Benzocaine in Kwik Stop styptic powder

dsbailey70

Chirping
5 Years
Jul 7, 2014
214
17
78
Nederland, Texas
Is the Benzocaine in Kwik Stop styptic powder safe for chickens? I just bought some on Amazon. It says it's safe for birds, but I thought that any 'o-caine' was supposed to be avoided with chickens? If it's unsafe, what non-caine bleeding stoppers are available? I need to trim my 4 chickens' claws, but want to have a bleeding stopper before I do, in case I quick one.
 
Ground pepper (black or white, not chilli!) works wonders for stopping bleeding from small cuts.

It's something that costs pennies, is frequently in the store cupboard, and that you tend to forget about.

I was told to use it by a neighbour here in France, and it works perfectly - cheap, cheerful and no possible side effects. (And no it doesn't sting, as I first thought - only salt would do that - not pepper!)
 
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Blood stop powder available in many brands found in farm stores contains ammonia alum or potassium alum, and works well to stop bleeding. Flour also works in a pinch. I haven't tried the pepper, but it sounds like it might be worth a try. I think it is supposed to be mixed in a paste in a link I read.
 
I've found 'wound sealer' powder at cvs and another local pharmacy. The pkg only has four small packets in it, and seems very expensive for using for claw trimming. It looks otherwise tho, and I may get a box of it for my animal first aid kit.
 
Is the Benzocaine in Kwik Stop styptic powder safe for chickens? I just bought some on Amazon. It says it's safe for birds, but I thought that any 'o-caine' was supposed to be avoided with chickens? If it's unsafe, what non-caine bleeding stoppers are available? I need to trim my 4 chickens' claws, but want to have a bleeding stopper before I do, in case I quick one.
There's also "caine" in injectable penicillin, which people use in chickens, so I'm sure the powder will be fine. I've also used eye drops with caine and had no issues.

-Kathy
 
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Can't imagine that something labeled for pet birds would still be on the market if it was dangerous:

http://www.windycityparrot.com/kwik...-bleeding-from-bird-nail-trimming_p_4059.html
"Stop bleeding and protect minor cuts with Gimborn
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Kwik Stop Fast-Acting Styptic Gel. This gel now contains the anesthetic Benzocaine to block pain. 1 oz bottle features an easy applicator tip.

Rapid blood loss even from a single nail can lead to death in a bird

Gimborn Kwik Stop
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Fast-Acting Styptic Gel now contains the anesthetic Benzocaine
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to block pain while stopping minor bleeding. Use to stop the bleeding of clipped nails, minor cuts, and nicks

1 oz bottle features a convenient applicator tip that directs the gel where you want it to go without contaminating the rest of the product

Gimborn Kwik Stop
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Fast-Acting Styptic Gel is safe for use on dogs, cats, ferrets, and birds.

Directions for use
Apply with moistened cotton applicator or directly to the nail or other superficial bleeding area using modern pressure for 5 to 10 seconds

Ingredients statement:
aluminum sulfate, ferric subsulfate, silica, lodophor, Benzocaine


Read more: http://www.windycityparrot.com/kwik-Stop-styptic-gel-with-Benzocaine-for-bleeding-from-bird-nail-trimming_p_4059.html#ixzz3MPJXl300
Follow us: @windycityparrot on Twitter"
 
From what I remember, this whole "caine" in neosporin started on BYC because one person used it and their rooster died. I don't think there's enough benzocaine in the powder to be a problem, but I will call my vet and ask.
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The one I would_never_use is procaine penicillin.

-Kathy
 
"Local anaesthesia in birds
Lidocaine, bupivacaine and benzocaine have been used effectively to provide local anaesthesia in avian patients. Birds may be more sensitive to the toxic side effects of local anaesthetics than mammals. Lidocaine can be used safely in birds at dosages below 4mg/kg intramuscularly and subcutaneously (Paul-Murphy 2001). Overdosing has been reported to cause seizures and cardiac arrest in birds. Intraarticular bupivacaine (2mg/kg) provided analgesia in chickens with musculoskeletal pain (Hocking 1997). Bupivacaine mixed with dimethyl sulfoxide improved feed intake when applied to amputated beaks after trimming in chickens (Glatz 1992). Benzocaine has been used topically for minor wound treatments
(Clubb 1998). The length of action of local anaesthetics is unknown in birds."
 
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Many people use the procaine penicillin without problems, and since it is one of very few antibiotics to treat wound infections or egg yolk peritonitis available without mail order or from a vet, many have no other choice for a quick antibiotic to use. Even one of the Preparation H products contains pramine or pramocaine, a numbing agent, and could be harmful to chickens. I just feel if it isn't necessary to use a product with benzocaine, lidocaine, and others, it would be prudent just to use plain blood stop powder, that's all. If a -caine product is all you have and want to take a chance, it's good to know that there could be side effects. I feel like it is good for everyone to share their experiences here on the things they have used without side effects. A vet student on here did say that lidocaine was used routinely in surgery at her vet school without problems, but the dosage is probably the real issue in poultry, since lidocaine can affect the heart rhythm.
 

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