By Laura Cleveland

On a lazy Sunday morning in October, I was awakened by the sound of a cockatiel in severe distress. As I reached the flight downstairs, I noticed Bosco, a ten-year-old-male gray breeder, on the floor having a seizure. I grabbed a towel, wrapped him in it, and went straight to the animal emergency clinic in my area. Bosco was having seizures every 20-30 minutes.

At the clinic, I was informed that there were no vets on duty with avian experience. The vet in attendance offered to see Bosco to try to come up with a plan. He admitted birds were not his forte but suggested some blood work to determine if Bosco was suffering from diabetes or liver disease. Both tests came back normal. The vet informed me there was nothing more he could do. If Bosco lived through the night, he could see an avian vet in the morning. Or I could euthanize him. I opted to hope Bosco would live through the night. Every seizure took more out of him, and the stress of the clinic visit compounded matters.

Once home, Bosco was placed in a brooder at 85 degrees. I decided to force some electrolyte solution into him to keep him hydrated. Once I administered the liquids, Bosco’s seizures stopped. I checked on him every two hours throughout the night.

In the morning, my avian vet saw Bosco as soon as I arrived at her office. Her first suggestion was that Bosco had metal poisoning. I could not imagine how he could have had metal poisoning. He was in a flight with 39 other cockatiels and was the only one showing symptoms. However, I respect her judgment and went with her suggestions to x-ray him. When they were developed, they showed Bosco’s insides were lit up like a Christmas tree. He definitely had found a source of metal. I had to find the source, but first Bosco needed to start treatment.

The vet was knowledgeable, compassionate, and proactive. Since Bosco was so weak, she wanted to admit him to the hospital for two or three days. He would undergo chelation therapy twice a day to remove the metal from his system, with tube feedings twice a day to keep him from losing anymore weight and keep him hydrated. I left Bosco in her capable hands and went home to find the source of the metal poisoning, hoping that it was not in my flight and that I would not have to treat 39 other cockatiels.

Back from the vet, I began a close examination of the flight and all the cockatiels. The birds appeared to be fine — bright eyed, alert, and well fed. The flight had no pit marks or worn places. I periodically wiped the flight down with cider vinegar. Then I found it. Somehow, the flight had been moved too close to the wall with the TV satellite wire. Bosco managed to get his beak on the wire and strip four inches clean. Fortunately, he had not shared this "treat" with the other birds.

There are several methods of treating metal toxicity. In Bosco's situation, the vet and I decided on a chelating agent that binds with zinc in the body and is then expelled. This treatment consists of calcium EDTA and D-penicillamine injections twice a day. Also available is an oral chelating agent called dimercaptosuccunic (DMSA). Choice of treatment should be made by an avian veterinarian based upon the individual situation. If metal has been swallowed, the vet may decide that removal of the metal should be by surgery, catheter, forceps, or a course of cathartics such as sodium sulfate, activated charcoal, or mineral oil.

Bosco stayed in the hospital for seven days. The seizures caused some brain damage, and as a result, Bosco is now sight impaired. He is still prone to occasional seizures. His eating habits have also changed. To make sure he is drinking enough water and getting the nutrients he needs, I tube feed him in the morning and let him eat on his own the rest of the day. He is now set up in a cage to help him with his handicaps. He is next to his friends, but at this point, it is not likely he will rejoin them in the flight.

Lead and zinc are the most commonly encountered metals. Potential sources of zinc include nuts, bolts, paints, paint removers, brass, chrome, galvanized wire, chains used in toys, and cage locks. When constructing cages with galvanized wire, it should be scrubbed with a wire brush and vinegar. Metal can build up in your bird, over time. If not treated, it may cause death. Symptoms of metal toxicity include lethargy, feather plucking, depression, loss of appetite, and not being able to stand properly. Normal zinc ranges for parrots are 0.5-2.0. Zinc and lead do not always show up in x-rays, so a blood test is suggested. If you suspect your bird may have ingested metal, take it to the vet immediately. There are several forms of effective treatment. If caught and treated in a timely manner, your bird should make a full recovery.