Caution with Vicks Vapo Rub

[Nostalchic]

I read a post about using Vicks on wounds/injuries to prevent the flock from picking a the area, and - without thinking - tried it on my little Polish rooster's head where my larger breed pullets had begun picking at him until he was bloodied (which is apparently not uncommon). Bad idea! I know that mentholatum is toxic to little kids if ingested, even in fairly small amounts, and that it shouldn't be used on wounds, or under occlusive bandages. I just didn't THINK, and put it right on his poor bloodied head and he got sick really quick. To where I thought he was going to die. I shampooed it back off, and then pulled all his crest feathers up into a topknot secured with a few little horse-braid rubber bands to keep the area covered up - he recovered, though is deeply humiliated about his hairdo... Anyway, thought I'd remind people to use caution with this remedy, birds are very sensitive to seemingly benign substances!

 

[PurpleChicken]

I believe the eucalyptuses is the toxin. Good Post!

 

[LizzyJo]

Quote:

You shouldn't have given him a mirror, he wouldn't have known the difference.

 

[quail newbie]

My coturnix roo was getting a bit over zealous so I cut a clove of garlic in half and rubbed it on my hens backs below where he had pulled off their feathers. I was desperate and just looking for something stinky but it worked.

 

[Nostalchic]

Hmmm, garlic, that's a thought. I've heard to use pine tar, but the stuff is really hard to find anymore and makes a huge mess - I used to use it on tree-wounds in the olden days. It seems like garlic would really sting on a wound, but maybe I'll try it on the feathers around the wounds. Poor Puff, he looks ridiculous and now he's going to smell hideous to his girls, very tough on the adolescent psyche (though I love garlic myself!)

 

[gritsar]

Find pine tar in the equine section of tractor supply, farmer's co-ops, farm type stores.
I have a can of it, used once. Once was all it took to teach my hens to leave Lil'Bit's tail feathers alone.

 

[threehorses]

Another thing to keep in mind - rather than just preventing plucking, I always like to take a good look at "WHY" feather pulling is happening.

Often birds are lacking protein or fiber which can easily be corrected.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
actually the ingredient causing the damage (particularly on open skin as it can be "ingested" through the skin > even unbroken skin) is CAMPHOR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicks#VapoRub
Active Ingredients:
Camphor 4.8% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic)
Eucalyptol 1.2% (Cough suppressant)
Menthol 2.6% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic)
Inactive Ingredients
Cedarleaf oil
Nutmeg oil
special Petrolatum
Turpentine oil

> this is also an ingredient in vetRX which is why the same warning should apply to that product (and I do not support the use of it) !
VETRX Ingredients:
Made with 3.3% (V-V) Alcohol U.S.P. Canada Balsam, Camphor, Oil Origanum, Oil Rosemary, blended in a corn oil base.
(might I remind everyone that alcohol is also toxic to birds?)
NEVER use it internally or on open wounds or for extended periods (and in my opinion dont use any product containing camphor PERIOD) >see link below.

Some of my info on camphor (which is currently under review for veterinary purposes):
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=toxicologydisease&action=display&num=1248421734

 

[mebuff daisy]

I like how pine tar works and I get it at some hatchery