In humans and other animals, silver accumulates in the body. Chronic intake of silver products can result in an accumulation of silver or silver sulfide particles in the skin. These particles in the skin darken with exposure to sunlight, resulting in a blue or gray discolouration of the skin known as argyria. Localized argyria can occur as a result of topical use of silver-containing solutions, while generalized argyria results from the ingestion of such substances.
Argyria is generally irreversible, with the only practical method of minimizing its cosmetic disfigurement being to avoid the sun. Preliminary reports of treatment with laser therapy have been reported. These laser treatments are painful and general anesthesia is required. A similar laser treatment has been used to clear silver particles from the eye, a condition related to argyria called argyrosis. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) describes argyria as a “cosmetic problem”.
While argyria is usually limited to skin discoloration, there are isolated reports of more serious neurologic, renal, or hepatic complications caused by ingesting colloidal silver.
Colloidal silver may interact with some prescription medications, reducing the absorption of some antibiotics and thyroxine among others.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloidal_silver
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Mar 17;(3):CD006478. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006478.pub2. Topical silver for preventing wound infection. Storm-Versloot MN1, Vos CG, Ubbink DT, Vermeulen H.
BACKGROUND: Silver-containing treatments are popular and used in wound treatments to combat a broad spectrum of pathogens, but evidence of their effectiveness in preventing wound infection or promoting healing is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To establish the effects of silver-containing wound dressings and topical agents in preventing wound infection and healing of wounds. CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence to establish whether silver-containing dressings or topical agents promote wound healing or prevent wound infection; some poor quality evidence for SSD suggests the opposite.
The use of colloidal silver for medicinal purposes has been banned in the USA. Should you constantly administer an antibiotic agent to your animal it will not respond to proper antibiotics when desperately needed.
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