A special diet might be necessary for lories and lorikeets, which feed on nectar and fruit in the wild. Drug toxicity can occur when using this regimen so an experienced avian veterinarian should monitor birds during treatment. If toxicity occurs, medication should be immediately stopped and supportive care provided until the bird recovers. Treatment with a different regimen can be started at a later date. If the bird regurgitates the drug, another treatment method should be used.
All available formulations can cause irritation at the injection site.
It is not suitable for IM use because severe tissue reactions will occur at the site of injection. This dosage may be suitable for but has not been tested on other species. This product causes irritation at the site of injection and is best used to initiate treatment in ill birds or those that are reluctant to eat. After stabilization with oxytetracycline treatment, the birds should be switched to another form of treatment to reduce the muscle irritation that is caused by repeated oxytetracycline injection. Information about these treatment protocols may be available in the scientific literature or from avian veterinary specialists.