While some plants are deadly to birds, other plants, while still dangerous, are less harmful. Exposure to these plants may be counteracted by medical treatment if ingestion is caught and identified early. As a rule, don't let your bird come in contact with dangerous plants. If she does, don't panic and get her to a vet quickly.

Aroid Family
(Chinese Evergreen, Anthurium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Green Dragon, Elephant Ears, Taro, Dumbcane, Cut-leaf Philodendron, Ceriman, Mexican Breadfruit, Philodendron, Devil's Ivy, Pothos, Skunk Cabbage, Tri-leaf Wonder, Arrowhead Vine, Nepthytis)

Toxicity Rating: Moderate. Pets may sample these commonly available plants with a nibble or two, but rarely ingest any quantity sufficient to cause serious problems or death. Risk increases with hungry or bored birds housed in close proximity to these plants.

Dangerous Parts of Plant: Roots, leaves, stems.

Symptoms: Mouth and throat irritation, salivating, possible stomach irritation, and diarrhea (rarely).

Plant Description: All 2,000 species of this family of plants should be treated as potentially toxic. A few are eaten, such as poi and taro in Hawaii, but only after cooking eliminates the poison. Seven species of aroids occur naturally in wet areas. Jack-in-the-pulpit and skunk cabbage are the most common and best known of these. Dumbcane, pothos, and philodendron are potted plants of offices, restaurant lobbies, and homes. Aroids are perennials while some may be vines. The large net-veined leaves, which may have white or colored spots, are borne on leaf stalks that sheathe the stem. Most of these plants have simple leaves, but jack-in-the-pulpit has three-parted foliage. The aroid flower is a fleshy green, white, or yellow spike borne inside a wraparound hood or bract (spathe). The fruits are brightly colored berries, borne in tight clusters, not often produced by the houseplant species.

Signs: The plant cells contain needle-like crystals of insoluble calcium oxalate that penetrate the skin and mouth, causing discomfort. In addition, these plants contain proteolytic enzymes that release histamine and kinins, causing swelling and an itching or burning sensation. An affected bird will shake her head, paw or rub her face and mouth, may salivate or foam at the mouth, may seek water, or may have visible swelling. Very severely affected birds may experience oral swelling to the point that swallowing and breathing become impaired. Typically, birds are not severely affected, since a few bites of aroid plants are often enough to deter to further consumption. Occasional reports of these plants causing kidney failure in birds have not been verified, but do exist. Effects in birds appear to be limited to the signs described above. Some of these plants have been used with humans to prevent individuals from talking by causing excessive tongue swelling, hence the name "dumbcane."

First Aid: For minor irritation, provide supportive care and prevent further exposure. For more severe signs, if the bird does not improve within a few minutes, or if swallowing or breathing is impaired, consult a veterinarian immediately.

Prevention: Birds should not be allowed to consume these plants. Offer small amounts of fresh grass or other plant material safe for ingestion, and remove the dangerous plant from the pet's environment.

Bulbs - Bulb-Bearing House and Garden Plants

Toxicity Rating: Moderate. Incidents of poisoning by these plants are rare, but special care must be taken, especially with lily-of-the-valley.

Dangerous Parts: Bulbs, rootstocks and whole plants.

Symptoms: Stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea. For lily-of-the-valley, additional signs may include irregular heartbeat, convulsions and death.

Plant Descriptions:

• Lily-Of-The-Valley, Lily Family. A familiar low-growing garden perennial that forms dense clumps from slender rootstocks called "pips.'' The lily-like leaves are parallel veined, and from them rise flower stalks that bear small white blossoms all on one side. The bell-like flowers are fragrant and rarely develop into red to orange-red berries.
• Hyacinth. These potted or garden plants grow from a 1- to 2-inch diameter bulb. The 8- to 12-inch long leaves are narrow, somewhat trough-shaped, and fleshy. Small, fragrant white, pink or blue lily-like flowers are borne on a leafless stalk that is taller than the leaves.
• Iris. These commonly grown garden perennials also occur wild in wet meadows, marshes, roadsides, lakeshores and stream banks. Branching, fleshy rootstocks bear clusters of long, sword-like leaves in which the base of each leaf is folded over the base of the next higher leaf. The flowers, blue with a yellow heart in our wild species but purple, blue, yellow or reddish-brown in cultivated varieties, have three upright "standard" petals and three pendant "fall" petals. The fruit is a dry capsule.
• Narcissus. Probably the most familiar blossoms of early spring include daffodils and jonquils. The yellow trumpets of daffodils officially proclaim springtime in Indiana. These perennials produce lily-like leaves and slender stalks that each bears a conspicuous orange, white or yellow flower with six petals, parts of which fuse to form the trumpet.

Signs: This group of plants is divided into two sections - lily-of-the-valley, and everything else.

Lily-of-the-valley is the far more dangerous of the two, producing a mixture of many cardiac glycosides, especially convallatoxin. Toxic signs in pets after they chew on the plant include upset stomach, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, convulsions and death, if sufficient quantities were consumed. The toxin in lily-of-the-valley acts in a similar manner to the toxin in foxglove, a plant from which digitalis, a powerful cardiac medication, is derived.

The bulbs or corms of tulip, daffodil, jonquil, narcissus, amaryllis and iris produce primarily gastrointestinal signs (vomiting and diarrhea) after consumption, and are not as toxic as lily-of-the-valley. Birds are most likely to consume the bulbs themselves, usually when the bulbs are removed from the ground or stored prior to planting. This is not a common poisoning, but some animals, once they find the stored bulbs, will consume them. The toxic components in these bulbs are not well identified, but may be a mixture of alkaloids, having an irritant action on the gastrointestinal tract.

First Aid: For lily-of-the-valley, contact a veterinarian immediately. If your bird is vomiting, allow her to continue to do so, since this will remove the toxin from the gastrointestinal tract. If the vomiting is severe or persists, see the vet. In cases where your bird has eaten a large quantity, emergency treatment is imperative. For the other bulbs and for iris, vomiting and diarrhea should resolve in a few hours.

Prevention: Do not allow access to stored bulbs, and restrict access to bulb beds and newly planted bulbs. Never pen or place a bird within reach of these plants, especially lily-of-the-valley, since your bird may nibble them out of boredom.

Azalea, Rhododendron

Toxicity Rating: Moderate. These plants grow wild in the East and cause significant problems there.

Dangerous Parts: All parts, especially leaves.

Symptoms: Stomach irritation, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate and rhythm, convulsions, coma and death.

Plant Description: These perennial shrubs have tough, glossy, smooth-margined evergreen leaves. The large, showy flowers are in terminal clusters and have five white, pink, or red petals. Some horticultural varieties have yellow or orange petals. Common and local names for these plants include "lambkill" and "calfkill."

Signs: These plants, as well as mountain laurel, contain grayanotoxins (glycosides), which affect the gastroenteric (stomach and intestines) and cardiovascular systems. The older name for this toxin was andromedotoxin.

In order for toxic signs to manifest, 0.2% by weight of green leaves needs to be ingested. Gastroenteric signs develop first, generally within 6 hours of ingestion, including salivating, vomiting, abdominal pain, and tremors. Disturbances in cardiac rate and rhythm may then be noted. If sufficient quantities are eaten, convulsions may occur, followed by coma and death.

First Aid: Prevent further ingestion and provide supportive care. If clinical signs are present, consult a veterinarian.

Prevention: Birds should not be allowed near these plants; they may nibble or taste the leaves out of curiosity or boredom. Though this nibbling is not advised, it seldom leads to clinical toxicosis. Honey made from the nectar of these flowers is also toxic and should not be consumed, so exercise caution when placing beehives.

Rhubarb, Pie Plant

Toxicity Rating: Low, unless birds are fed the leaves intentionally.

Symptoms: Staggering, trembling, breathing difficulties, weakness, diarrhea, increased drinking and urinating, and death.

Plant Description: This herbaceous garden perennial develops from a heavy rootstock. Its leaves grow from the base of the plant on stout, shiny, red stalks. Heart-shaped and 1 to 2 feet long by 1/2 to 11/2 feet wide, the leaf blades have a smooth and shiny surface, darker above, with five main veins and wavy margins. Its hollow stems end in greenish-white flower clusters in late spring.

Signs: The leaves contain oxalic acid, soluble oxalates, and citric acid, although the stems are edible. Some oxalates are insoluble and cause local irritation but the oxalates in rhubarb are soluble, and cause systemic problems, especially in the kidneys, or they can affect the electrolytes in the body, such as the balance of calcium and magnesium. Poisoning can be acute, when large amounts of oxalates are consumed quickly, or may be chronic, where smaller amounts are eaten over a longer period of time. Low blood levels of calcium and kidney failure are commonly reported findings in soluble oxalate toxicity.

Affected birds will appear depressed, and may stagger and tremble and be weak.

First Aid: There is no specific antidote for oxalate toxicity. If a bird is observed eating a large quantity of rhubarb or other oxalate plant, call a veterinarian immediately. If the plants were ingested a day or more previously, only supportive care can be given.

Prevention: Do not allow birds to ingest large amounts of oxalate plants quickly; it is best to not allow the feeding of oxalate plants at all. Do not incorporate weeds or rhubarb leaves into feed for birds. Always make sure that birds have sufficient water, since oxalate toxicity is worse if birds go thirsty.

Tobacco

Toxicity Rating: Low to moderate, depending on the situation.

Dangerous Parts: Leaves

Symptoms: Gastrointestinal irritation, trembling, staggering, weakness, breathing problems, heart problems, collapse, birth defects, and death.

Plant Description: These tall annual plants grow from fibrous roots and produce large, hairy leaves and terminal clusters of tubular, 2 inches long, white, red, lavender, or yellow flowers on short stalks. Many-seeded capsules may appear in late summer. Tobacco species with colorful flowers are grown as garden ornamentals.

Signs: The toxin in tobacco is nicotine, an alkaloid with an irritating effect on the stomach and intestines and also the nervous system. Nicotine is related to the toxins in poison hemlock and lupine. An average cigarette can contain between 20 and 30 mg, and 120 mg for a cigar. One report indicates that for a human unaccustomed to tobacco, 4 mg can cause clinical signs, and 60 mg at one time can cause death.

Tobacco products in the home can easily poison birds, either accidentally or maliciously. The primary route of poisoning is by ingestion (eating tobacco products or drinking tobacco-tainted water), but smoke inhalation is also possible. Clinical signs nearly always are present, but only rarely is a lethal dose ingested. The initial signs of poisoning can develop within 10 to 15 minutes or may not manifest for several hours. At first, the irritating effect that tobacco has on the stomach and intestines will cause salivating, vomiting (if capable), and diarrhea. Shortly after digestive signs develop, neurologic signs appear. Initially, nicotine stimulates the nervous system, with depression of the nervous system occurring at a later time. Early signs include nervousness, shaking, trembling, a stiff and uncoordinated gait, weakness and collapse. Cardiac abnormalities may be noted as well as breathing difficulties, to the point of respiratory paralysis (the cause of death in lethal cases). Tobacco is also teratogenic, causing birth defects if the mother was pregnant when the toxicosis occurred.

First Aid: Birds will show clinical signs rapidly and more severely than large animals. In addition, the effects of nicotine can come on rapidly.

Prevention: Do not allow birds to be in contact with tobacco or tobacco products.

Dwarf Larkspur, Staggerweed, Poison Weed, Cultivated Larkspur

Toxicity Rating: Moderate. These plants are a more serious threat in the western ranges.

Dangerous Parts: All parts, especially seeds and young leaves.

Symptoms: Nervousness, loss of coordination, staggering, salivating, bloating, abnormal heart beat, breathing difficulty, paralysis, convulsions, and death.

Plant Description: These short annual or perennial herbs, 1/2 to 4 feet high, bear alternate, deeply-lobed ("crowfoot") leaves and elongate clusters of spurred white, blue, or purple flowers in the spring. Roots grow in tuberous clusters. This weed commonly grows in rich open woods, along streams, in old fields, along roadsides, and on sand hills.

Signs: Larkspur is primarily a problem in western ranges, especially with cattle. Apparently, the plant is palatable, which increases the risk of clinical toxicosis. The toxicity of larkspur varies, with the highest periods of toxicity occurring during early growth, and when the plant goes to seed. The toxin is a mixture of alkaloids, including ajacine and delphinine, and blocks communication between nerves and muscles. Signs appear within a few hours of ingestion.

First Aid: There is no antidote for larkspur poisoning, and treatment is supportive.

Prevention: Keep birds away from areas where larkspur is predominant.

Black Nightshade, Carolina Horsenettle, Bull Nettle, Bitter Nightshade, Climbing Bittersweet

Toxicity Rating: Moderate. While the plant itself is very toxic, it is also unpalatable.

Dangerous Parts: All parts are potentially toxic, and the berries are often higher in toxicity.

Symptoms: Gastrointestinal problems, central nervous system distress. Signs can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, weakness, depression, apparent hallucinations, convulsions, and possible death.

Plant Description: Black nightshade is a low-branching annual, 1 to 2 feet tall with triangular stems that bear oval, thin-textured, alternate leaves with wavy margins. The tiny white flowers, borne in drooping clusters on lateral stalks between the leaves, resemble tomato flowers. The berry fruit is green when immature, purplish-black when ripe. Bitter nightshade resembles black nightshade except that the stems are climbing, the lower leaves are lobed at the base, the flowers are purple, and the ripe fruit is red. Horsenettles are similar but have coarser, prickly stems, larger white to purplish flowers in loose clusters, and yellow fruits that looks much like small tomatoes. All three species commonly grow in open woods, old fields, waste areas, pastures, along roadsides, and around farm buildings.

Signs: Clinical signs of poisoning in the nightshade family tend to reflect gastrointestinal irritation and/or effects on the central nervous system. Green, red, or black berries may poison birds. The major toxin is solanine, an alkaloidal glycoside, and along with other glycosides and atropine have numerous and powerful effects on the body.

Gastrointestinal signs can include vomiting, poor appetite, abdominal pain, and diarrhea that may become bloody. Central nervous system signs can include depression, difficulty breathing, incoordination, weakness, collapse, convulsions, and possible death.

First Aid: If your bird eats a large amount of nightshade plant, contact a veterinarian immediately. In most cases, birds will avoid eating this plant, so clinical cases are rare. Curious or bored birds are at risk, however, so be aware.

Prevention: Birds may be attracted to and eat nightshade berries, so always keep pets away from nightshade plants, especially if your pet is confined, bored or unattended.

Buckeye, Horsechestnut

Toxicity Rating: Moderate to high.

Dangerous Parts of the Plant: Buds, nuts, leaves, bark, seedlings, and honey.

Symptoms: Digestive signs include excessive salivation, gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Neurologic signs can include staggering, trembling, breathing difficulty, dilated pupils, collapse and paralysis, which can proceed to coma and death.

Plant Description: The thick twigs of these medium-sized trees have glistening buds in spring and bear opposite leaves composed of five leaflets in a finger-like arrangement. The yellowish flowers rise in large, upright, dense, candle-like clusters at branch ends during June. The prickly fruit contains 1-3 nutlike seeds, glossy and leathery brown with a pale scar on each that gives the tree its name. These trees commonly grow in rich, moist woods or along riverbanks and are often planted as ornamentals.

Signs: The toxins in Buckeye and Horsechestnut affect the gastrointestinal tract as well as the nervous system. The saponic glycoside aesculin in addition to suspected alkaloids cause the toxic signs. Initially, gastrointestinal signs manifest, which can include salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If enough was ingested, neurologic signs may develop, including trembling, staggering, and difficulty in breathing. Toxicity may then progress to collapse, paralysis, coma and death.

First Aid: Once clinical signs are present, and if it has been several hours after the plants were consumed, supportive care is all that can be provided since there is no antidote for this toxicosis.

Prevention: If birds are outside and near these trees, be certain that adequate, nutritious feed is available. In this way, the birds are likely to avoid consuming toxic quantities of these trees.

Black Locust

Toxicity Rating: High to moderate.

Dangerous Parts: Leaves, especially wilted leaves, young shoots, pods, seeds, inner bark.

Symptoms: Depression, poor appetite, weakness, paralysis, abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody) and abnormalities in the heart rate and/or rhythm. Death is possible.

Plant Description: These moderate-sized trees with rough bark often bear two short spines at the base of each leafstalk (easiest to see on young leaves). Leaves are alternate and feather-like with oval, entire leaflets. The fragrant flowers are creamy white, sweet-pea-like, and arranged in long drooping clusters. The fruit is a flat brown pod, which contains kidney-shaped beans. Black locusts are common in well-drained woods, thickets, and waste areas, especially in the southeastern part of the state. They are often planted along highways and fence rows as ornamentals and for erosion control.

Signs: There are several toxic components in black locust including the toxic protein robin, the glycoside robitin, and the alkaloid robinine. The toxins affect the gastrointestinal tract as well as the nervous system. Clinical signs can manifest as soon as one hour after consumption and can include depression, poor appetite, generalized weakness to paralysis, abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody) and abnormalities in the heart rate and/or rhythm. With sufficient amounts ingested, death may occur within a few days, although black locust is not always lethal.

Honey locust (pea family) has been implicated in causing similar toxic signs, but the information on this is not clear. Prickly ash (citrus family) superficially resembles black locust in vegetative aspect and has been blamed for loss of sheep.

First Aid: Prevention is the best cure for black locust. Simply keep the birds away from the plant.

Prevention: Do not confine birds in an area where black locust grows. If this is unavoidable, provide enough palatable feed so that the birds leave the trees alone.