Pet birds, being previously unexposed to the many dangers of our industrial world, are prime candidates for the ingestion of toxins.
What follows is a highlight of the most common toxins found in our homes. These will include “acute” fast acting fatal toxins and the “chronic” more long term, but still deadly types of toxins.
REMEMBER: WHEN CONSIDERING IF A PRODUCT MIGHT BE TOXIC OR NOT, ENVISION “CLEAN LIVING.”
Fatty Diet
Although most people do not think of “fats” as toxins, they can be when consumed in excess over the long term.
Numerous studies in humans have shown the relationship between high fat intake and heart disease, liver malfunction, and endocrine problems, such as diabetes and pancreatitis.
It is true, birds need more calories than mammals based on body weight, but 30–50% should be high quality carbohydrates.
Excess fat the body cannot utilize is either stored in the millions of liver cells or recirculated in the bloodstream, known as lipemia.
Chronic over-ingestion of low-density fats overload the liver. The liver gradually degenerates and becomes unable to perform its many important body functions.
Symptoms of the eventual liver failure can be very acute with the only symptoms being death or severe weakness, paralysis, or seizures.
“Hepatic Lipidosis,” meaning fatty liver, is a common presentation in birds as young as three years of age and should be avoided to extend the life of all pet birds.
Excess circulating fat can also create fatty tumors which carry a high blood volume, taxing the circulatory system and which, if traumatized, can bleed profusely.
This condition is common in budgies, cockatiels, amazons, macaws, and some species of cockatoos.
Atherosclerosis also exists in birds with the associated heart maladies and circulatory problems associated with it.
Alcohol
This includes hard liquor, wine, and beer.
Alcohol is very destructive to the liver.
With a bird’s high metabolic rate and the ability to ingest a much higher volume compared to its body weight, liver failure occurs in a very short period of time.
Tobacco Products
This includes cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, marijuana, etc.
Both the product itself and the smoke can be deadly to birds.
Chronic sinusitis, lung, and liver pathologies have been confirmed in birds housed with smokers.
We have seen cases where this process has occurred in less than one year.
Birds are migratory animals with a very efficient respiratory system.
In any given breath a bird can extract 70% more air particulates than a human.
This, added to an increased respiratory rate, makes birds very susceptible to airborne toxins.
Avocados
Rumors about this fruit had been around for many years.
In 1989, a research group performed a study to better define avocado’s toxic role.
Their findings demonstrated that this fruit is indeed toxic to birds.
Budgerigars were most susceptible, with 6 out of 8 birds dying within 47 hours after the ingestion of one drop from a 1:10 dilution mixture.
Avocados had already been shown to be toxic to cattle, goats, horses, rabbits, and mice.
The toxic component has not yet been identified, but our recommendation is to not feed any part of the fruit or tree to your animals.
The toxicity is unpredictable and has no antidote except intravenous fluid dilution and supportive care.
Caffeine and Derivatives
Chocolate, soda pop, cocoa, coffee, and tea containing caffeine and/or its structurally similar compounds tend to affect the body muscles, including the heart.
Signs may include vomiting, restlessness, or hyperactivity.
More severe signs may include a drunken-like appearance, muscle tremors, cyanosis, seizures, and possibly death from cardiac or respiratory collapse.
This toxic group is dose related, so just because your animal ingested one of these products and did not appear to show any of the above symptoms, does not mean it could not be more serious the next time.
Again, the only treatment is supportive care with questionable prognosis.
Lead or “Plumbism”
The toxicity of lead is well documented.
Sources include lead-based paints, lead shot, solder, bird toys containing lead weights, linoleum, ceramics, curtain weights, stained glass windows, tiffany lamps, glitter from trendy clothes, Christmas ornaments, and foil from the top of wine bottles.
Very small amounts are sufficient to create toxicity.
Lead adversely affects all body systems.
South American species, particularly amazons and macaws, are acutely sensitive to lead poisoning.
Signs usually show up several days after ingestion, but proceed rapidly and can lead to death within 48 hours.
Symptoms can be vague, but usually have a sudden onset with one day the bird acting fine and the next day demonstrating weakness, anorexia, not eating, or other neurological symptoms.
If a bird suddenly regurgitates and looks listless, one should seek veterinary attention immediately and have radiographs taken.
Time is critical once symptoms manifest themselves.
Antidotes are available to control the symptoms and then further medical or surgical therapy can be undertaken.
Zinc
Zinc poisoning has become more and more common in pet bird medicine and is often under-diagnosed.
Because so many products contain zinc as a component, clinical symptoms are quite variable dependent on quantity ingested, concentration of zinc, and species of birds.
In 2003 alone there was over 30 cases of zinc poisoning with symptoms ranging from regurgitation, lameness, mental aberrations, marked depression, and sometimes death.
History of ingestion has ranged from only a few days to chronic low-grade exposure over years.
If your bird is a heavy chewer, replace all galvanized hardware with stainless steel as a precaution.
Common Sources of Zinc
Paint primers on cages, especially cages produced pre-1995.
Bronze coating on metals.
Galvanized products, the brighter the metal, the higher the zinc level.
Anodized aluminum windows or any anodized surfaces.
Costume jewelry and sequins.
Many hardware products, metal washers, bolts, etc.
Post 1982 pennies, 96–98% zinc with copper coating.
“Hot spots” in colored food pellets. We recommend a natural colored product.
Many forms of rubber products.
Other Heavy Metals
Various other metals are also toxic to birds.
Tin is found in aluminum foil, gum wrappers, and cans.
Copper is found in certain toys, old pennies, designer furniture, and home electrical cords.
Iron is found in rusted steel products.
There are numerous others.
Just remember to be very careful where a bird roams in your house unattended.
Symptoms of these other metal toxins are variable, but most commonly present neurological or gastrointestinal symptoms and can be concurrent with feather picking.
Teflon Vapors
When “non-stick” cookery, such as Teflon, Silverstone, etc., is heated above a critical temperature, 530 degrees F, an invisible, odorless vapor is emitted.
The irritating vapors accumulate in the lungs causing fluid production and subsequent anoxia, lack of oxygen, with the only sign often being acute death, sometimes within 1–5 minutes.
Birds seem to be highly sensitive to this toxin compared to other animals or humans.
The critical temperature is usually not obtained during the “normal” cooking processes, but may be reached when pans are used for searing meat or when using Teflon coated Chinese woks or electric skillets.
To be safe, never keep your bird in the kitchen and be aware of which products contain Teflon.
Simple Sugars
Foods like sweet rolls, Danish, candy, glazed products, and even oversized portions of sweet fruits, have caused acute toxicity or death in some patients.
The causes stem from the simple sugars causing a fermenting process in the lower bowel and a change from an aerobic environment to an anaerobic environment.
Toxin producing bacteria, clostridium perfringens, already located in the small intestines proliferate under anaerobic conditions with the ensuing signs of shock and/or death if antibiotics and fluid therapy is not rapidly administered.
Birds unfortunately have an affinity for these types of foods.
Be extremely careful.
Acidic Foods
A newly observed cause of toxicity in bird species is foods with a relative low pH, acidity.
Examples are oranges, tomatoes, raspberries, or tart apple varieties.
Small birds are again more susceptible since this is dose related.
The symptoms are similar to sugar toxicity, but by a different mechanism.
When ingested, acidic foods lower the pH in the crop and slow or stop the crop’s normal function as a passageway to the lower gastrointestinal, GI, tract.
This leads to the absorption of “normal” toxic food by-products, causing dehydration, depression, regurgitation, shock, and sometimes death.
Plants
Some safe plants if dried include eucalyptus, pine, oak, manzanita, and fir.
Plants toxic to birds include Japanese yew, philodendron, oleander, poinsettia, dumb cane, redwood, bird of paradise, mistletoe, nightshade, ground-cherry, and the seeds/pits of apples, apricots, peaches, and cherries.
Toxic Plants
Acokanthera — Acokanthera spp. — all parts toxic, except ripe fruit.
Amaryllis — Amaryllis spp.
Angel’s Trumpet — Datura spp. — leaves, seeds, flowers.
Apricot — Prunus armeniaca — pits, leaves, and bark.
Apple — Malus spp. — seeds, leaves, bark.
Avocado — Persea Americana — pit, leaves, unripe fruit, stems.
Azalea — Rhododendron canadenis
Balsam Pear, Bitter Melon — Momordica charantia
Baneberry — Actaea rubra, A. pachypoda
Belladonna — Atropa belladonna
Bird of Paradise — Poinciana and related spp. — seed pods and flowers.
Bittersweet — Celastrus spp.
Black Locust — Robinia pseudoacacia
Boxwood — Boxus spp.
Braken Fern — Pteridium aquilinum
Buckthorn — Karwinskia humboldtiana and related spp.
Burdock — Arctium spp.
Buttercup — Ranunculus spp.
Caladium — Caladium spp.
Calla Lily — Zantedeschia aethiopica
Catclaw Acacia — Acacia greggii — twigs and leaves.
Caster Bean — Ricinus communis
Cherry — Prunus spp. — pits, leaves, and bark.
Chinaberry — Melia azadarach
Clematis — Clematis montana and related spp.
Coral Plant — Jatropha mutifida
Crocus, autumn — Cholochicum autumnale
Cycad or Sago Cycas — Cycas revoluta
Daffodil — Narcissus tazetta
Daphne — Daphne mezerum
Death Camas — Zigadenus venenosus and other related species.
Delphinium — Delphinium spp.
Devil’s Ivy — Epipremnum aureum
Dieffenbachia, dumb cane — Dieffenbachia spp.
Eggplant — Solonum melongena — unripe/ripe fruit, leaves.
Elderberry — Sambucus mexicana — roots, leaves, stems, bark.
Elephant’s Ears or Taro — Colocasia spp.
Euonymus — Euonymus spp. — fruit, bark, leaves.
European Pennyroyal — Mentha pulegium
Figs — Ficus spp. — sap.
Four o’clock — Mirabilis jalapa
Heliotrope — Heliotropium spp. — leaves.
Henbane — Hyoscyamus niger
Holly — Ilex aquifolium and related spp. — leaves, berries.
Horse Chestnut — Aesculus hippocastanum and related spp.
Horse Nettle — Solanum carolinense
Hyacinth — Hyacinthus orientalis
Hydrangea — Hydrangea spp.
Iris — Iris spp.
Ivy, Boston, English, and some others — Hedera spp.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit — Arisaema spp.
Jerusalem Cherry — Solanum pseudocapsicum and related spp. — leaves, seeds, and flowers.
Jonquil — Narcissus jonquilla
Juniper — Juniperus spp.
Lantana — Lantana camara
Larkspur — Delphinium spp.
Laurel — Kalmia spp.
Lily-of-the-Valley — Convalleria majalis
Lobelia — Lobelia spp.
Locoweed — Astragalus spp. and Oxytopis spp.
Lupine — Lupinus spp.
Marijuana — Cannabis sativa
Milkweed — Asclepias spp.
Mistletoe — Phoradendron villosum
Mock Orange — Philadelphus spp.
Moonseed — Menispermum canadense
Monkshood — Aconitum spp.
Morning Glory — Ipomoea violacea — seeds.
Mushrooms — Amanita spp. and many others.
Narcissus — Narcissus spp.
Oak — Quercus spp.
Oleander — Nerium oleander
Peach — Prunus persica — leaves, pit, bark.
Pear — Pyrus spp. — leaves, seeds, bark.
Peony — Paeonia officinalis
Periwinkle — Vinca minor, Vinca rosea
Peyote — Lophophora williamsii
Philodendron — Philodendron spp. and Monstera spp.
Plum — Prunus spp. — leaves, pit, bark.
Poison Hemlock — Conium maculatum
Poison Ivy — Toxicodendron radicans, includes T. rydbergii
Poison Oak — Toxicodendron querciflium and T. diversilobum
Poison Sumac — Rhux vernix
Poinsettia — Euphorbia pulcherrima
Poppy — Papaver somniferum and related spp.
Pokeweed — Phytolacca Americana
Potato — Solanum tuberosum — sprouts, leaves, berries, green tubers.
Pothos — Eprimemnum aureum
Primrose — Prmula spp.
Privet — Ligustrum vulgare
Ragwort — Senecio jacobea and related spp.
Red Maple — Acer rubrum
Rhododendron — Rhododendron spp.
Rhubarb — Rheum rhabarbarum — leaves.
Rosary Pea — Abrus precatorius
Sage — Salvia officinalis
Shamrock Plant — Medicago lupulina, Trifolium repens, Oxalis acetosella
Skunk Cabbage — Symplocarpus foetidus
Snowdrop — Galanthus nivalis
Sorrel — Rumex spp., Oxalis spp.
Spurges — Euphorbia spp.
Star of Bethlehem — Ornithogalum umbellatum
Sweet Pea — Lathyrus odoratus
Tobacco — Nicotiania spp.
Tomato — Lycopersicon esculentum — stems and leaves.
Tulip — Tulipa spp.
Virginia Creeper — Panthenocissus quinquefolia
Vetches — Vicia spp.
Water Hemlock — Cicuta spp.
Waxberry — Symphoricarpos albus
Wisteria — Wisteria spp.
Yew — Taxus spp.
Nontoxic Plants
Abelia — Abelia spp.
Acacia, some species — Acacia spp.
African Daisy — Arctotis stoechadifolia
African Violet — Saintpaulina spp.
Aluminum Plant — Pilea cadierei
Aloe — Aloe spp. — fresh only.
Aralia — Aralia spp.
Arbutus — Arbutus spp.
Areca, Butterfly Cane — Areca lutescens
Ash — Fraxinus spp.
Asparagus Fern — Asparagus densiflorus
Aspen — Populus spp.
Aspidistra — Aspidistra spp.
Baby’s Tears — Helxine soleirolli
Baby’s Breath — Gypsophila paniculata
Bachelor Buttons — Centaurea cyanus
Barberry — Berberis spp.
Beech — Fagus, Nothofagus
Begonia — Begonia spp.
Birch — Betula spp.
Bird’s Nest Fern — Asplenium nidus
Blood Leaf Plant — Iresine herbstii and related spp.
Boston Fern — Nephrolepsis bostoniensis
Bougainvillea — Bougainvillea spp.
Brake, Ribbon, Dish — Pteris cretica
Bromeliads — Anans comosus
California Holly — Heteromeles arbutifolia
Calamint — Calamintha spp.
Calendula, Pot Marigold — Calendula officinalis
Camellia — Camellia spp.
Chamomile — Chamaemelum nobile
Chickweed — Cerastium vulgatum, Stellaria media
Chicory — Chichorium intybus
Cissus Kangaroo Vines — Cissus spp.
Claw Cactus — Schlumbergera truncata
Coffee Tree — Coffea arabica — coffee is toxic.
Coleus — Coleus blumei
Comfrey — Symphytum officinalis
Corn Plant — Dracaena fragrans
Cottonwood — Populus spp.
Crabapple — Malus spp. — fruit only.
Creeping Jenny — Lysimachia spp.
Croton, house variety — Codiaeum variegatum
Dahlia — Dahlia spp.
Dandelion — Taraxacum officinalis
Date — Phoenix dactylifera
Daylily — Hemerocallis spp.
Dill — Anethum graveolen
Dogwood — Cornus spp.
Donkey Tail — Sedum morganianum
Dracaena — Dracaena spp.
Dragon Tree — Dracaena draco
Easter Cactus — Rhipsalidopsis spp.
Elderberry — Sambucus spp. — cooked ripe fruit only.
Elm — Ulmus spp.
European Fan — Chamaerops humilis
Fir — Abies spp.
Gold Dust Dracaena — Dracaena godseffiana
Echeveria — Echeveria spp.
Elephant Foot Tree — Beaucarnea recurvata
Eucalyptus — Eucalyptus sp.
Eugenia — Eugenia spp.
Gardenia — Gardenia jasminoides
Garlic — Allium sativum
Gloxinia — Sinningia speciosa
Grape Ivy — Cissus rhombifolia
Grape Vine — Vitis spp.
Hens and Chicks — Echeveria and Sempervivum sp.
Hibiscus — Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and related species.
Honeysuckle — Lonicera spp.
Hoya — Hoya spp.
Impatiens — Impatiens spp.
Indian Hawthorne — Rhaphiolepsis spp.
Jade Plant — Crassula ovata
Kalanchoe — Klanchoe blossfeldiana
Larch — Larix spp.
Lemon Balm — Melissa officinalis
Lilac — Syringa vulgaris and related species.
Lilly, Easter or Tiger — Lilium spp.
Magnolia — Magnolia spp.
Marigold — Tagetes spp.
Maidenhair Fern — Adiantum spp.
Manzanita — Arctostapylos manzanita
Mayapple — Podophyllum peltatum — fruit only.
Monkey Plant — Ruellia spp.
Moses-in-the-Cradle — Rhoeo spathacea
Mother-In-Law’s-Tongue — Sansevieria trifasciata
Nandina — Nandina domestica
Nasturtium — Tropaeolum majus
Natal Plum — Carissa macrocarpa
Nerve Plant — Fittonia verschaffeltti
Norfolk Island Pine — Araucaria excelsa
Parsley — Petroselinum spp.
Passionflower — Passiflora caerulea
Peppermint — Mentha x piperita
Peperomia — Peperomia spp.
Petunia — Petunia spp.
Pony Tail Palm — Beaucarnea recurvata
Popular — Populus spp.
Prayer Plant — Maranta leuconeura
Purple Passion, Purple Velvet — Gynura aurantiaca
Pyracantha — Pyracantha spp.
Raphiolepsis — Raphiolepis spp.
Rose — Rosa spp.
Rubber Plant — Ficus elastica
Russian Olive — Elaeagnus augustifolia
Schefflera — Schefflera actinophylla
Sensitive Plant — Mimosa pudica
Spearmint — Mentha spicata
Spider Plant — Chlorophytum comosum
Spruce — Picea spp.
Squirrel’s Foot Fern — Davallia trichomanoides
Staghorn, Elk’s Horn — Platycerium bifurcatum
Star Jasmine — Trachelospermum jasminoides
String of Beads — Senecio rowleyanus
Swedish Ivy — Plectranthus australis
Sword Fern — Nephrolepis exaltata
Thistle — Cirsium spp.
Ti Plant — Cordyline terminalis
Violet — Viola spp.
Wandering Jew — Tradescantia fluminensis
Willow — Salix spp.
Zebra Plant — Aphelandra squarrosa
Household Chemicals
As mentioned earlier, birds are highly sensitive to airborne products.
Many people remember that years ago miners used to take a canary down into the coal mines.
The canary, being highly sensitive to toxic gases, would expire before any workers could notice the odor and thus would warn the miners of impending danger in time to escape the mine.
Today’s birds are in danger from many household cleaners, especially those with any phenol derivatives, such as pine-sol, lysol, etc., which are extremely toxic.
Also be aware of toxicity from bleach, chlorine, ammonia, perfumes, and ingestion of rubbing alcohol.
Construction fumes, for example, the “breathing” of treated wood or new carpet, and especially the fumes from painting, even one room in the other end of the house, have led to many emergencies.
Oil-based paints are worse than water-based paints, with the danger lasting a longer time, but again, toxicity is based on quantity of toxins, species of bird, and the duration of exposure.
When in doubt, call our clinic for specific recommendations or remove the bird from the premises.
Other Dangers in the Household
If you have a fully flighted bird, you must be aware of the dangers in your house.
Ceiling fans, open toilet seats, filled sinks, and pots and pans left with liquid in them all pose possible dangers.
Also, there are dangers for birds that are walking around on the floor, or climbing around reclining chairs and couches, where they can get underneath without the owner knowing and become injured when used.
Conclusion
This is an overview of toxic compounds possibly dangerous to your bird.
If your bird ingests any of these products or suddenly does not seem right, contact your avian veterinarian immediately as only one day delay may make the difference between life and death.
