Pet Care Tips, Advice and Information

• Birds are poisoned by inhalation, ingestion or  absorption of toxic substances.
• Caged birds in the home are often poisoned by inhalation of contaminated air, such as fumes from
• cooking oil and burning fat in the kitchen, carbon
• Monoxide emission from the family car, fresh house paint and insecticidal and herbicidal sprays used in the home and garden.
• Carnivorous birds may be poisoned by eating animals that have been poisoned in an eradication program.
• Insectivorous birds may be poisoned by eating insects that have been poisoned with an insecticidal agent.
• Grain-eating birds may be poisoned by eating grain contaminated deliberately or accidentally with poisonous substance.

Signs

• The common signs are:

1. Vomiting.
2. Diarrhea.
3. Lethargy.
4. Depression.
5. Convulsions.
6. Twitching.
7. Staggering.
8. Coma.

• Only one or a few of these. Signs may be evident because they vary according to the type of poison, the quantity ingested and the length of time the bird has been poisoned.

Caution

• Contact your veterinarian and describe the signs if you are not sure what has poisoned your bird. In some cases the veterinarian can give the bird a specific antidote.
• Some countries have poison information centers which can provide assistance.
• Initiate treatment if are sure that the bird has been poisoned and you have identified the poison involved.

If the bird’s feathers and skin are contaminated with a poisonous substance

• Wash the bird with warm water and soap, and then rinse with plain warm water several times. Keep the bird warm

If the bird has ingested an unknown poison.

• The general treatment is to give water using an eyedropper or syringe.

If the bird has ingested acid

• Give sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution. Mix-up Liz teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in cup of water. Using an eye dropper or syringe, administer6 to 20 drops depending on the size of the bird.

If the bird has ingested kerosene or phenol

• Give a few drops of olive oil by mouth.

If the bird is convulsing intermittently

• Wait until the convulsions stop then take the bird to your veterinarian.
• To prevent injury to itself, wrap the bird in a towel and place in a container for transport to your veterinarian.

If the bird is convulsing continuously

• Try to stop the bird injuring itself by wrapping in towel.
• Contact your veterinarian and take the bird to the surgery as quickly as possible, together withal sample of the suspected poison if available.

I had compiled a bird poisoning table. To use the following table, you must be sure that the bird has been poisoned and know what poison is involved before giving treatment. If uncertain, contact a veterinarian or poison information centre immediately.

Poison	Sources	Signs	Treatment
Alcohol/Methylated spirits	Bird may be offered alcohol by an irresponsible person.	Depression; vomiting; wobbling; collapse.	Give water; keep warm; Give water; keep warm
Arsenic (vermin, poisons, insecticides, herbicides)	Ingestion of grass sprayed or rodents poisoned with arsenical preparations; preening feathers covered with insecticidal or herbicidal spray.	Thirsty; vomiting; fluid diarrhea with blood; collapse; death.	Contact your veterinarian immediately.
Benzene hex chloride (Lindane,Dieldrin, Aldrin, Chlordane,Gammexane)	Insecticidal rinse absorbed through skin.	Agitated; restless; twitching; convulsions; coma; death.	If no sign of convulsions wash with soap and water and rinse thoroughly; contact your veterinarian.
Carbon monoxide	Car exhausts fumes; exposed to fumes.	Legs wobbly; breathing difficult.	Remove from poisonous environment to fresh air; contact your veterinarian immediately who can administer oxygen directly to lungs and give a respiratory stimulant.
Chlorine	Concentrated powder or tablet used in swimming pools; chlorinated swimming pool water is nonpoisonous.	Weeping red eye; red mouth; ulcerations of mouth and tongue; vomiting; diarrhea	Rinse eyes and mouth with water; encourage bird to drink water; contact your veterinarian.
Kerosene	Heating fuel and cleaning fluid which has a burning effect on bird’s skin; preens affected area thereby ingesting kerosene orally.	Red, inflamed skin; inflamed and ulcerated tongue; vomiting; diarrhea; possible convulsions.	Wash bird with soap and water; give 2-3 drops of olive oil; Contact your veterinarian.
Lead	Bird poisoned by preening feathers contaminated with lead.	Poor appetite; weight loss; vomiting; diarrhea. Depending on degree of lead poisoning, bird may show signs ofhyperexcitability, convulsions, depression, blindness, paralysis, coma	Lead poisoning shows up over a period of time. Consult your veterinarian who will confirm lead poisoning by a blood test.
Metaldehyde	Snail and slug poison in powder or pellet form,	Tremor; diarrhea; wobbling; convulsions.	Contact your veterinarian immediately.
Oil	Oil spill.	Covered in oil; depressed.	Wash with warm water and soap; if unable to remove oil see your veterinarian.
Organo-phosphate carbomate	Snail and slug poison in pellet form.	Tremor; diarrhea; wobbling; convulsions.	Contact your veterinarian immediately.
Warfarin	The bird may eat the poison itself or eat a dead rat that has been poisoned with Warfarin, a substance which stops blood from clotting.	Lethargy; weakness; labored breathing; may be signs of hemorrhage; collapse; death. Signs may be slow to develop and vary according to time and amount Ingested.	If recently ingested see your veterinarian who can administer an antidote; recovery rate very good.
Zinc	Zinc contained in new galvanized wire cage or aviary.	Vomiting and diarrhea; may be signs of blood.	See your veterinarian who can administer the antidote calcium EDTA.