavy metal toxicosis is to keep a very close eye on them. You may be thinking, OK - I already do that... but do you really?


Think about it. If you leave the room to go to the restroom for just one minute, do you take your bird with you or put them back into their cage? Birds can and will find the smallest things just about anywhere. Leaving them unsupervised and outside of their cage in a room for even just a minute is not recommended. Not to mention, putting them away when they aren't supervised could prevent a number of other accidents.

Besides a lot of supervision for your pet bird, make sure you are providing toys, cages, and other cage items that are all free of lead and zinc. Common items that these metals can be found in include galvanized wire, adhesives, plastics, batteries, linoleum, stained glass, costume jewelry, and more.

Diagnosing the Symptoms 

Caique parrot.
Photo via BekiPe

Early diagnosis of lead poisoning is very important. Symptoms of heavy metal toxicosis in birds can be vague sometimes, requiring more of a complete medical work-up to diagnosis. A bird with lead poisoning may have symptoms like tremors, droopy wings, seizures, blindness, loss of appetite, regurgitation, abnormal stools, and weight loss.

So the metals should show up on an xray pretty well then? Think again! It only takes a very small amount of these metals to cause illness in a bird. Once consumed, they are dissolved by gastric acids in the bird's stomach and absorbed into the bloodstream. This is why a complete work-up may be necessary for a proper diagnosis. Bloodwork can help identify if the bird is anemic, which is another symptom of heavy metal toxicosis.

Even though it is nice to have a full work-up of the patient when trying to diagnose heavy metal toxicosis, it's not always practical. Waiting for tests can be timely, and a poisoned bird does not have much time to waste. Birds who are suspected to have been poisoned should be treated immediately.

Treatment of Heavy Metal Toxicosis in Birds

Treatment for lead and zinc poisoning in birds is chelation therapy with CaEDTA which can be given as an injection in the breast muscle for several days. DMSA is a drug that can be given orally in conjunction with CaEDTA to get the toxins out of the bloodstream. 

Supportive therapy for the bird may be necessary as well. Treatments like fluid therapy, iron injections, tube feedings, vitamin-B complex injections, and heat support may all be necessary. Anti-convulsant medications for seizures may also be recommended by a veterinarian if needed. 

Sometimes, a large piece of metal is ingested which can be removed using endoscopy. A fiber-optic scope is used to find the piece of metal in the bird's GI tract so that it can be safely removed. This is done while the patient is anesthetized. 

Recovery

Fortunately, early treatment of heavy metal toxicosis in birds can ensure that the poisoning can be reversed with little or no after effects. Unfortunately, some birds will experience major organ damage and some may face death.

Cockatiel.
Photo via harrisonfarr

Birds are so good at hiding their illness that special attention needs to be given to them. If something about them doesn't seem quite right, don't just brush it off. Birds are very quick to go downhill when they are ill. If you suspect that your bird has lead or zinc poisoning, please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.