Foods to Avoid
The following provides an outline of foods that should be
avoided.
Be
sure to consult your vet or avian nutritional consultant to
create an optimal feeding program for your parrot.
| Foods To Avoid |
Why? |
|
Alcohol |
Parrots
metabolize alcohol poorly.
Alcohol impairs the brain and as the concentration of
alcohol increases in the body it can cause depression,
respiratory, coma, and death. |
|
Apple seeds |
Apple seeds
contain cyanide. |
|
Avocado |
Contains a
toxic chemical, persin, that can cause edema of the throat
and chest area, heart muscle failure, fluid-filled lungs and
abdomen, and severe cellular damage to cardiac muscle cells
and possibly the liver and kidneys. |
|
Caffeine |
Central
nervous system stimulant. Similar effects as
chocolate. |
|
Chocolate |
Contains a
chemical, theobromine, that stimulates the central nervous
system, cardiac and skeletal muscle, promotes diuresis and
induces smooth muscle relaxation. |
|
Fruit pits |
Contain
cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning. |
|
Junk food (fries, potato chips,
doughnuts, fried foods) |
A diet high
in fat can cause the same problems as in humans: fatty liver
disease and high cholesterol leading to cardiovascular
disease. |
|
Onions |
Onions and
garlic contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions are
more of a danger.
Birds affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic
anaemia, where the bird’s red blood cells burst while
circulating in its body. |
|
Salt |
Parrots
cannot metabolize salt the way humans can.
|
|
Sugar |
A diet high
in refined sugar is not recommended for the same reasons as
for humans. It may also contribute to an environment
within the bird's digestive tract that encourages the growth
of yeast and bacteria. |
|
