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gedoena
Flutterer
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Bloomington, Indiana, USA |
| Confusion about Avacado |
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What does everyone think about how toxic avacado is for parrots?
We had an avacado emergency last week. I won't go into detail about how it happened but needless to say, my husband and I were horribly guilty when I caught Dewey taking a bite of avacado from my sandwhich. We immediately rushed him to the (exotic/avian) vet. When we got there the receptionist went back to talk to the vet. He said avacado is not really toxic, just fattening, so don't worry.
We went back home but we were concerned and did some web search. Every site said that while some foods should be generally avoided (eg fat and sugar) avacado is TOXIC and dangerous for birds.
I then called the ASPCA posion control hotline. They said that it could cause heart failure. (If I paid $55) they would consult with the vet and they gave me a contact number he could use. We called the vet back. He didn't talk to us but according to the receptionist, while we were on hold on the phone he looked on his database and it said that 1) avacados aren't dangerous, except maybe quatamalin ones, which we couldn't get ahold of here and 2) even if it were there was nothing he could do. I asked if he would call the ASPCA hotline to hear their recommendations and they said no.
Upset, I called the ASPCA hotline and paid the $55 to talk to them myself. They said that Dewey should have activated charcoal. By this time of course it was about 1 hour later instead of a few minutes later as when we first brought him in.
I won't tell you the whole story about how we got charcoal and applejuice all over the kitchen, ourselves, and of course all over Dewey. I'm not sure we really got hte right amount in. Throughout the day he was perfectly happy and didn't seem to understand why we were making all the fuss. He didn't have a gerat night sicne we were checking on him every half an hour or so but he was cheerful enough the next day and now he has been ok for 5 days so I guess all is good.
I don't know if we are ok because of the charcoal, because he didn't eat enough to be harmful (I grabbed him and ran to the vet after he had gotten one little bite), because only some birds are really susceptible, or because the vet was right and it really isn't dangerous.
Any thoughts?
Of course we will keep Dewey and the others safe from it from now on but knowing that our vet won't do anything about it, it would be good to get some insight.
thanks
marisa |
Monday October 22, 2007 1:40 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
Hi ya Marisa
the thing with Avacado, is that they are toxic, but only PART of them are toxic.
the part that is toxic is generally the bits closest to the stone and also the bit closest to the skin.
I've known of breeders that give their birds the bits that aren't toxic (as long as you know what you're giving, it's actually quite safe.
I have always recommended no avacadoes, and I don't give avacadoes to my birds either, but the deal with avacadoes? it's ok provided that they got the middle 'safe' bits.
I hope that made sense
and I'm glad to hear that Dewey is so calm and collected the whole thing!! I think we human just makes things bad for ourselves!! I know I do!! hehehehe
Cheers |
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Monday October 22, 2007 2:00 am |
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gedoena
Flutterer
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Bloomington, Indiana, USA |
Thanks, Cheeta! That is good to know...but I think we will just continue to avoid avacado at all just in case!
I do NOT understand Dewey's thinking... he generally is not willing to try new foods at all. Then he sees the one food he absolutely should not have and the first thing he does is walk right up and take a bite.... it actually took me a moment to register it. I was thinking "I wonder what Dewey is eating, it doesn't look like toast" because he loves toast and won't eat vegetables and he was eating something green!
marisa |
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Monday October 22, 2007 2:10 am |
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gedoena
Flutterer
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Bloomington, Indiana, USA |
ps - we joke that it is especially unfair because (aside from his little orange cap) Dewey totally looks like an avacado  |
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Monday October 22, 2007 2:13 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7956
Location: Australia |
LOL... that's funny... an avacado for a bird.. hehe...
I'm sure Dewey was going for the toast, but instead got the avacado! silly boy. lol
May be he just knows how to get your attention!! LOL |
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Monday October 22, 2007 2:31 am |
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gedoena
Flutterer
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Bloomington, Indiana, USA |
He sure got our attention, alright! Grabbed, stuffed into his hated travel cage, and bundled off into the car (at which point he took his traditional travel-bath in his water dish)...then later force-fed black sludge (activated charcoal in apple juice). Does that sound like positive reinforcement? |
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Monday October 22, 2007 2:55 am |
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jletaz
Experienced flier
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 1282
Location: CA, USA |
I have heard the same thing before as Bih said (Cheeta). Avocado is just listed among foods to avoid instead of having to explain it all, since you know inevitably some people would end up doing it wrong, and if something happened they would blame the source.
I'm glad all is well now
I LOVE avocado! |
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Monday October 22, 2007 3:32 am |
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