BREATHING EASY
Safeguarding Your Pet Bird from Dangers in the Kitchen
Safety Tips by Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MS! COOKING SAFETY TIPS FOR BIRD OWNERS
Pets are an extremely important partof our lives and wherever we are in thehouse they join us.
This allows for social activity and bonding but the kitchenposes real dangers for our pet birds and here are somesafety tips to keep them out of danger while maintaining
the important bond.
The kitchen can be a dangerous place for pet birds.
Cooking fumes, smoke and odors that have little or noeffect on people can seriously sicken and even kill birds,often quite quickly. Below are some simple tips to keep
your feathered friends safe.

1Just say “no” to pet birds in thekitchen while cooking, using aerosol
sprays or using the self-cleaning
feature of the oven.

A bird’s extremely efficient respiratory tract makes it
sensitive to air particles that do not affect people inthe same way. Since you cannot detect these deadly
particles, prevent any heart-breaking problems by
removing your bird from the kitchen when you are cookingor cleaning in that area.

leave any brand of heated
2 Never
cookware unattended.
Any type of cookware and cooking oils can releaseparticles that make breathing impossible for birds and inseconds, a bird may be fatally affected by these fumes.
As a precaution, when you cook, no matter what you arecooking or brand you are using, make a point of always
moving your birds out of the kitchen before cooking.

3

Never preheat your cookware
on high heat.

If accidentally overheated, nonstick cookware can emit
fumes that may be harmful to birds, as can any type of
cookware preheated with cooking oil, fats, margarine,and butter. This is why we do not let birds into the kitcheneven before we start cooking!

4Always turn on the exhaust fan oropen a window before cooking.

Some activities can create air particles. These particles
can destroy a bird’s complex respiratory tract. Dangerous
particles are generated by aerosol sprays, nonsticksprays, perfumes, smoke, pesticide sprays, glue, paint,
self-cleaning ovens and space heaters. If any of theseproducts are used, turn on an exhaust fan or open awindow. Never turn on a ceiling fan if your bird can fly,even if your bird is safely in a cage. Accidents happen
and someone may open the cage door without knowing aceiling fan is on.

“Over the last thirty years, I haveseen thousands of pet birds for avariety of illnesses. Birds have unique
respiratory systems, and bird owners
must take necessary steps to protect
them. Don’t let your bird become
my emergency patient! I advise bird
owners to take the simple steps ofcooking under normal conditions andkeeping birds out of the kitchen, while
cooking, to protect these precious
family members.”
Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MSVice President, Medical Education
Professor of Exotic Animal Medicine
Veterinary Emergency Group

This educational brochure has been endorsed by:
For more information about the health and safetyof your pet bird, please consult your local veterinarian.
The Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV)
recommends bird owners take pet birds to an avian
veterinarian at least once a year for regular
health examinations.

Association of Avian Veterinarians — www.aav.org

Veterinary Emergency Group — www.veg.com
Helping people and pets when they need it the most.

This educational brochure is sponsored by:

Additional Bird Safety Tips…

store all cleaners, pesticides, mothballs,prescription and over-the-counter medications
out of the bird’s reach.
© Copyright 2024, Rev. 1 61224