Heavy Metal Poisoning
Heavy metals such as lead and zinc are common throughout the environment, so limiting your bird's exposure to them is important. Birds should not be allowed to play outside their cages without supervision. The environment should be inspected for the presence of heavy metals, and the sources should be removed from the area if possible. Because cage and fencing materials are common sources of heavy metals, proper selection of nontoxic materials is important. Stainless steel and welded wire should be used. Cage clips should be made from alloys that do not contain lead or zinc.
Lead and zinc poisoning are the 2 most common poisonings in caged birds. Zinc poisoning is now more common than lead poisoning, due to the heightened awareness of the dangers of lead, and the increased use of galvanized materials. Galvanization is a process of coating other metals such as iron with a zinc-based surface to prevent rust. This galvanization is found on much of the manufactured wire and other hardware used in home-made cage construction.
Potential sources of lead include old paint, stained glass, lead curtain weights, lead fishing weights, and lead solder. Signs of heavy metal poisoning include regurgitation of water, excessive thirst, depression, lack of energy, and weakness. Trembling, lack of coordination, excitability, or seizures may occur in lead poisoning.
Your veterinarian will suspect heavy metal poisoning when signs of this toxicity are accompanied by the presence of metal in the gizzard on an x-ray. This diagnosis can be confirmed by determining levels of lead or zinc in the blood. The initial treatment, besides supportive care, is usually one of a class of drugs called chelating agents that is injected into the muscle until the bird no longer has signs. Once your bird is stable, you can give a chelating agent by mouth at home. If the toxicity is not severe, the bird's response to treatment is usually rapid. As with all poisonings, prevention is the key.
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