So about a year ago my blue fronted amazon (16 years old) was really sick and the liver toxin had migrated up to his brain; causing him all kinds of problems, from looking as if he was having seizures, plucked all his feathers out, kept falling down, etc. He had an extensive blood panel taken; which showed the high numbers, but not as-to why? $1400.00 later, I couldn't look into it further as-to-why because the bill was so high already? I do know we started treating him with the "milk thistle," and it cleared him up! =-)

About a month ago, Mr. Sydy started doing the same thing (not as bad), and plucked his chest feathers to the point of a huge bloody hole in his chest. I gave him some of the Milk thistle I had left, and by the end of the day, he had stopped his crazy behavior. I continued to give it to him for about a week, and now he's fine. My question is I believe he has a health issue... obviously, and I don't want this to continue. How often should I give this to him, or should I wait until the symptoms start?

Unfortunately, I can't take him back to the vet, as I was in a major accident, and I'm up to my knees in medical bills =(

Thank you!!
~Becca

I don't know but I'm sure someone here has milk thistle for their parrots

There is no reason you can't leave him on it for life. It is very good for them and you. I personally would keep him on it as originally directed. However, if you let that hole go and it becomes infected, you may loose him or end up with an even larger vet visit bill.

Thank you, and preventing a larger vet bill, or one I can't afford is what I am trying to avoid! =-)

Put two syringefuls of liquid, non-alcoholic milk thistle extract and 1 syringeful of liquid, non-alcoholic dandelion root extract in about 5 oz of water and give him this to drink from every day. Crush and grind (or just open the capsule) the following to add to 1.5 o 2 lbs of soft food (you shouldn't free-feed him pellets, seeds or nuts - I suggest gloop or chop instead):
1 tablet (200 mg) of SamE (this is a bit expensive and you can substitute with a higher concentration of methionine but SamE is best)
1 tablet (100 mg) vit B6
1 tablet of probiotics (the human kind with the most strains you can find)
as many tablets or capsules of milk thistle, dandelion root and artichoke extract it's the daily dosage for an adult (it depends on the concentration so, if you get, say capsules that have 175 mg, you would need to add more than if you were using capsules with 350 mg)
1 tablet of DMG (again, human dosage)

If he drinks juice, try to give him some orange juice (vit C is good for the liver)

I believe that @Hankmacaw uses milk thistle.

Matt

Both of my birds were on Milk Thistle for years. It is the go to maintenance drug for liver issues. There are many things that can go wrong with the liver. The most common being fatty liver disease.

I buy a 50/50 alcohol free Milk Thistle/Dandelion extract (liquid). Avitech makes a product that is good. Keep your birds on it for a lifetime. It will not harm them and may keep them more healthy. I give my GW, who is 1125 gm .2ml every day. I much prefer to give it straight by syringe - mixing it in water does not give any comfort as to how much they are getting.

I also give DMG daily and probiotics a couple of times a week.

Does anyone servve milk thistle in it's dried form?

Avitech makes a product that you can purchase from Winged Victory online store.

Milkthistle-Dandelion Extract for Parrots - Liver Detox by Avitech

Mariannee said:

Does anyone servve milk thistle in it's dried form?

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I use both capsules and liquid extract.