The month of January is Adopt a (domestic) Rescued Bird Month. Although we don’t see very many domesticated birds at the animal shelter here in Lee County there are other areas of the country that do receive birds.
That being said, I know that birds make great companions and there are many people in this area that have birds as pets. To help bird owners care for their pets, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) wants to promote the awareness that birds are more negatively affected by inhalants than other mammals like dogs and cats.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center published the following prevention tips in honor of Adopt a Rescued Bird Month:
- Birds are highly sensitive to inhalant fumes. Please avoid exposing yours to fumes from overheated Teflon- or Silverstone-coated pans, automobile exhaust, tobacco smoke, glues and paints, insecticidal fumigants, perfume and hair spray.
- Most pesticide baits contain ingredients, such as grains and sugars that can attract your bird. Should you need to use rat and mouse bait or ant and roach traps, take care to place them in areas that are inaccessible to your pet.
- Keep all prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of your bird's reach, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, vitamins and diet pills are all examples of human medications that can be lethal to birds, even in small doses.
- Never allow your bird access to areas in which cleaning agents are being used or stored. Should your pet ingest them, he could suffer from a range of symptoms, depending on the substance, from mild stomach upset to severe burns of the tongue, mouth and crop.
- Polly may want a cracker, but she certainly shouldn't have the following foods that are potentially harmful to pet birds of all species:
- avocados
- alcoholic beverages
- chocolate (baking, dark, milk, semi-sweet)
- coffee (grounds, beans)
- onions and onion powder
- potato leaves and stems (green parts)
- rhubarb leaves
- salt
- tea
- tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
- tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco)
- yeast dough
If you suspect that your bird has gotten into a harmful substance, please call your veterinarian as soon as possible. Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy your companion for a long time.
The Humane Society Weekly Wish: Bleach please.
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