Lead and Zinc Toxicities

by Linda Pesek, Westbury, NY ead intoxication or plumbism is Some lead is retained in the soft tissues one of the most common poi­ and bone man'ow. Excretion occurs by L sonings of companion and wild the kidneys over months. birds. Birds are very inquisitive and fre­ small birds such as rolling penguins A variety ofsigns may occur depend­ quently investigate objects in their envi­ contain lead weights. If a larger bird ing upon the species and whether ronment. Parrots especially have a ten­ breaks these open, it is able to ingest exposure is acute or chronic. Acutely dency to chew on almost anything in the lead. exposed birds may die suddenly with their reach. Lead damages the nervous system, little to no signs of toxicity or they may Lead may be found in numerous bone man'ow, liver, gastrointestinal tract develop regurgitation, appetite .loss, places in the home. Common sources and kidneys. Clinical signs of lead depression, weakness and abnonnal of lead include cUltain weights, fishing intoxication depend upon the species droppings. Neurological signs including and boating accessories, batteries, sol­ ofbird, the amount oflead ingested, the head tremors, twitching, balance diffi­ der, certain ceramic glazes, costume period of exposure, and the material culties, circling, wing droop, leg paresis jewelry, foils on wine and champagne present in the gizzard. and convulsions may occur. Amazons bottles, lead paint and dlying agents, Lead poisoning may be acute with and African Greys may pass loose antique or imported cages, Tiffany the ingestion of a large amount of lead bloody droppings. lamps and stained glass. Certain toys for at one time or chronic with accumula­ Birds suffering from chronic lead tion over weeks to montl1s, Ingested lead is degraded by the stomach acids and absorbed into the bloodstream.

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the afa WATCHBIRD 43 poisoning often regurgitate, and lose weight. Paresis, paralysis and hlindness may be present. Diagnosis is hased upon clinical signs, radiographs, and hlood lead levels. Lead should he con­ Brown-hooded sidered as part of the differential diag­ nosis of any ill hird, especially if it is allowed to roam freely in the home. Radiographs may reveal the presence of Kingfisher metallic densities in the digestive tract. Not all metal densities are lead and not Halcyon albiventris seeing metallic densities does not rule out lead poisoning. Some lead-contain­ by Glen Holland, New Zealand ing ohjects such as paint chips are not radio-dense. Clinical signs can occur when lead previously sequestered in bone marrow moves into the hlood. sually found in pairs inhahit­ woodland kingfishers are hest housed Blood lead levels may he determined. ing riverine vegetation, hut with hirds of the same or a larger size Anytime a suspicion of lead toxicity Ualso some distance away from than themselves for example Tockus occurs, treatment should he initiated. water in open woodland and in gar­ hornbills, shrikes, starlings, and After the hird is stabilized, chelating dens. Their calls consist ofa melodious weavers. agents such as CaEDTA are adminis­ "choo, choo, choo, choo, choo" often Diet tered to remove lead circulating in the in the form ofa duet and accompanied They should be fed on a diet of40% hlood. A dramatic improvement often hy the hirds flitting their wings. The ox heart strips and 30% chicken strips occurs within a short period of time in call is repeated rapidly when dis­ with a multi-vitamin powder added to birds suffering from acute lead poison­ turhed. The pair also make soft twit­ both of these once per day, and the ing. Small metal fragments present in tering calls to each other when the remaining 30% of the diet consisting of the gizzard may pass with oral adminis­ mate is not in sight.Males are brighter live food such as mealworms, waxmoth tration of lubricating agents such as cel­ in colour than females. larvae, winged termites, grasshoppers, lulose or peanut butter. Epson salt com­ Their aviary should be landscaped locusts, praying mantis, millipedes, bined with activated charcoal acts as a for an open woodland situation includ­ crickets, and pinkie mice. If a small fish cathartic and will prevent further ing a pool ofwater into which they can is stuck in very shallow water they will absorption of lead from the gastroin­ dive to bath. A few dead branches and take it and will also take small dead fish testinal tract. Large metallic pieces may upright tree stumps will provide ideal fed by hand, but they do not dive into require removal by endoscope or gas­ hunting perches. As they naturally deep water after fish. Out of the breed­ tric lavage. occur in warm climates, in countries ing season they are fed once per day Seizures are controlled with valium where temperatures remain below 12 0 but this should he increased to twice and the bird is supported with fluids, C (54 0 F.) for extended periods, partic­ per day in the pre-breeding season tube feeding, and heat. Blood levels are ularly if cold and wet, adequate shelter period and three times per day while monitored over several weeks and radi­ must be available. In temperatures near breeding. They will always take the ographs are taken periodically to freeZing, an additional source of heat livefood first and when renewing food ensure that the lead is removed. should be provided. Brown-hooded are a small quantity of substitute meat In addition to lead, zinc intoxication a woodland species and are not fishers. should always be left from the previous is becoming increasingly more com­ They will sit motionless on an exposed feed. All livefood (even if dead), and mon in caged birds. Sources of zinc branch for long periods, interrupted very often the meat strips as well, will include galvanized wire, hardware only by the occasional bob of the head he bashed against a branch to "kill" and cloth, certain washers, nuts, and snap­ as they watch for prey below. The prey pulverize them. on fasteners, and some pennies. Signs is caught in a straight glide from the are very similar to those in lead poison­ perch. Breeding ing and fortunately the diagnosis and They are extremely aggressive A Brown-hooded pair will excavate treatment are similar. when breeding and I have had a Bee­ their own nest into a sandbank. A Chronic exposure may occur with eater knocked off my hand and killed sandbank is easily constructed by birds exposed to fine zinc powder on instantly by this species. I have, how­ building a vertical face of boards and the surfaces of their cages if the cages ever, kept them with Pied Kingfishers then piling the sand mixture up behind are treated with zinc coating. This pow­ with no problems. This was due in these. Plant the top of the bank with a der is not radiographically visible. part to the different food sources used shallow rooted creeping plant which The best way to prevent lead and by the two species, and because the will assist to hold the sand in place. zinc toxicity is to "birdproot" your bird's Pied were too young to compete for Water lightly on a regular basis and environment. .,.. nest sites. Brown-hooded and all after eight weeks the wooden face can

44 September/October 1999