10 Toxic Foods For Parrots

Because parrots are such social creatures, many owners allow their pets to be included at mealtime. While sharing food with your parrot is a lot of fun – not to mention wonderful for your pet’s emotional health – there are many common human foods that can be harmful or even fatal to your parrot. Owners need to know which foods are fine for sharing, and which pose a serious risk. Read on to find out the top ten foods that are hazardous to your parrot’s health.

1. Toxic Food For Parrots: Avocado

The skin and pit of this popular fruit had been known to cause cardiac distress and eventual heart failure in the pet parrot species. Although there is some debate to the degree of toxicity of avocados, it is generally advised to adopt a “better safe than sorry” attitude toward them and keep guacomole and other avocado products as far away from pet parrots as possible.

2. Toxic Food For Parrots: Chocolate

Chocolate is a wonderful treat to share with human family members, but it can be harmful or fatal to your pet parrot. Chocolate poisoning first affects a parrot’s digestive system, causing vomiting and diarrhea. As the condition progresses, the parrot’s central nervous system is affected, first causing seizures and eventually death.

3. Toxic Food For Parrots: Caffeine

Caffinated beverages such as soda, coffee, and tea are popular among people – but allowing your parrot to indulge in these drinks can be extremely hazardous. Caffeine causes cardiac malfunction in parrots, and is associated with increased heartbeat, arrhythmia, hyperactivity, and cardiac arrest. Share a healthy drink of pure fruit or vegetable juice with your parrot instead – this will satisfy both your parrot’s tastebuds and nutritional requirements.

4. Toxic Food For Parrots: Apple Seeds

Believe it or not, apples – along with other members of the rose family including cherries, peaches, apricots, and pears – contain trace amounts of Cyanide within their seeds. While the fruit of the apple is fine for your parrot, be aware that in addition to the poisonous seeds, there may be pesticides present on the fruit’s skin. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse and core any apple pieces that you share with your parrot to avoid exposure to these toxins.

5. Toxic Food For Parrots: Dried Beans

Cooked beans are a favorite treat of many parrots, but raw, dry bean mixes can be extremely harmful to your pet. Uncooked beans contain a poison called hemaglutin which is very toxic to parrots. To avoid exposure, make sure to thoroughly cook any beans that you choose to share with your parrot.

6. Toxic Food For Parrots: Onions

While the use of limited amounts of onion or garlic powders as flavorings is generally regarded as acceptable, excessive consumption of onions causes vomiting, diarrhea, and a host of other digestive problems. It has been found that prolonged exposure can lead to a blood condition called hemolytic anemia, which is followed by respiratory distress and eventual death.

7. Toxic Food For Parrots: Salt

While all living beings need regulated amounts of sodium in their systems, too much salt can lead to a host of health problems in parrots, including excessive thirst, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, and death. Be sure to keep watch over the amount of salty foods your parrot consumes.

8. Toxic Food For Parrots: Alcohol

Although responsible parrot owners would never dream of offering their pet parrot an alcoholic drink, there have been instances in which free roaming parrots have attained alcohol poisoning through helping themselves to unattended cocktails. Alcohol depresses the organ systems of parrots and can be fatal. Make sure that your parrot stays safe by securing him or her into their cage whenever alcohol is served in your home.

9. Toxic Food For Parrots: Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and have been known to cause digestive upset in companion parrots. Caps and stems of some varieties can induce liver failure.

10. Toxic Food For Parrots: Tomato Leaves

Tomatoes, like potatoes and other nightshades, have a tasty fruit that is fine when used as a treat for your parrot. The stems, vines, and leaves, however, are highly toxic to your pet. Make sure that any time you offer your parrot a tomato treat it has been properly cleaned and sliced, with the green parts removed, so that your parrot will avoid exposure to any toxins.

So make sure you give your parrot a good healthy diet and avoid these 10 toxic foods like the plague and you will have a happy and healthy parrot.