Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Best ways to remove metal stuck in budgerigar stomachs
By Lupu, Corina & Robins, Stephanie·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2009·Montreal Bird and Exotic Veterinary Hospital, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison of treatment protocols for removing metallic foreign objects from the ventriculus of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A group of 44 budgerigars accidentally swallowed small metal balls, which got stuck in their digestive system. To help them pass these objects, the birds were given different treatments, including grit, acidic water, and peanut butter. The treatments with fine or coarse grit worked best, allowing the birds to eliminate the metal spheres more quickly. All the birds were also given a medication to prevent heavy metal poisoning. Overall, using grit was the most effective method for helping these budgerigars.
People also search for: budgie swallowed metal ball treatment · how to help bird pass foreign object · budgerigar digestive issues
Abstract
To compare the efficacy of treatment protocols recommended to aid passage of metallic foreign objects from the ventriculus of birds, a 1-mm metal sphere, made from solder wire, was placed into the crop of each of 44 budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). After survey radiographs confirmed the spheres were lodged in the ventriculus, birds were divided into 6 groups. Each group received 1 of 6 different treatment protocols: psyllium with grit, acidic drinking water, fine grit, coarse grit, cathartic emollients (peanut butter and mineral oil), and a control group. All birds were treated simultaneously with a chelating agent, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), to prevent heavy-metal toxicosis. Successive survey radiographs were used to monitor elimination of the spheres from the digestive tract. Of all protocols tested, birds treated with either fine or large grit had the shortest mean elimination time of the metal spheres. These results indicate that administration of grit particles, either fine or coarse, appears to be effective in hastening the passage of metallic foreign objects from the ventriculus of budgerigars.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19999761/