Colloidal Silver

[linda040899]

Cross-posted from Bird Breeder-Hobbyist:

From: Donald Perez

Alert about Colloidal Silver Products Labeled for Birds!!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

Greetings All Concerned,

Recently someone wrote to me seeking my advice regarding the safety of the various products currently on the market containing Colloidal Silver.

I decided to do a Google search on 'Colloidal silver for birds' and came up with so many "green" and "holistic" and other bird sites promoting the virtures of this ingredient. Most all were of course selling a product containing Colloidal Silver! (What were the odds of that?)

I've warned you good people many times to be careful of purchasing and using unregulated, imported pet medications and supplements. In fact, we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with the recent pet food contaminants killing cats and dogs here and which are in our own food supply already!

I feel it is my responsibility to warn you all again as I suggest that you avoid using ANYTHING containing Colloidal Silver for your birds, other pets or even on yourselves. Disregard any claims of "safe dosage" because they really have no clue what safe dosages are for any living creature. Safe dosages have not been established as yet here as one reads what is written by our own government.

Excerpt:

"In addition to the possible human health concerns, use of these products to treat a serious illness in animals (including pets) could potentially endanger the health of the animal by delaying timely, appropriate treatment.

"Colloidal silver-containing products have not been approved by FDA for use in any animal species. Promoting the use of colloidal silver for treating animal diseases causes such products to be misbranded veterinary drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act). Labeling colloidal silver products to treat animals causes such products to be new animal drugs which are adulterated under the Act."

Learn more:

FDA, Center for Veterinary Medicine

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/CVM_Updates/silver.html

NCCAM, National Institutes of Health

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/silver/index.htm (http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/silver/index.htm)

[kimsbirds]

Wow Linda,
Interesting article!!
If we are to avoid using colloidal silver, would that not mean also not using other 'holistic' treatments as we see fit? ie: aloe, milk thistle, GSE etc?
FWIW, I've never even HEARD of colloidal silver (or maybe I have, and forgot about it). How is cs different in usage from other treatments such as those I've listed above? Enquiring minds want to know!
I also google searched cs, and found mainly sites promoting it's usage...
Thoughts??

K

[linda040899]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloidal_silver
Kim,
The above link is the best one I could find to explain colloidal silver. I, personally, have never used it but I'm aware that it exists, as members of the Breeders Connection Mailing List had discussed its use several yrs ago. I was never impressed with what was said, so I just left it alone. When I saw the topic come up again, it wasn't quite what I expected to read.

[linda040899]

How is cs different in usage from other treatments such as those I've listed above? Enquiring minds want to know!

K
Kim,
I'm going to answer this part of your question separately. GSE, Milk Thistle and Aloe all come from living things. Colloidal Silver is an element (silver) mixed into a suspension.

[kimsbirds]

Thanks for your quick answer Linda!
As I mentioned, I had no clue what cs was, or its uses, so I'm basically in the dark about its source and composition. Knowing that it isn't from a 'living' source makes me nervous too. Knowing ONLY this piece of info, I'd have to say No to ever using it.

[Z28Taxman]

I'd never give that stuff to any living thing.

There was a Senate Candidate from Montana a few years ago who was taking the stuff. It actually turned his skin blue. He didn't get elected. :lol

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/americas/2297471.stm

[zlatushka]

I'll add a quick dissenting opinion ... with two disclaimers :)

1. I wouldn't ever give this to any pet
2. Not sure if I'd "make" my own, like is done in the states

But, on a sort of side tangent, I did regularly drink water in Russia that had naturally occurring colloidal silver in it. And I will say this... I didn't turn blue, and I never got sick (even when most people around me were coming down with the whateveritwhatit that was circulating at the time). And, for example if I had a cut, using that to wash the wound would markedly improve healing time. So while I won't stand behind every claim I've heard about the miraculous benefits of colloidal silver, I do think there may be some merit to it. Just my :2cents: