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MSM Study

 

If you would like to participate in a study which evaluates the use of MSM on avian companions that engage in feather-destructive behaviors, the following information is provided.

The following dose is based on the recommendation that an adult with a weight of 130 lbs. would take a minimum dose of 2,000 mg. By extrapolation, if you placed 1/4 teaspoon of this product in 8 ounces of water, you would be placing a total of 167 mg of MSM in that amount of water.  Based upon the dose of 2000 mg for a 130 pound human, the starting dose for a 500 gram parrot would be 17 mg.  If the parrot drank one ounce of his water out of the 8-ounce water dish, he would be consuming approximately 21 mg.

Therefore, if you were to use the liquid supplement, a reasonable amount to place into 8 ounces of water is 1/4 teaspoon.  This might even be too little if the parrot drank less than one ounce, but this is a good reference point at which to start.

If you are interested in trying MSM on an avian companion, please join the Featherpicking list and post a message to the list indicating the following:

1. The day you begin supplementation

2. The exact brand name of the product you are using to provide the MSM and the form it comes in.

3. The dosage or amount you are giving.

4. Rate your bird's feather picking:

    (1)    Slight = feather chewing, no bald spots, chewed tail and flight feathers, overall scruffy look. 

    (2)    Moderate = perhaps a few bare spots, some flight feathers or tail feathers missing, 50% of the body affected by feather destruction. 

    (3)    Severe = Most of the body covered only with down, possible mutilation, no tail or flight feathers.

5. Indicate the areas your bird has feather picked.

After approximately three months, we will check in with those using the MSM to find out if any positive results have been seen.

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Last Update:  01/28/01