This delightful little Mediterranean fruit can be cut, chopped or served in a myriad of forms to offer a delicious side serving or part of the main dish. Of course, today we are talking about tomatoes, and more importantly, are they safe for our feathery little friends to eat.
I love tomatoes. You may be the same as me, and if you are, you are sure to have asked yourself before, whether it would be safe or not to serve part of this delightful fruit to your little pet parrot. Today that is the exact question I have set about to answer.
Well, the answer is no, unfortunately. But don’t worry, because not every form of tomato is considered unsafe for your feathery little friend. The fruit tomatoes, every day, on its own, are not recommended to be served to your parrot, due to the high amounts of acidity that can be found in the fruit, which can potentially cause ulcers.
However, as you’re about to learn, there are other types of tomatoes, and different ways of serving them, which, in moderation, can offer their range of health benefits to your pet parrot. Read on to find out more!
Here are some of the points that we are going to cover in today’s article:
- Can parrots eat tomato?
- What types of tomato can they eat?
- What are the health benefits and drawbacks of each type?
Let’s get right into it!
Can parrots eat tomatoes?
Veterinarians will claim that feeding your different parrot types of fruit has incredible health benefits, and will improve their health and well-being.
However, when vets and experts make claims like this, there will always be some fruit types which they omit to mention, which are unsafe for parrots to eat. Well, tomatoes is one of them. Unfortunately, tomatoes are one of the most common types of fruit that parrot owners offer to their pet to keep it quiet.
The truth is that tomatoes are generally unsafe for parrots. While tiny amounts from time to time will not cause any considerable harm to the health and well-being of your feathery little friend, it should only be given in moderation.
Like mentioned before, tomatoes are very high in acid and can cause an upset stomach or even ulcers to your feathery friend, if they are receiving tomatoes regularly. While the tomato itself is the safest part for your fluffy friend, the vines and leaves on the tomato are classified as highly toxic and must be kept away from your parrot at all times.
The idea of feeding tomatoes to your parrot has been a hot topic for some length of time now. While some people may argue that it is beautiful, as long as it is served in moderation, others disagree and refuse to believe that parrots should be fed tomatoes, due to its links with the nightshade plant family.
What is the Nightshade Plant Family then?
The nightshade plant family is a group of plants and flowers, ranging from shrubs, vines and trees. A large portion of these plants is essential for human consumption, such as potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers and chillis—plants which belong to this group of alkaloids and organic compounds.
The issue with these alkaloids is that when taking in large consumptions, it can have a severe psychological toll on vetting animals, including humans and parrots.
Since the Alkaloid content is diverse, it suggests that some are good, and some are bad.
Some of these alkaloids may result in muscle trembling, twitching as well as paralyzed breathing and convulsions.
Furthermore, many plants in this nightshade family are high in vitamin D3, when parrots consume these vitamins in large amounts, it results in abnormally large deposits of calcium into their ligaments, tendons and soft tissues. Not to mention other issues with minerals in their veins and arteries.
What type of tomato can parrots eat?
You’re probably wondering at this stage, if you can’t feed your parrot raw tomato fruit, then what kind of tomato can I feed my parrot, and the answer is simple. The best solution is a dried tomato.
Dried tomato is easy to make, and can be done so very quickly without too much hassle or stress. Not to mention the long list of nutritional and health benefits it offers not just to you, up to your feathery friend also. What’s more, is, they taste amazing! Here are just some of the health benefits of sun-dried tomatoes.
Boost heart health
Heart disease and other forms of heart problems are a massive problem for parrots nowadays, particularly hose whose diets are positioned by artificial sugar and other sweeteners. Fortunately, there is a solution for our pet parrots, and they are sun-dried tomatoes.
Laboratory studies have shown that sun-dried tomatoes can protect the body from inflammation and markers of oxidative stress. They also have a hugely positive impact on the inner layer of blood vessels and decrease your parrots’ risk of blood clotting.
Prevents cancers
Cancer in itself is the spread (the uncontrollable spread) of abnormal cells which spread further than the conventional boundaries, often to other parts of the body.
Many studies have proven time and time again, the positive effects that tomatoes can have on preventing various types of cancers, both in birds and humans. It is essentially the high lycopene content which is believed to be responsible for the cause of these benefits.
Numerous Vitamins and Minerals
There are countless amounts of healthy and nutritious vitamins and minerals which can be found in tomatoes. The most prominent of which is Vitamin C. This is an essential antioxidant and vitamin for a healthy and balanced parrot diet.
Potassium too is beneficial for controlling blood pressure and preventing heart disease. Vitamin K1 also plays a crucial role in bone health, and folate is responsible for the functioning of cells and average tissue growth. It would be difficult to find a fruit that has such a comprehensive range of nutritional benefits as tomatoes.
What about tomato ketchup?
Most tomato ketchup should be fine; however, like most other foods, it should be served as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
This is mostly due to the high amounts of sugar that can be found in tomato ketchup, thanks to the processing from supermarket brands and large corporations in the industry.
Also, tomato ketchup is still relatively high in acid, which gains, can cause various adverse side effects of serving in excessive amounts. However, it is slightly less acidic than raw tomatoes, but careful care should still be taken.
Can parrots eat tomato purée?
If you’re a massive fan of Italian food like me, then tomato purée pasta is a fantastic dish to make.
When you make pasta with tomato puree, you may be tempted to feed a little bit to your feathery friend. If you do so, make sure to do so sparingly, as the purée itself is still high in acid, which like we mentioned can result in ulcers and stomach pains.
Also, like tomato ketchup, purée is known to be high in sugar content as well. So make sure that your parrot doesn’t receive much more than a couple of small servings each week.
What Should I do if my Parrot Eats Tomato?
I understand, that when it comes to pets and foods, mistakes can happen. When you are cooking perhaps, and your feathery little friend is lurking about, it can be very easy for him/her to end up pecking at some of your ingredients, particularly if you are caught unaware by something.
In the case where your parrot eats some of your tomatoes, (or perhaps you didn’t even realise they were bad for parrots, and you fed some to your pet), in this situation, the first thing to remember is not to panic. If you fed your parrot just a little bit of tomato, then don’t worry, s/he should be fine.
However, if they were munching through a considerable amount of tomato, for example, if it was their entire meal. You may wish to pay extra attention to your pet bird, and ensure that it doesn’t begin to act unusual (I.e lack of energy, making strange noises.) in that situation, you should take it to a vet immediately.
It is unlikely that some tomato on its own would do any harm to your pet, but make sure that it stays away from the stem of the tomato at all times.
In conclusion, then it seems that tomatoes are not the best snack to feed your pet parrot. However, there are many tomato alternatives and forms that can be served as part of a healthy and balanced diet, such as dried tomatoes, or even other fruits such as mangoes!
Regardless of what you decide to cook up for your pet, if you are unsure you should always consult with am expert first. Always remember to serve any food in moderation as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you again soon.