Hypocalcaemia in African Grey Parrots
Bird · Psittacus erithacus · typical adult weight 0.40–0.65 kg
5 cited drugs treat Hypocalcaemia in african grey parrots: Calcium (oral/injectable), Calcium Carbonate (Supplement), Calcium Gluconate, Calcium glubionate, Calcium levulinate.
Low circulating calcium. Causes range from acute parturient hypocalcaemia in livestock to chronic nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP / MBD) in reptiles. Acute treatment requires calcium gluconate; chronic management addresses husbandry and diet.
The overview above describes Hypocalcaemia across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to african grey parrots — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Calcium (oral/injectable)(Cal-Phos, Calciquid)
Supplement| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 50–100 mg/kg | once; no repeat interval printed | Until stabilized | Acute hypocalcemia | Weak | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th Ed, Table 5.11 p.475 - Calcium borogluconate (10%) 50-100 mg/kg IM, IV (Psittacines) and Calcium gluconate (10%) 50-100 mg/kg IM, SC (diluted), IV slow (Most species, including psittacines) — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| IV | 50–100 mg/kg | once | Slow IV; transition to oral | Acute hypocalcemia with seizures | Moderate | Beynon PH, Forbes NA, Lawton MP.C. Manual of Psittacine Birds, Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1996. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| PO | 10 mg/kg | q24h | Chronic supplementation | Hypocalcaemia in African grey parrots - use in addition to UVb supplementation and diet correction | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th Ed, Table 5.11 p.475 - Calcium borogluconate (10%), 10 mg/kg PO q24h, African grey parrots (ref 891: Stanford M, Vet Rec. 2007;161:456-457) — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Calcium Carbonate (Supplement)(Tums Veterinary, CalciCare)
Supplement| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 20–50 mg/kg | q12-24h | During egg-laying periods or as maintenance for deficient birds | Calcium supplementation (hypocalcemia/egg binding) | Moderate | Hawkins, M., Guzman, D., Beaufrere, H. et al. (2018). Birds. In: Exotic Animal Formulary, 5e (ed. J. Carpenter), 167-375. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. — Verified against Graham, Doss & Beaufrere, Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, p.645 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine — ISBN 9781119149231, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119149231 |
Calcium Gluconate
Emergency| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 50–100 mg/kg | not stated in source | Emergency; follow with oral | Acute hypocalcemia, seizures | Moderate | Huckabee JR. Raptor therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:91-116.; Huff DG. Avian fluid therapy and nutritional therapeutics. Semin Avian Exot Pet Med. 1993;2:13-16.; Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| IV | 50–100 mg/kg | once | Slow IV | Hypocalcemia | Moderate | Huckabee JR. Raptor therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:91-116.; Huff DG. Avian fluid therapy and nutritional therapeutics. Semin Avian Exot Pet Med. 1993;2:13-16.; Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| PO | 10 mg/kg | q24h | — | Hypocalcaemia | Moderate | 891. Stanford M. Clinical pathology of hypocalcaemia in adult grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). Vet Rec. 2007;161:456-457. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 doi:10.1136/vr.161.13.456 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Calcium glubionate
Uncategorized| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 150 mg/kg | q12h | Hypocalcaemia / calcium supplementation | Weak | 423. Huff DG. Avian fluid therapy and nutritional therapeutics. Semin Avian Exot Pet Med. 1993;2:13-16. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Calcium levulinate
Uncategorized| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM, IV | 75–100 mg/kg | Not stated | Hypocalcaemia | Weak | 423. Huff DG. Avian fluid therapy and nutritional therapeutics. Semin Avian Exot Pet Med. 1993;2:13-16. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Other conditions in African Grey Parrots
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.