What's your bird's favorite treat? Even when you offer him a selection of
foods that usually meet his approval, he always seems to have a hankering for
whatever it is you're eating at the moment. You may be tempted to share the
love—and your snack—but it's not always healthy for companion avians to indulge
in certain foods. In some cases, it can be downright dangerous.
AniMed lists Food to Avoid Giving Your Pet Bird
Our experts at ANIMED urge you to avoid feeding the following foods to
your bird, and be sure to keep them out of beak's reach when he's out of his cage:
- ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, which can cause gastrointestinal irritation,
drunkenness, tremors, difficult breathing, and even death. Always place unattended
drinks where your bird cannot reach them—and yes, even small amounts can be very
harmful.
- Hold the guacamole, please! Ingestion of AVOCADOS in all forms can result
in respiratory distress, the accumulation of fluid around the heart, and death.
- CHOCOLATE in all forms—including baking, semi-sweet, milk and dark—can be
potentially dangerous to companion animals of all species, including birds.
Although highly palatable, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which
can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity, increased heart rate,
and death. Symptoms of toxicosis can be seen with the ingestion of as little as
1/4 ounce of baking chocolate by a ten-pound dog; with their high metabolisms
and smaller size, birds may be even more sensitive.
- All forms of COFFEE, including grounds and beans, can cause the same
symptoms as chocolate. You'll also want to nix teas and sodas that contain caffeine.
- MOLDY or SPOILED FOOD, which may contain molds that can result in GI
irritation, seizures, kidney problems, and death. Spoiled food may also contain
bacteria that can cause severe food poisoning in birds.
- ONIONS, GARLICS and CHIVES, which can lead to GI upset and damage red blood
cells.
- SALT and SALTY FOODS can result in sodium ion poisoning, symptoms of which
include regurgitation, excessive thirst, diarrhea, kidney failure, heart
failure and seizures. If enough salt is consumed, death can result.
- While the ripe, red fruit of the TOMATO is not a potential problem, the
LEAVES, STEMS, and UNRIPE FRUIT are. Ingestion can cause GI upset, drowsiness,
and weakness. The same symptoms can be seen with POTATO LEAVES and STEMS.
- YEAST DOUGH can be double trouble for your pet. As it rises, the dough can
expand the GI tract. The yeast can also form alcohol as it rises, leading to
alcohol poisoning.
Experts further caution pet parents to be careful when it comes to food
preparation. Wash and scrub all fresh foods you offer your bird, and please
remove all pits and seeds from food before you let your pet nosh. If something
smells bad or has mold on it, throw it away ASAP.
And don't forget to take the same common-sense cautions you do when preparing
your own food. Wash your hands well and, even though it may seem obvious, we
gotta say it here—don't chop your bird's fruits and veggies on a cutting
board on which you recently cut chicken or other meats. (As we mentioned before,
birds can get food poisoning, too!)
If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance,
immediately call your veterinarian. Be sure to let them know what he
has eaten and how much, the estimated time of ingestion, if you know it, and
any problems he is experiencing. |
