Poisonings

There are a lot of substances in the household that can cause poisoning in budgies and other birds.

The following substances lead to poisoning of these in any case.

Alcohol

Symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Clouding of consciousness

Possible consequences:

• Death due to alcohol poisoning (especially older and weakened animals)

Hazard sources:

• unattended glasses with alcohol (e.g. beer or wine)

Lead

Symptoms:

• central nervous disorders
• raspberry colored liquid feces

Possible consequences:

• Damage to the kidneys, bone marrow and nervous system
• Paralysis, convulsions and blindness

Hazard sources:

• lead-containing rust inhibitors or paints (lead white)
• Lead cords in curtains
• Leaded window panes or mirrors

Table salt

Symptoms:

• central nervous disorders
• Agitation, trembling, twisting of the head, uncoordinated movements
• increased thirst

Possible consequences:

• Death from severe or chronic saline poisoning

Hazard sources:

• salty foods (e.g. salt sticks, salted almonds)
• human food from table
• Salt Stones

Therapy:

• Sufficient drinking water
• Instill water with pipette or syringe
• Veterinarian in severe cases

Caffeine and theophylline

Symptoms:

• Hyperactivity
• Vomiting
• central nervous disorders

Possible consequences:

• Convulsions and epileptic seizures
• Death from heart failure

Hazard sources:

• products containing caffeine
• Coffee powder or tea leaves
• unattended tea or coffee cups

Nicotine

Symptoms:

• central nervous disorders

Possible consequences:

• Coma and death (even with small amounts!)

Hazard sources:

• Tobacco residues
• Cigarettes or cigarette butts
• Ashtray
• Other tobacco products

Hexachlorophene

Symptoms:

• Blindness

Possible consequences:

• temporary or even lifelong blindness

Hazard sources:

• Deodorant sprays
• Household soaps
• other products with this ingredient

Teflon or non-stick coatings

Above a certain temperature (approx. 220°C), a Teflon coating releases the gas “fluorphosgene”, which is extremely toxic for birds.

Symptoms:

• High degree of respiratory distress (beak breathing)
• mostly nosebleeds

Possible consequences:

• Death a few minutes after inhalation

Hazard sources:

• Raclette with non-stick coating
• Fondue with non-stick coating
• Waffle iron, sandwich maker, etc. with non-stick coating
• Pans and pots with non-stick coating
• Iron with Teflon soleplate
• Oven (esp. self-cleaning)

Zinc

Symptoms:

• Vomiting
• central nervous disorders

Possible consequences:

• Damage to internal organs (cf. lead poisoning)

Hazard sources:

• Galvanized cage grids
• galvanized aviary or mesh wire
• galvanized metal parts, such as screws, carabiners, etc.

Additional sources of information:

• D. Quinten: “Ziervogelkrankheiten” (Ulmer-Verlag)
• Teflonvergiftung bei Ziervögeln (wir-sind-tierarzt.de)

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