Our birds are very curious creatures! Our birds can, and do, get into contact with many dangerous toxins. If an item is considered to be toxic to us or any other mammal, than it is considered toxic to our birds.
Birds
should be supervised at all times when they are out of their
cages. They investigate every unusual
textures and objects by using their mouths and tongues.
Because birds are much smaller then us they are more prone to intoxication by
fumes. This is due to the fact that they have rapid metabolic rate, small size,
highly efficient respiratory system and low body fat. Many common household
aerosol products (deodorants, perfumes, cleaning products) may cause
respiratory problems. For this reason alone, you should never use any type of
aerosol product near your birds.
Here is a small (very small and incomplete) list of common household products that are toxic to birds, with their symptoms and treatments.
| Common name | Toxic Compound name | Symptoms | Treatment |
| Bleach | Chlorine | sneezing, coughing, hyperventilation, GI irritation | Irrigate skin with cool water, if ingested use demulcent |
| Cleaning products | Ammonia | Respiratory tract irritation | fresh air, supportive care |
| exhaust fumes | carbon monoxide | depression, cyanosis, death | fresh air, oxygen, warmth, supportive care |
| deodorants | aluminum chloride | oral irritation | careful lavage of crop and proventriculus, must be done by a Vet ! |
| drain cleaners | sodium hydroxide | caustic to skin, irritation, inflammation of mouth and tongue | flush with water, DO NOT lavage. Treat for shock and pain, rush to vet |
| furniture polish | petroleum, hydrocarbons, mineral spirits | central nervous system depression, disorientation, aspiration pneumonia, hepatorenal damage | prevent aspiration pneumonia, avoid gastric lavage |
| gasoline | petroleum and petroleum distillates | GI irritation, skin and feather damage, aspiration pneumonia | wash bird with mild soap and water. Vegetable or mineral oil gavage. Antibiotics and supportive care. |
| matches | potassium chloride | vomiting, gastroenteritis, chlorates may induce methemoglobinemia | treat symptomatically. Use methylene blue or ascorbic acid |
| paint and varnish | benzene, methanol, acetone | dermal irritation, depression, pneumonia | Flush area with warm water and prevent aspiration pneumonia, avoid gastric lavage |
| pencil | graphite | GI irritation | demulcent |
| perfumes | volatile oils | local skin irritation, pneumonitis, excitement, coma | if ingested - gastric or crop lavage with a weak bicarbonate solution. Prevent aspiration. Fresh air |
| overheated non-stick cookware, heat lamps, irons and ironing board covers | pine oils, phenols | vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, mild seizures and death | If ingested -- gastric lavage, mineral oil. Fumes -- fresh air immediately |
| Poor seed quality | mycotoxins, aflatoxin | GI irritation, oral necrosis, secondary infections due to immunosuppression | clean feed, antibiotics for secondary infections |
| Shampoo | laurel sulfates, triethanolamine dodecyl sulfate | diarrhea, mucous production | activated charcoal or kaolin orally |
| Salt | sodiam chloride | GI irritation, dehydration, depression, weakness, death | rehydration, offer small amounts of water often, supportive care |
| Source: Avian Medicine: Principles and Application, Ritchie, Harrison and Harrison p1031 |
Other commonly found toxins and their potential effects on our birds
| Alcohol | Depression, regurgitation, death |
| Chocolate | vomiting, diarrhea, death |
| Cigarette smoke | dermatitis, sinusitis, pneumonitis |
| Copper | Amemia, weakness, death |
| Lead | Depression, CNS signs, death |
| Mercury | Depression, hematuria, death |
| Nicotine | Depression, coma, death |
| Nitrates | Anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, death |
| Sodium chloride | Depression, convulsions, death |
| Ticarcillin | Hepatotoxicity |
| Vitamin D3 | Calcification of kidneys and other organs |
| Zinc | Depression, vomiting, death |
| Source: Avian Medicine: Principles and Application, Ritchie, Harrison and Harrison p1032 |
Harmful Plants
Note: parts of these plants (bulbs, leaves, stems, or bark) maybe poisonous.
| Amaryllis | Deadly amanita | Jerusalem cherry | Oleander |
| Azalea | Death camas | Jimsonweed | Philodendron |
| Balsam pear | Delphinium | Juniper | Poison ivy |
| Baneberry | Deiffenbachia | Lantana | Poinsettia |
| Bird of paradise | Eggplant | Larkspur | Pikeweed |
| Black locust | Elephant's ear (taro) | Laurel | Potato |
| Blue-green algae (some forms toxic) | English Ivy | Lily of the valley | Privet |
| Boxwood | False henbane | Lobelia | Rhododendron |
| Buckthorn | Foxglove | Locoweed | Rhubarb |
| Buttercup | Golden chain | Lords and ladies | Rosary peas |
| Calla lily | Hemlock, poison | Marijuana | Skunk cabbage |
| Caladium | Hemlock, water | Mayapple | Snowdrop |
| Caster bean (caster oil) | Henbane | Mescal bean | Snow on the mountain |
| Chalice vine | Holly | Mistletoe | Sweet pea |
| Cherry tree | Horse chestnut | Mock orange | Tobacco |
| Christmas candle | Hyacinth | Monkshood | Virginia creeper |
| Coral plant | Hydrangea | Morning glory | Wisteria |
| Daffodil | Indian turnip | Narcissus | Yam bean |
| Daphne | Iris | Nightshades | Yew |
| Datura | Java bean (lima bean) | Oak |
| Source: Birds USA, 1998/99 Annual pg 143 |
