Most human problems with zinc involve deficiencies. Zinc is being used today in lozenge form to aid in prevention of cold viruses. These lozenges contain 15mg. Veterinary medicine has historically viewed zinc as a trace metal or mineral essential for health. Information on zinc toxicosis is largely anecdotal.
Most cases are due to ingestion of zinc pennies, hardware and zinc oxide by dogs.
Gastrointestinal upset with possible hemolytic anemia are the expected result of intoxication. Recent advances in our ability to measure serum zinc in avian patients has made it possible to investigate the effects of zinc on pet parrots. Before this development the diagnosis of zinc intoxication was based on histopathology or tissue determinations. These were usually run on birds where the presumptive cause of death was metal intoxication. We would be naive to think that the few examples in the literature reflect the clinical or subclinical occurrence of this problem.