Onions are perhaps the most popular widely used vegetable on earth.
Given their long shelf life and versatile uses, you probably use onions once a day!
But what happens if your parrot gets their beak into some onions as well?
Parrots love vegetables, so it makes sense that your bird could be curious about what an onion tastes like.
However, what you may not know is the danger that onions could present to your parrot.
The answer is no. Onions are toxic to parrots the same way chocolate is toxic for dogs. Even a small amount in any form could be dangerous for your parrot. If your parrot eats enough onion, it could die, so be aware of what foods you leave out on the counter.
What will eating an onion do to my parrot?
The most dangerous effect that eating an onion could have on your parrot have is hemolysis.
Hemolysis is the destruction of red blood cells in animals, and causes life-threatening circulatory complications for birds.
However, little research has been done into why onions cause this disease.
All scientists really know is that onions contain sulfur-based compounds that react poorly with a parrot’s digestive system.
The same compounds can be found in garlic and leeks as well, so make sure that you keep all three vegetables away from your parrot.
If your parrot eats a smaller quantity of onion, it could only face digestive complications for a few days.
These complications include diarrhea, vomiting and a loss of appetite.
While these effects aren’t life threatening, it goes without saying that keeping parrots as healthy, happy pets should be the priority of every parrot owner.
Are other forms of onions more safe?
No. Onions, in all forms, maintain their toxins.
That means that no matter what form the onions take, they are not safe for your parrot to eat.
That means cooked, powdered or even an ‘onion broth’ could be just as dangerous for a parrot as a raw onion.
And since onions are in so many different things, it could just be easier to keep your dinners out of reach for your parrot.
Do different kinds of onions affect parrots differently?
There are six different kinds of onions that humans can eat, and all of them are equally toxic for parrots.
The sulfuric compounds present in onions does not change between various species of the vegetable, so neither do the risks.
What should I do if my parrot ate an onion?
If your parrot ate the whole onion, you should close your computer and head straight for the nearest vet.
Like all toxins, the danger of a parrot eating onions is relative to the size of the bird and the amount of toxic material that has been eaten.
If your parrot has taken a smaller chunk, you can use your judgement about whether to take your bird to the vet.
In very small amounts, onions only disrupt the digestive system and affect a bird’s ability to poop regularly.
While this is unfortunate, it won’t kill your parrot.
Nevertheless, parrot owners should be aware of the dangers that onions can have for parrots.
And if you aren’t sure whether or not to take your pet to the vet, it’s probably better to air on the side of caution and take them in anyway.
What are the symptoms of onion poisoning in birds?
Onion poisoning is easy enough to deal with if you catch your parrot wolfing down some chopped onions.
But you may not always be there to keep an eye on your avian companion.
If your parrot is showing any of these symptoms, it may be a sign of onion poisoning.
Vomiting
Alongside an assortment of digestive issues, onions can causes vomiting in parrots.
This won’t be a hard side effect to notice, but some owners could mistake vomit for their parrot instinctively regurgitating some of their food.
Owners can tell the difference between regurgitation and vomiting by the amount of food that is thrown up.
Regurgitation is often small, while vomit is often more of an uncontrolled release of your parrot’s stomach.
Diarrhea
Watching your bird’s poop is not an activity many of us relish.
Still, it could be an important factor in determining if a parrot has onion poisoning.
Most bird feces are very consistent in color and consistency.
Any droppings that are runny or a different color than usual could be a sign of onion poisoning or another digestive issue.
Does my breed of parrot affect their susceptibility for onion poisoning?
Like all toxins, the danger on onions are relative to the size of parrot and the amount of onion that was eaten.
But if you’re wondering if different breeds of parrot are less sensitive than others, you may be disappointed.
Onions affect all parrots the same way.
In fact, onions are toxic for many common pets, including dogs, cats, all kinds of birds and even horses.
Regardless of what type of parrot you have, keeping onions away from your bird should be a priority.
That being said, different breeds of parrot often do solicit different responses from their owners.
For example, owners of a Macaw that ate a small amount of diced onion might be less quick to rush their parrot to the vet then owners of a lovebird or a cockatiel who ate the same amount of onion.
Generally, a good rule to remember is that the smaller your bird, the more quickly you should rush them to the vet.
Onions are a valuable and common part of anyone’s kitchen.
If you own a parrot, you should know why these vegetables should be hidden, and how they can spell the end for your pet.
While the effects exposing a parrot to onions can vary, there is no healthy form or method for sharing onions with a parrot, so it’s best to just leave them to their bird feed.
Your parrot will probably like it more anyway.