A medication that is stored incorrectly or handled carelessly may not perform as expected when you actually need it. Terramycin ointment is a stable product under the right conditions, but it is worth understanding what those conditions are and how to maintain them throughout the tube's usable life.
Storage Conditions for Maximum Potency
Terramycin ointment should be stored at room temperature, generally between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. The ointment base is designed to remain stable within this temperature range. Exposure to high heat, such as leaving the product in a car on a warm day or storing it near a heating element in the loft, can cause the ointment base to separate or the active ingredient to degrade.
Freezing should also be avoided because the change in physical consistency when the ointment thaws may affect its spreadability and potentially its distribution of the active antibiotic through the base.
Terramycin ointment should be kept in its original packaging with the cap tightly replaced after each use. This protects the tube tip from contamination and prevents the ointment at the tip from drying out between uses.
Hygiene During Use
The tube tip represents the primary contamination risk during use. Each time you apply the ointment, there is a risk of the tip touching the eye surface, the bird's feathers, or your fingers, any of which can transfer bacteria onto the tube tip. From there, bacteria can enter the tube and potentially be transferred to the next bird treated.
Here is how to minimize this risk:
Wash hands thoroughly before handling the ointment and the bird
Never touch the tube tip to the eye surface, eyelid, or any other surface
After each application, wipe the tube tip with a clean tissue before replacing the cap
If treating multiple birds, wipe the tip between each bird or consider using a separate clean applicator for each treatment
How Good Loft Hygiene Reduces How Often You Need Treatment
Consistently using scraper bird tools to maintain a clean loft environment directly reduces the frequency with which eye infections develop in your birds. This means your stock of terramycin ointment lasts longer because you are using it for genuine infections rather than constant recontamination problems that stem from an unhygienic environment.
The investment in good scraping tools and regular cleaning routines therefore actually saves money on treatments over time, in addition to improving the health and welfare of your birds.
Recognizing Ointment That Has Gone Off
While terramycin ointment stored correctly remains stable for the period indicated by its expiry date, there are signs that a product has degraded:
Change in color from the normal yellow to brown or significantly darkened appearance
Change in texture, becoming gritty, separated, or unusually thick or thin
Any unusual odor that was not present when the product was new
If you notice any of these changes, do not use the product and replace it with a fresh tube. Using degraded medication risks ineffective treatment at a time when the bird genuinely needs help.
Checking Expiry Dates Before Use
Make a habit of checking the expiry date on your terramycin ointment at the beginning of each season and when restocking your bird health kit. An expired tube should be replaced even if it appears visually normal, as reduced potency may not be detectable by appearance.
Crown Pet Supplies carries eye infection treatments in their bird treatment sections, making it straightforward to keep your stocks current.
Conclusion
Proper storage and handling of terramycin ointment protects its effectiveness and ensures it performs as expected when you need it. Combined with good loft hygiene using quality scraper bird tools that reduce the frequency of infections in the first place, responsible medication management is part of being a truly professional bird keeper. Crown Pet Supplies has all the bird health supplies and accessories you need through one convenient, trusted online store.
