Have I poisoned my parrot?

MykaMom · Aug 24, 2019

Have I killed my parrot??

Like a moron, I gave my 10 yr old yna a small elderberry branch(6-7", no leaves) without checking if it was toxic: my chickens use it all the time, eating berries, leaves and pecking the branches. I've fed the berries to the girls for years, they adore them. As soon as I realized my mistake, I grabbed the branch, he had about 3" left unchewed.

I can't find ANYTHING on the toxicity, symptoms or treatments of this exposure. He could have easily absorbed a toxin through his mucus membranes.

Berries cause diarrhea but there's no info on the bark.

Our emergency vet does NOT have avian care services. My vet won't be available until Monday.

It's been 2 hours, he seems fine, but I'm terrified I'll wake up and he'll be dead.

What have I done?

And yes, I read through the sticky completely.

Flboy · Aug 24, 2019

You are looking at the potential of cyanide poisoning!
Black elderberry appears to be the worst!

MykaMom · Aug 24, 2019

I cannot find ANYTHING on it as it relates to parrots. Can you point me to a link somewhere??

thank you!

Terry57 · Aug 24, 2019

I found this link, but have no idea how correct the info on this site is:

https://birdsupplies.com/pages/how-to-know-if-your-bird-has-been-poisoned

If you don't have an emergency avian vet close, perhaps try to find one that you could at least call to get more info about what to do.

I'm praying your baby will be okay, and wish I could be of more help.

Ellie777Australia · Aug 24, 2019

Found this for USA on 'Beauty of Birds' website...hope it works.

First Aid Kit
Toxicities in Your Home (External Web Link - Green and Healthy Website)

In a life-and-death situation when every minute counts for an animal, you can call the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center for 24-hour emergency information at 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435).

Scott · Aug 24, 2019

I've found mixed literature, appears to be a divergence between berries and bark. That your chickens consume with no ill effect is marginally comforting as the are avians, though not parrots.

Every hour that passes with good health is encouraging. I'd recommend the 24 hour hotline Ellie777Australia posted. I believe they charge for consultation, but peace of mind is priceless. Please keep us updated, hope all remains well.

chris-md · Aug 24, 2019

I admit I’m leaning in Scott’s direction here. Most toxicities occur with INGESTION. If shredding, it’s less than ideal but hardly the same as taking it into your body.

I don’t want to give false hope here as I’m not a vet, but Logic would suggest and I suspect that your bird may actually be ok if all she did was shred the branch.

MykaMom · Aug 24, 2019

Thank you all for the help, I greatly appreciate it! It's been over 4 hours, and he seems just fine. I gave him an apple branch to shred in place of the elderberry, he enjoyed it.

I'm hopeful if he ingested any cyanide, it was just a trace. if he'd had a fatal dose of it, he would have been very sick by now. Instead, he wants to eat and play per normal.

I've been owned by Myka since he was two months old, he turned ten this past May. Losing him would just kill me.

I will never again give him a different wood without doublechecking that list!!

I can't believe I was so STUPID. I am also very happy I listened to my inner voice and looked it up before it was too late!

Aspie_Aviphile · Aug 25, 2019

Yeah, in humans at least, ingesting a deadly dose of cyanide has immediate effects, remember that Indonesian murder case in which someone took a gulp of cyanide-laced coffee caught on CCTV and could be seen acting like she knew something was wrong before she even had time to put the cup down again.

Tami2 · Aug 25, 2019

How is he today? Still okay, I hope?

Scott · Aug 25, 2019

Please don't berate yourself, we are only human and dealing with complex undomesticated parrots. Most important is he seems fine, largely negating the presence of cyanide. Glad you found us, one of the benefits to such threads is they serve as learning experience, even better with positive outcome.

Flboy · Aug 25, 2019

FYI, reading on why chickens seem to be unscathed, it is the buildup of the low dose toxins that harm!

MykaMom · Aug 26, 2019

He is his ornery self, thank you for asking! 🙂

Tami2 · Aug 26, 2019

MykaMom said:
He is his ornery self, thank you for asking! 🙂

Thank God!! I'm so happy to hear this. :heart:

Scott · Aug 26, 2019

Awesome news, glad he is doing well. Thank you for updating, we often do not receive closure.

WakaWaka · Aug 26, 2019

Glad to hear he is doing well!!!
Accidents happen no matter how careful all of us are.

So I have a question. Charcoal tablets can be administered to humans, cats / dogs etc in the event of poisoning. Is this an option for a bird?

They are readily available over the counter at most drug stores and we keep a bottle in or medicine cabinet in the event Kelly or I would need to use them.
I think they are also good for some abdominal issues in humans but not sure.

So could one attempt to give a small amount to a bird if poisoning is suspected?

Please don't do this without advise from your avian vet !!
I'm just posing the question and will be sure to ask Arika's vet next time we talk with him.

chris-md · Aug 26, 2019

Wakawaka, yes they can. It was given to Parker a few years ago when Parker got ahold of an excedrin tablet. I remember the vet saying one morning she noticed Parker threw up the charcoal they gave him.

Whether you give OTC stuff tot he bird, I have no idea. But activated charcoal is in fact given for toxicities.

WakaWaka · Aug 26, 2019

Chris, thank you for the information. Also glad to hear Parker has recovered well from his incident and the charcoal worked.
As far as OTC charcoal, need to ensure that it does not include any other ingredients. We checked ours and it is plain activated charcoal.
We'll ask her vet next time how to administer and amount in the event of an emergency. We will also add that to our emergency pack and go kit.

Have I poisoned my parrot?

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