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Pet Care Expert Reverses Feather Picking
Tucson, Ariz. – Results of a decade long clinical trial
conclusively show for the first time that dietary supplements can help
eliminate feather picking in birds. Dr. Lisa Newman, author of eight books
on natural pet care, recently completed a second controlled study on the
treatment of feather picking in birds with compelling results. In
1989, Dr. Newman concluded an initial one-year study of caged birds with a
history of feather picking. These results have recently been
reconfirmed after an additional 10 years of recording nutraceutical data and
several six-week follow-ups.
Dr. Newman’s studies revealed that feather picking in
problematic birds could be stopped by feeding birds Azmira’s Mega Pet
Daily™, a nutritional fully-balanced vitamin and mineral supplement,
combined with either Azmira’s R & R Essence™ or Obsessive™, both remedies
derived from flowers. “Feather picking is one of the most frustrating
conditions of caged birds for bird owners due to the difficulty in
diagnosing the root cause and providing the appropriate medication,” said
Dr. Newman, Doctor of Naturopathy who also holds a Ph.D. in holistic
nutrition. She noted the four most common conditions behind the
majority of self-mutilating birds are nutritional imbalance, infectious
diseases such as psittacosis and French molt, food allergies and endocrine
issues such as low thyroid levels.
In the study, she compared a group of 17 mature birds,
ranging in age from two to nine years of age. Half of the birds were
small parrot-types, mostly Conures and African Greys, while the other half
was comprised of Cockatiels and Budgerigars (budgies). Each participating
bird was lacking approximately 40% to 60% of his or her feather cover,
picking for a minimum of six months (many to the point of drawing blood and
diagnosed by its veterinarian as being self-mutilating). In addition,
all of the birds were selected for the study due to their non-responsiveness
to any prior treatments.
The birds were separated into four control groups with a
sampling of each species in each group. Birds classified as either
“stressed” or “obsessive” were given Azmira Mega Pet Daily™, a ¼ capsule per
two ounces of seed every other day. Dr. Newman supplemented the “stressed”
birds’ diet with Azmira’s R & R Essence™ and the “obsessive” fowl were
treated with Azmira’s Obsessive™. By far, at 87%, this grouping faired the
best with a total elimination of the symptoms.
These birds were diagnosed by their veterinarians to be
feather pickers due to either environmental stress-induced issues or
behavioral obsessive factors. The environmentally stressed feather pickers
showed signs of appetite issues, vocalizations in response to external
stimuli, and “family issues” such as lack of attention, teasing or death of
a mate. Obsessive birds demonstrated negative behavioral patterns such
as head waving or bopping, rocking, excessive perch or toy picking and
withdrawal or aggression. One-quarter of these birds showed signs of
improvement within the first week, half improved within three weeks and 75%
at the end of one month.
Four birds in the second group, given only the Azmira
Mega Pet Daily™, a ¼ capsule for every two ounces of seed every other day,
came in a close second at 79% and showing signs of improvement within one
month. The four birds in the third group received only the recommended
amount of either R & R Essence™ or Obsessive™. This group recorded a
response rate of only 43%. The five remaining birds of the 17 were the
control group, and they were given no additional treatment other than
standard medical care. Dr. Newman reported this group actually got
significantly worse.
When the feathers of the birds receiving some form of
naturopathic support or supplements reappeared, the colors were noticeably
more vivid and the sheen was maintained. The bird keepers cataloguing
the daily records throughout the study also noted that 100% of the
supplemented birds also showed improved socialization and learning skills.
Additional information on the study and Azmira products can be secured on
the calling 800-497-5665.
An Evaluation of Feather Picking in caged
Birds
Lisa S. Newman, ND, Ph.D., Azmira’s Director
of Research
Tom Miller, D.V.M., Valley Animal Hospital
· Lee Veith, D.V.M. Veterinary Regulatory Board
ABSTRACT
It is shown that
nutritional augmentation -- to fuel curative processes such as
detoxification (blood purification), improved organ function (to increase
nutrient utilization), and superior feather growth -- can be utilized with
homeopathically induced “health responses” to substantially mitigate
(symptoms or condition). Elimination of the nutritional foundation protocol
resulted in a reoccurrence of the behavior and obvious symptoms--regardless
of the previous benefits the homeopathic therapy provided--rendering further
homeopathic therapy less effective in general until supplementation
was resumed.
INTRODUCTION
One of the most
frustrating conditions in caged birds, both due to the difficulty in
diagnosing the root cause of, as well as, hard to treat with medication, is
that of feather picking. In 1989, Dr. Newman concluded an initial one-year
study of caged birds with a history of feather picking with compelling
conditions, ranging from lack of attention to thyroid imbalance. These
results have recently been re-confirmed after an additional ten years of
nutraceutical data and several six-week follow-ups.
All of the
above-mentioned changes became even more pronounced during the second study
with the nutritional foundation of Azmira’s Mega Pet Daily™, a
fully-balanced, potent vitamin and mineral supplement, rather than the less
potent, basic supplementation as found in Azmira’s SeaSupreme™ formulation
previously used in 1989—although a maintenance protocol with SeaSupreme™ is
possible for the majority of birds, once they have resumed full plumage on
the Mega Pet Daily™. It was also shown that Azmira’s
homeopathically-prepared flower remedy for obsessive behavior supported
quicker behavioral changes in a higher number of birds, especially the more
chronic cases, than the previously used Bach Flower Rescue Remedy™. This is
attributed to Azmira’s homeopathically potentized flower product. All
symptomatic birds had previously been treated with traditional behavioral
modification, medications and veterinary supplementation with slight to none
improvement noted prior to the study.
METHODS OF
RESEARCH
There was a
comparative six week study done on immune enhancing, feather-building
nutrients, particularly the vitamins A, E, B-Complex and C with the minerals
Zinc, Copper and Selenium, as well as the additional supportive (co-enzyme
action) nutrients found in Mega Pet Daily™, manufactured for the firm Azmira
(USA). These nutrients, combined, have been noted for their ability to
address various conditions, especially the four common conditions behind the
majority of self-mutilating birds. Although causes are numerous and often in
conjunction with one another, nutritional imbalance, infectious diseases
such as psittacosis and French molt, food allergies and endocrine issues
such as low thyroid levels are commonly associated with feather picking.
Homeopathically potentized flower remedies found in Azmira’s Obsessive™ or
R&R Essence™ formulas were utilized to deal with the more obvious obsessive
or stress-related behaviors influencing the physical condition.
These birds were
separated into four control groups; four supplemented only with Dr. Newman’s
vitamin/mineral protocol (Mega Pet Daily—given ¼ capsule per two ounces of
seed every other day), four subjects were supplemented (Mega Pet Daily at
same feeding levels) and given the appropriate Azmira brand homeopathic
flower remedy (one drop per ounce of drinking water, when changed daily)
based on environmental stress-induced (R&R Essence) or behavioral obsessive
factors (Obsessive), four birds were given only homeopathic support
(Obsessive or R&R at same rate of one drop per ounce of water) and five
birds were given no additional treatment other than standard medical care.
“Environmental
stress” requiring the R&R was identified by appetite issues, vocalizations
in response to external stimuli, and family issues (divorce, lack of
attention, death of a mate, etc.) in addition to the feather picking
whereas the obsessive formula was used in birds “exhibiting negative
behavioral patterns” and constant movements such as head waving or bopping,
rocking, excessive perch or toy picking and withdrawal or aggression--in
addition to the feather picking.
To be chosen for
participation, each bird was lacking approximately 40% to 60% of his or her
feather cover, picking for a minimum of six months (many to the point of
drawing blood and diagnosed as self-mutilating) and non-responsive to prior
allopathic nor naturopathic treatment.
With seventeen
mature birds participating, ranging in age from 2 yo to 9 yo, half the birds
were small parrot-types, mostly Conures and African Greys, while the other
half were Cockatiels and Budgerigars (budgies) on the same size-related
pellet/seed diet, free of artificial ingredients and chemical preservatives.
Each control group had a balance of types. All birds were given ten minutes
of exercise and fresh air daily to aid in detoxification and nutrient
utilization. No other topical support or veterinary medication was
applied.
Before the
beginning, and after the end of this experiment, an objective veterinary
assessment was compiled for certain medical parameters: all the birds were
photographed, confirmed on their weight, basic blood profiles, clinical
absence of internal and external parasitic, fungal or viral infestation (to
rule out this cause) and given a behavioral assessment regarding their
particular environmental or behavioral triggers.
During the whole
period of research, subjects caregivers kept a daily log that recorded how
the subjects acted, slept, how stable was their appetites (acceptance of
supplementation), the specific changes observed after so many days,
including the overall condition of the birds and rapidity in feather growth.
Each section was scored on a “1 to 10” rating and the score combined for the
final analysis and percentage.
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
By far, at 87%,
the birds both supplemented and given homeopathic support for emotional
distress or obsessive behavior faired the best – a total elimination of the
symptoms -- with 25% of these birds showing improvement within the first
week, 50% within the first three weeks and 75% by week four.
Subjects that
were only supplemented came in a close second at 79% improvement, most
within the first four weeks while the group on homeopathic support only
responding with a poor response rate of only 43%, and had the lowest
maintenance success other than the control group (once homeopathic remedies
were no longer administered the symptoms returned within a few weeks).
Four birds in the
control group actually got significantly worse with the fifth bird
permanently damaging his body and suffering liver failure concluded to be of
a chemical origin (from medications, both for tissue inflammation and a
common tranquilizer, administered for months prior to the study).
Significant
observations
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Of the nine
birds treated with veterinary medications prior to the study, six made the
nutraceutical and/or homeopathic treatment protocol groups and ALL showed
marked improvement over initial liver function readings and their
noticeable declining condition. The three birds that made the control
group—one even taken off steroids for the duration of the study--did not
recover their health until they were placed on the naturopathic protocol.
Of these, two birds still required medication, one owner choose to add the
supplementation protocol after the conclusion of the study period, and the
other did not. The supplemented bird showed a marked improvement in health
and a decreased need for medication, while the other subject continued to
struggle with the medication and required higher doses (not as effective),
of which it could not tolerate! Even the vet tried to convince the owner
to supplement, but failing this, lost the bird (still feather-less) to
liver failure within sixteen months.
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Of the 13% in
the nutraceutical and homeopathic group who needed additional support to
reverse their behavior and symptom, an additional 25% responded better to
Azmira’s Calm & Relax™ herbal extract while the rest benefited from
Azmira’s ImmunoStim’R™. Of these four birds, only one had
little success in quickly stabilizing like the others, until it was
discovered later that this bird was still subject to stressful teasing
during the study period.
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Although
Azmira’s herbal extracts contain a small percentage of alcohol (used
during processing, to help the herb’s therapeutic properties enter the
cell structure and as a natural preservative); a drop of extract mixed
into a ½ teaspoon of applesauce, contains no more alcohol than is
naturally occurring in many fruits, such as bananas, that birds enjoy.
There were no significant negative changes on an enzymatic or protein
level showed during analysis of the liver and kidneys in these subjects.
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Even when
symptoms reappeared after disregarding the supplementation protocol,
wellness and a reversal of symptoms would be quickly accomplished
(regardless the length of time passed) by returning to the Mega Pet Daily.
More vivid colors were also noted in these cases.
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Significant
improvement in overall feather condition was also maintained during normal
periods of feather loss (i.e. molting season) despite previous
observations that these birds lost excessive quills and down in the
seasons prior to supplementation. Sheen was maintained.
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100% of “supplemented” birds
also showed improvement in socialization and learning skills!
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