Paper Towel Rolls Potential Zinc Poisoning Source

Many of us have allowed our parrots to play with and shred paper towel cores after we've used the entire paper towel supply from the core.

This has appeared to be harmless and I was very shocked to learn that it could be harmful! Had I not seen an email from Kimberly-Clark from Bird Talk Magazine, one of the manufacturers of paper towels and toilet paper, I might not have believed this information.

Zinc toxicity is very serious and can kill a parrot if it is severe. Kidney damage, upset digestion, feather plucking and increased water intake are all signs of zinc poisoning.

Other symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite and larger than usual green droppings. Sudden death, unfortunately, is another sign.

Cockatoos are especially sensitive but no parrot is exempt. If you do, however, have a cockatoo that plucks feathers and nothing has resolved the problem, ask your vet to check for zinc in the parrot's blood.

I was aware of zinc toxicosis (a big word for zinc poisoning) in parrots, but had always heard that the most common cause was older cages or the use of galvanized wire in aviaries.

Using washers containing zinc to attach toys to a parrot's cages is another potential cause of zinc poisoning that I had heard of.

However, I was shocked to learn that the adhesive used to attach the first sheet of paper towel to the cardboard core has resulted in some parrots being diagnosed with zinc toxicosis. This same adhesive can be present in toilet paper rolls also.

When making sure you do not give your parrot any zinc-containing products, watch out for anything made of metal that is dull and creates a whitish dust.

Padlocks and some hangers used for toys are often culprits. Paints and varnishes and adhesives, pennies, curtain or blind weights, keys, costume jewelry, tile, duct tape, and hardware around the house are all potential sources of zinc that could poison your parrot.

Blood tests are the only accurate diagnosis tool for this serious poisoning. Be very cautious of what you give your parrot to play with and what you use inside the cage!

Kimberly-Clark's statement regarding this adhesive says:

"Although the core glue is safe for its intended use, it is not intended to be ingested. It is not food grade and does not meet indirect food contact regulations. Therefore, we cannot recommend that it be used with pets".

Whoa...
Thanks for the heads up.
I had no idea about the paper towel and toilet paper rolls...
How scary!

One correction, I've done a lot of research in this area for a lecture I was giving, went so far as to talk to the chemists of different companies, ect...If you want to use paper towel and toilet paper rolls you can use ones by Seventh Generation, they are a environmentally friendly company, and do not use zink or other harmful chemicals in there glue, everything is made to be digestible in case of animal or child decides to have a snack. The company was extremely informative and helpful.