Anyone ever here of cell salts or Penetran to treat cross beak?

[toyzbox]

I have an 24 week or EE. Her top beak curves down too much but her real problem is the lower beak. It curves to the left so much that she cannot peak.

 

[toyzbox]

Anybody????

 

[bethandjoeync]

could you file them down a little so they can have an easier chance of meeting together??

just a thought. I haven't had a cross beak problem as of yet, but maybe that would help

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

take a large fingernail clippers that you can clip each beak so that they are even
clip each back to the blood line in the beak

then you have to keep the feeder very deep with feed so she can peck into the feed
and gulp it down

keep the beak points cut back to blood line and it will live
eating and drinking
as it can't drink either

as they use their beak points to get feed into the beak and also water into the beak to swallow

any questions email me

 

[dlhunicorn]

Has your bird always had this? It is my impression that the penetran treatment is to be used as soon as the problem is noted (and if left too long it would not be effective) and as there are different causes of crossed beak it is only effective in some specific cases but you might try it once and see if there is improvement... here is my info on it:
http://harrisonsbirdfoods.com/learningcenter/BestOf2.pdf
"Use of Penetran for Beak Malocclusion Greg J. Harrison, DVM Dipl. ABVP Avian"
(excerpt)
Topical application of Penetran is effective for avian skin rashes, local irritations and ulcerations. It can be mixed with aloe vera liquid for generalized dermatologic conditions. Because it has penetrating properties, I have used it to treat some deeper muscular problems. In two cases of a serious beak malocclusion with underbite, the only therapy was application of Penetran to the facial muscles including the periopthalmic areas. In a ten-day-old cockatoo, the muscles relaxed and the beak returned to normal positioning overnight; a full week of Penetran application and prolonged periods of manual positioning of the beak were also successful in a four-week-old cockatoo.Penetran is a commercially available ammonium solution from TransDermal Technologies, Inc.
(800-676-7354)."

basically you will need to trim the beak back (and keep it trimmed > the beak will grow faster in cross beaked birds) and offer feed in a deep dish (some cross beaks are so bad that they need a feed of porridge consistency so they can scoop it up )...
if you have access to an avian vet (which will be familiar with cross beak problems) you might want to have the vet do the initial trim (and penetram treatment if you wish to try that) and show you how to keep it maintained.

 

[toyzbox]

I took her to a local vet yesterday. She did just that. I watched her and she told me what to do. You are both right. She showed me how to clip but also to use a nail file for upkeep. It helped some but I don't know if it was enough. She is already losing weigh but I'm hopful. I was wondering if anyone had heard of the cell salts or the Penetran. Maybe that would help her too. I hate watching her fight to get enough food and water. She comes to me now if I have treats because she knows I'll pick her up and give it to her myself but I can't always do that. Anything that might help I'm all for.

 

[dlhunicorn]

I have come across no reliable info on cell salts... just the penetran (I think you will need to have your vet get it for you)... print out that article above and give your vet and you can try it .

 

[mypicklebird]

I actually have a tube of penetran. It is used for people with arthritis. Exotics vets have used it with parrots with skin disease, which is why I have it- for my parrot's feet. Cross beak is typically not due to any skin disease- but a malformation of the beak due to genetics or early damage. It's use in cross beak is probably related to the pain of the condition- and to help relax muscle spasms related to the pain of having the TMJ joint progressively damaged by the growing beak. It may help relax the muscles around the face/TMJ joint to allow the beak to return to a more normal position- AFTER the beak has been trimmed. Many of these birds with long standing scissor beak (24 weeks is long standing) have permanent damage to the TMJ joint, and trimming will help the bird eat, but the beak will never be normal.

The harsh truth about these guys is that this will be a lifelong commitment to trim the beak every 2-3 weeks. Most do not grow well and will die even if you try to stay on top of the beak's growth. They suffer from malnutrition and usually starve to death. They LOOK like they are eating- they are hungry and peck at things often, but they cannot meet their daily calorie requirements without really aggressive hand feeding (or tube feeding). Most people cannot do this. I hear time and time again about these guys who struggle for months, and die around 4-5 months old from not getting enough to eat.

Help for the bird with cross beak is trimming often and aggressively, finding out what they can eat (try crumble, pellet, wet mash), feel the crop at night- and if it is not full compared to the other birds- it is not getting enough to eat.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Ditto the above

 

[toyzbox]

thanks so much for the info. I have a parrot that needs extra TLC as well. I don't mind. I give her treats away from the others already so she does not have to fight for it but I can see I have to do more. Thanks again