Association of Avian Veterinarians

Homeopathic Remedies for Feather PickingAuthor(s): Joel MurphySource: Journal of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Vol. 6, No. 3 (1992), p. 144Published by: Association of Avian VeterinariansStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30136700 .

Accessed: 10/06/2014 10:21

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

.

Association of Avian Veterinarians is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access toJournal of the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 193.105.154.63 on Tue, 10 Jun 2014 10:21:39 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

IN MY EXPERIENCE ....

CHINESE HERB FOR HEMOSTASIS

Michal Partington, DVM Beavercreek, Oregon

The Chinese herb, Yunnan Paiyao, is excellent as a topical hemostat, and can be used orally (once a day for three days) prior to an invasive procedure to significantly reduce hemorrhage. The Western world first discovered this herb during the Vietnam war; Viet Cong soldiers would carry a small vial of Yunnan Paiyao with them and take it if they were shot in order to prevent bleeding from major wounds. I used it myself prior to two major surgeries and experienced a fraction of the blood loss that was expected.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR FEATHER PICKING

Joel Murphy, DVM Clearwater, Florida

In our practice, homeopathics are primarily used in cases of psychologi- cal feather-picking. Based on trial and error, we have adapted to birds an arsenal of effective remedies from hu- man homeopathic recommendations in the literature. In human medicine, a homeopathic physician will combine the results of a physical exam and an extensive psychological analysis to se- lect an effective remedy from among 2000 choices. In birds, 50% of the information - the psychological pro- file - is guesswork (eg, are they feather picking because of separation anxiety? boredom?). But, because ho- meopathics have no side effects and are completely safe, we are willing to reach for these first.

Our clinical protocol for a feather picking case begins with a complete physical examination and minimum database. If all results are normal, by default we think it probably has a psychological cause. We first correct

the diet, then suggest "bird aerobics" (getting the bird out of the cage and moving around), and a bath with spray or shower at least 3-4 times a day. In a large number of cases, these alone seem to work. If not, we try homeopa- thies.

Homeopathy is very challenging to use in veterinary medicine because the remedies do not come with "cook-

Feather picking may respond to holistic therapies (Photo from M. Hochleithner).

book" instructions. One must match the right remedy for the psychological picture of the bird. We often try 5 or 6 remedies (one at a time for a month or so) before we find the right one. Some birds don't respond at all, then we have to go to a traditional drug like halop- eridol. But if it works, then we have corrected the problem without using anything toxic.

Normally with African Greys, we start with Belladonna 30c. With im- provement, we'll use a higher dose (200c). A low potency homeopathic remedy (30c) is administered as one drop 1-3 times a day for two weeks. High potency remedies (which are ac-

tually more dilute - the opposite of traditional medicine) are given in the office as a single drop once a month. Nat mur is a second homeopathic that sometimes works in African Greys; Nux vomica is a third.

With feather picking cockatoos, we get high efficacy with Arnica 200c once a week for 4 weeks. Nat mur is also used in cockatoos, especially those that are strongly bonded to their own- ers and go through separation anxiety (Nat mur is used in people who are holding a grudge).

Based on our studies with placebos as controls, we are getting 80% success rate in the African Greys and 600/o in cockatoos with this protocol. I have not found a homeopathic that works consistently with macaws. However, we are getting good results in treating the mutilation syndrome in Quaker Parrots with homeopathy.

We have used homeopathic reme- dies in other clinical cases where tradi- tional therapies failed. For sarco- sporidiosis, we have had some success with the homeopathic remedy Millefo- lium 200c and with a nosode (homeo- pathic vaccination) we developed for the disease. We also use the homeo- pathic drug Antimony Tart for dyspneic birds.

HERBAL IMMUNE STIMULATION

GregJ. Harrison, DVM Lake Worth, Florida

Echinacea is made from the root, leaf, seed and flower of the Echinacea

angustifoliapurpura plant and is avail- able through most health food stores. In human holistic health circles, it is used to stimulate the immune system. I have found the extract to be a general immune stimulator in birds as well. I mix 3 cc in 1/4 oz lactulose (Cephulac) and dose 1 drop b.i.d. for a Budgie.

I have seen clinical response to this combination of echinacea and lactu-

144 JAAV

This content downloaded from 193.105.154.63 on Tue, 10 Jun 2014 10:21:39 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions