Avian Toxins
If you know of a substance toxic to birds that I have not listed, please email me so I can post it here and warn other bird owners.
Owners; take care! This list is by no means complete and I am constantly updating it. Remember, anything toxic to humans is also toxic to humans and take care-even the fumes of many of the items on this list can be toxice. Use common sense and always keep your wits about you, even in an emergency.
More to come! This site is still under construction!
[Toxins] [Routes of Poisoning] [Signs of Poisoning] [First Aid] [Poisoning by Acid, Alkali, or Petroleum Products] [Lead Poisoning] [Teflon Toxicity/Polymer Fume Fever]
Acid, Alkali, or Petroleum Products | Household Poisons | Plants |
dishwasher detergent drain cleaner floor polish formaldehyde furniture polish gasoline kerosene lye oven cleaner paint remover paint thinner shoe polish toilet bowl cleaner wax (floor or furniture) wood preservative |
acetone ammonia antifreeze ant syrup or paste arsenic asbestos bathroom bowl cleaner bleach boric acid camphophenique carbon monoxide carbon tetrachloride charcoal lighter chlorine cigarette smoke clinitest tablets copper and brass cleaners corn and wart remover crayons deoderants disinfectants detergents diazanon drain cleaners epoxy glue fabric softeners flea bombs/collars garbage toxins garden sprays gasoline gun cleaner gunpowder hair dyes hair spray herbicides hexachlorophene (in some soaps) indelible markers insecticides iodine kerosene lead lighter fluid linoleum (contains lead salts) matches model glue mothballs muriatic acid mushrooms nail polish nail polish remover non-stick cookware oven cleaner paint paint remover paint thinner perfume permanent wave solutions pesticides photographic solutions pine oil polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) prescription and nonprescription drugs red squill rodenticides rubbing alchohol shaving lotion shoe cleaners silver polish silverstone snail bait spot remover spray starch strychnine sulphuric acid suntan lotion super glue surgical acrylics teflon t-fal turpentine weed killers window cleaners |
amaryllis american yew avacado azalea balsam pear baneberry bird of paradise black locust blue-green algae boxwood buckthorn buttercup calla lily caladium castor bean (castor oil plant) chalice vine cherry tree christmas candle clematis coral plant cowslip daffodil daphne datura deadly amanita death camas delphinium dieffenbachia eggplant elephant's ear (taro) english ivy enlish yew false henbane fly agaric mushroom (deadly amanita) foxglove glory bean golden chain (laburnum) hemlock, poison hemlock, water henbane holly horse bean horse chestnut hyacinth hydrangea indian turnip (jack-in-the-pulpit) iris (blue flag) ivy jack-in-the-pulpit japanese yew hava bean (lima bean) java bean jerusalem cherry jimsonweed (thornapple) juniper lantana larkspur laurel lily-of-the-valley lobelia locoweed lords and ladies (cuckoopint) marijuana mayapple mescal bean mistletoe mock orange monkshood morning glory narcissus nightshades (all types) oak oleander philodendron poison ivy poison oak poinsettia pokeweed (inkberry) potato privet rhododendron rhubarb rosary pea (indian licorice) sandbox tree skunk cabbage snowdrop snow-on-the-mountain (ghostweed) sweet pea tobacco virginia creeper western yew wisteria yam bean yew |
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Routes of Poisoning
-ingestion (by mouth)
-inhalation (by breathing)
-topical (contact with skin)
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Signs of Poisoning
You should suspect poisoning if your bird is ill and you observe any of the the following: contact with a substance known to be poisonous including
-playing with the packaging of a toxic substance
-having been exposed to fumes/odors
-spilled/opened containers of poisonous substance
-toxic plants that have been recently chewed on
-alien substance found on feathers
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Signs to Watch for if You Have Reason to Believe Your Bird Has Been Poisoned
If you suspect poisoning you should watch for the following signs (however, you must remember that other problems will also demonstrate these signs):
-sudden onslaught of regurgitation, diarhea, coughing, loss of appetite, breathing problems, and/or depression
-unusual thirst
-blood in urine or feces
-redness or burns in the mouth area
-unusually high-pitched voice
-weakness
-convulsions/seizures/tremors
-uncoordinated movement of the body
-paralasis
-coma
-shock
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