K & K Parrots, LLC

The most commonly observed sign of toxic plant ingestion is some form of gastric or intestinal upset – e.g., vomiting and/or diarrhea. The treatment for plant poisonings is generally symptomatic.

If you suspect your bird has ingested a toxic plant, call your veterinarian or the poison control center immediately. It may be a good idea to print this out and keep it in a handy place near the telephone so you do not have to go searching and waste time in a stressful situation.

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center

• 1-900-443-0000 ($50.00 per case.) The charge is billed directly to the caller's phone.

• 1-888-4ANI-HELP or 1-888-426-4435 ($50.00 per case.) The charge is billed to caller's credit card only.
  
  Table 1. Plants Toxic to Birds

  Toxic PlantToxic part(s)Specific Toxin(s)Symptoms

  Avocado (Persea americana)	Pit, leaves, unripe fruit, stems	Unknown but relate to cardiac toxicity	Weakness, inability to perch, labored breathing, edema, hydropericardium, feather fluffing
  Black locust (Robina pseudoacacia)	Bark, leaves, seeds	Robitin, Robin	Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, depression, collapse
  Blue-green algae (Microcystis aeruginosa)	All parts	Anatoxin A, Mycrocystin	Inability to swim or fly, opisthotonos, frequent defecation, respiratory arrest
  Castor bean (Ricinus communis)	All parts	Ricin I & II, glycosidase	Vomiting, diarrhea (may be bloody) Note: similar symptoms may be seen w/ingested prayer beans, rosary peas or Seminole beads used in beadwork and rattles
  Christmas cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)	All parts including tubers and unripened fruit	Solanine, Atropine-like alkaloids, Saponins	Gastroenteritis, irregular heart rate, tachycardia, dilated pupils, anuria, paralysis, seizures
  Coffee beans, (Sesbania drumundii), Tea, Chocolate Beans (coffee)	Leaves (tea), all chocolates especially dark	Caffeine, Theobromine, Theophylline	CNS stimulation, hyperpnea, tachycardia, hypertension, seizures, diarrhea
  Diffenbachia (Diffenbachia spp.)	All parts	Resorcinol	Calcium oxalates dyspnea, vomiting, diarrhea, inflamed/irritated eyes
  Elephant's ear (Colocasia or Alocasia spp.)	Leaves, stems	Calcium oxalate	Oral pain & edema
  Ergot (Claviceps purpurea)	All parts	Ergopeptide alkaloids	Vasoconstriction, hyperexcitability, seizures
  Foxglove (Digitalis pupurea)	Entire plant, including water from pot or vase	Cardiac & steroidal	Glycosides, digitalis abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rate, ataxia, hypotension, dilated pupils, collapse
  Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)	All parts, including tubers, sprouts, and unripe berries	Solanine, Atropine	Gastroenteritis, irregular heart rate, dysphagia, tachycardia, dilated pupils, anuria, seizure, depression, paralysis
  Jimsonweed (Datura spp.)	All parts, especially seeds	Atropine, Scopolamine, Hyoscyamine	Tachycardia, dyspnea, dilated pupils, seizures, paralysis
  Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)	All parts	Cardiac glycosides: convallatoxin	Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, nausea, ataxia, weakness, irregular heart rate, confusion, collapse
  Locoweed (Astragalus emoryanus)	Leaves	Swainsonine, Alkaloids, Methemoglobin	Hyperexcitability, difficulty with locomotion, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, brain damage
  Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)	All parts and latex (milky juice)	Cardenoloids (cardiac glycosides)	Vesicant blistering, abnormal heart rate, weakness, ataxia, seizures
  Mistletoe (Phoradendron villosum)	All parts, especially holly berries	Viscumin, viscotoxin	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypothermia, dilated pupils, irregular heart rate
  Nightshade (Solanum spp.)	All parts	Belladonna, Atropine	Gastroenteritis, irregular heart rate, dysphagia, tachycardia, dilated pupils, anuria
  Oak (Quercus spp.)	All parts	Tannins	Anorexia, diarrhea, polydipsia
  Oleander (Nerium oleander)	All parts	Glycosides: oleadrum, neroside	Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, nausea, ataxia, weakness, irregular heart rate, confusion, collapse
  Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)	All parts, including roots	Oxalates	Oral and oropharyngeal inflammation and swelling
  Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcheriama)	Leaves, stem, white sap	Phorbol esters	Gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, blistering
  Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)	Roots, leaves, berries	Ricin-like lectin, saponin	Gastrointestinal ulcers, acute hemolytic crisis
  Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)	All parts, including tubers, sprouts, and unripe berries	Solanine, Atropine	Gastroenteritis, irregular heart rate, dysphagia, tachycardia, dilated pupils, anuria, seizure, depression, paralysis
  Rhododendron (Rhodedendron simsii), Rhododendron species (Azalea)	All parts	Andromedotoxin, Grayanotoxin	Vomiting, bradycardia, weakness, collapse, stupor, seizure, stupor, coma, excessive lacrimation
  Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.)	All parts	Nicotine	Vomiting, diarrhea, hyperexcitability, seizures, muscle twitching, coughing, conjunctivitis
  Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolio)	Berries, leaves	Oxalic acid	Vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody), drowsiness, stupor, renal failure
  Yew (Taxus media)	Wood, bark, seeds, leaves	Alkaloids (taxines)	Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, seizures, cardiac and breathing abnormalities