How much Milk Thistle to add to water?

[neil23051]

We have a pair of budgies with one of them poorly (liver) and we have been advised to add Milk Thistle to their water. Has anyone else done this - how much have you added and are budgies generally okay with drinking it?

[Hezz]

Budgies don't have a problem drinking water with milk thistle in it.

If it is a vet who has advised you to add the milk thistle, you are best to ask them how much to add, giving them some indication on brand and strength of the extract. The vet will be the person who is aware of how compromised the bird's liver is.

There are many different strengths of MT available, some in liquid form, some powdered, capsules etc. What is it that you have?

[neil23051]

Thanks Hezz, it has been suggested (by a vet) - if drops are not added directly to the bill - and here we have a bit of an issue as the budgie hasn't been handled regularly - they are quite happy in the aviary and we haven't felt the need or requirement to handle them... then if drops can be added to water that might be the better option (in terms of not putting stress on the budgie by being caught etc BUT as long as the Milk Thistle is being ingested) - the dose is initially 1 drop per 1 ml.

This is Nature's Answer Alcohol and Sugar Free.

[Shirls]

Hi neil23051. I use the one you have, alcohol and sugar free for one of my birds. I have 5 birds in the one cage and they are all ok to drink it. The dose I give is about the same as well, but at the moment I am only giving it 3 or four days per week. I used to give it every day but have reduced it and it seems to suit.

[Hezz]

Jan 13, 2020 22:13:29 GMT neil23051 said:

Thanks Hezz, it has been suggested (by a vet) - if drops are not added directly to the bill - and here we have a bit of an issue as the budgie hasn't been handled regularly - they are quite happy in the aviary and we haven't felt the need or requirement to handle them... then if drops can be added to water that might be the better option (in terms of not putting stress on the budgie by being caught etc BUT as long as the Milk Thistle is being ingested) - the dose is initially 1 drop per 1 ml.

This is Nature's Answer Alcohol and Sugar Free.

It sounds like you already have your answer. It can definitely be added to the birds' water, long term, and they will quite happily drink it. That does sound like a less stressful option. Some might argue about the issue of the healthy birds having to drink the milk thistle as well, but I really don't think you need to worry over that one too much. 1 drop per ml is quite a dose, but with time you should be able to reduce that down.

Is the budgie who needs the MT sick at all, well enough in itself? If it needs to be isolated, you could still keep its cage in the aviary so that it has company and then you would require only a small amount of water for that one bird. For me to get MT is not cheap, so thinking of ways for you not to have to use a lot of the bottle every day. Budgies don't drink much, so smaller water containers may work, even going for the fountain-type bottles/ hamster bottles if they are used to using them.

[Shirls]

neil23051.

You are right there Hezz, one drop of MT per 1ml of water is quite a strong dose and I can quite see why the vet would advise this from the beginning, as Hezz said, he can tell how much the liver is compromised. From memory I think I put about 10 drops in 50ml of water initially and over the months have reduced it right down. We are on 6 drops per 200mls at present. I do adjust it up occasionally. The only way I judge it is by looking at my little hen's swollen tummy. I didn't consult a vet btw.

[sweetpea]

Jan 15, 2020 10:20:18 GMT Shirls said:

neil23051.

You are right there Hezz, one drop of MT per 1ml of water is quite a strong dose and I can quite see why the vet would advise this from the beginning, as Hezz said, he can tell how much the liver is compromised. From memory I think I put about 10 drops in 50ml of water initially and over the months have reduced it right down. We are on 6 drops per 200mls at present. I do adjust it up occasionally. The only way I judge it is by looking at my little hen's swollen tummy. I didn't consult a vet btw.

What strength is your MT, Shirls ?

I recently bought some more & it's less strength compared to the old one (585/900), which made me wonder if the old one is less strength than the original one & maybe I have been under-dosing.

[Hezz]

Jan 16, 2020 10:47:47 GMT sweetpea said:

Jan 15, 2020 10:20:18 GMT Shirls said:

neil23051.

You are right there Hezz, one drop of MT per 1ml of water is quite a strong dose and I can quite see why the vet would advise this from the beginning, as Hezz said, he can tell how much the liver is compromised. From memory I think I put about 10 drops in 50ml of water initially and over the months have reduced it right down. We are on 6 drops per 200mls at present. I do adjust it up occasionally. The only way I judge it is by looking at my little hen's swollen tummy. I didn't consult a vet btw.

What strength is your MT, Shirls ?

I recently bought some more & it's less strength compared to the old one (585/900), which made me wonder if the old one is less strength than the original one & maybe I have been under-dosing.

I think Nature's Answer only has one strength in its Alcohol free MT extract - 2000mg. The place I buy it from only has this strength, at least, and I've not seen it at any other concentration.

neil23051, is yours the same?

[Shirls]

Jan 16, 2020 10:47:47 GMT sweetpea said:

I recently bought some more & it's less strength compared to the old one (585/900), which made me wonder if the old one is less strength than the original one & maybe I have been under-dosing.

Mine sweetpea, Nature's Answer, is '900mg per 6ml' that is what it says on the bottle. I thought that was the only one available. It is alcohol and sugar free as well.

[sweetpea]

Shirls & Hezz , I have seen the 2000mg one advertised (not sure if I've had it previously), but I currently have the 900mg one & have been dosing similar to Shirls with 3 drops per 70ml (long term). I'll have to adjust accordingly when I open the new 585mg one.

[Deleted]

Now this would be much more entertaining for my medication calculation exam next week. (Sorry, leaving you all to the serious discussion again now.)

[Hezz]

Jan 17, 2020 10:58:32 GMT @sillycat84 said:

Now this would be much more entertaining for my medication calculation exam next week. (Sorry, leaving you all to the serious discussion again now.)

Feel free to join in, @sillycat84.

[Hezz]

Jan 17, 2020 10:48:57 GMT sweetpea said:

Shirls & Hezz , I have seen the 2000mg one advertised (not sure if I've had it previously), but I currently have the 900mg one & have been dosing similar to Shirls with 3 drops per 70ml (long term). I'll have to adjust accordingly when I open the new 585mg one.

Well, there you go ... I've not ever seen the lower concentrations in the item lists, only as capsules. I'd be going through it at a rate of knots if I had the lower concentrations. I judge my dosage on whether it keeps Misty's vomiting under control.

[sweetpea]

I was a bit concerned that I have been under dosing, so contacted my vet. She suggested approx. 3 drops per 70ml of water for the 2000mg strength. This works out at 10 drops of the 585mg strength in 70ml of water, or (to save money!) 5 drops in 35ml of water.

[Hezz]

Feb 14, 2020 17:15:52 GMT sweetpea said:

I was a bit concerned that I have been under dosing, so contacted my vet. She suggested approx. 3 drops per 70ml of water for the 2000mg strength. This works out at 10 drops of the 585mg strength in 70ml of water, or (to save money!) 5 drops in 35ml of water.

That's good to know, sweetpea. At that rate I still have some wriggle room in increasing their dosage, still. I'm happy about that.