Toothpaste dangerous for birds?
Wade R. Boaz
My Brown-head parrot, Peanut, accompanies me each morning in the
WC as I shave, brush, dry, etc. before work. He usually sits on a
cupholder attached to the wall, playing with the mirror above his head
and the toothbrushes in the nearby holder.
Recently, Peanut managed to bite through the toothpaste dispenser and
mop his beak up in Crest Tarter Control ( regular flavor ). Unfortunately,
he seemed to love the stuff, and has started to squeek and huff when I
open the toothpaste dispenser ( now, a hard-shell variety ;) for my _own_
use! So, my question becomes:
- Are relatively small amounts of toothpaste bad for my bird?
Facts or educated guesses quite welcome!
Wade R. Boaz 28-) "Well, I've been to one World Fair, a picnic,
wa...@yktvmh.vnet.ibm.com and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing
I ever heard come over a set of earphones."
The opinions expressed in this article are all mine. Mine. Me.
Nobody else's.
Not even my employer's.
So there.
Michael Kelly Larsen (415) 688-4684
|> Hi Folks,
|> My Brown-head parrot, Peanut, accompanies me each morning in the
|> WC as I shave, brush, dry, etc. before work. He usually sits on a
|> cupholder attached to the wall, playing with the mirror above his head
|> and the toothbrushes in the nearby holder.
|>
|> Recently, Peanut managed to bite through the toothpaste dispenser and
|> mop his beak up in Crest Tarter Control ( regular flavor ). Unfortunately,
|> he seemed to love the stuff, and has started to squeek and huff when I
|> open the toothpaste dispenser ( now, a hard-shell variety ;) for my _own_
|> use! So, my question becomes:
|>
|> - Are relatively small amounts of toothpaste bad for my bird?
|>
|> Facts or educated guesses quite welcome!
My best guess is that the Flouride would probably not be the
greatest thing in the world for him. I couldn't really give a
scientific analysis or anything truly conclusive, but I'd try to
keep 'em away from it. Anyone else have any experience with this?
--
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* mla...@cisco.com | FAX :(415)688-8282 | the Budgerigars, and Pogo *
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Jeff Maier x1948
|> In article <CDsDt...@hawnews.watson.ibm.com>, wa...@watson.ibm.com ( Wade R. Boaz ) writes:
|> |> Hi Folks,
|> |> My Brown-head parrot, Peanut, accompanies me each morning in the
|> |> WC as I shave, brush, dry, etc. before work. He usually sits on a
|> |> cupholder attached to the wall, playing with the mirror above his head
|> |> and the toothbrushes in the nearby holder.
|> |>
|> |> Recently, Peanut managed to bite through the toothpaste dispenser and
|> |> mop his beak up in Crest Tarter Control ( regular flavor ). Unfortunately,
|> |> he seemed to love the stuff, and has started to squeek and huff when I
|> |> open the toothpaste dispenser ( now, a hard-shell variety ;) for my _own_
|> |> use! So, my question becomes:
|> |>
|> |> - Are relatively small amounts of toothpaste bad for my bird?
|> |>
|> |> Facts or educated guesses quite welcome!
|>
|> My best guess is that the Flouride would probably not be the
|> greatest thing in the world for him. I couldn't really give a
|> scientific analysis or anything truly conclusive, but I'd try to
|> keep 'em away from it. Anyone else have any experience with this?
|>
|> --
or a tube full, I dont know what defines "a quanity", I do know that its
more than you would use to brush your teeth with) can be extremly
dangerious to young children. I imagine any small body ingesting large
amounts of toothpaste would suffer from an overdose of something,
flouride or someother chemical. Wether it is a lethal overdose or just
a toxic overdose I cant say, but I would keep my birds away from it.
later......Mike.......
By the way this isnt from Jeff as the header says, its from me,
Mike Noeske (mno...@su1b.harris.ess.com) I'm just using his account
as they moved the terminals around and I couldn't login as myself.
(I hate when that happpens).
Pamela Ecker
whenever they can, I'm also interrested to find out if small amounts are
ok for them. Maybe its the mint flavor they like. (or how it makes their
beaks shine and their breath minty fresh :) )
Dan Day
>
>- Are relatively small amounts of toothpaste bad for my bird?
Check with a bird vet (I hope you're well acquainted with one), but
I'd be worried about the toothpaste. Toothpaste contains a lot
of abrasives (usually listed as "silica" in the ingredients) which
I imagine would rough up your bird's innards over time.
Jeffrey Saunders
Particularly when compared to what your bird needs in it's gizzard to
digest things. That's why chickens eat gravel. And 'keets
eat (or like mine, ignore) cuttle bone.
SuNkisT
>In article <27r9ds...@cronkite.cisco.com>, mla...@cisco.com (Michael Kelly Larsen (415) 688-4684) writes:
>|> In article <CDsDt...@hawnews.watson.ibm.com>, wa...@watson.ibm.com ( Wade R. Boaz ) writes:
>|> |> Recently, Peanut managed to bite through the toothpaste dispenser and
>|>
>|> greatest thing in the world for him. I couldn't really give a
>
>or a tube full, I dont know what defines "a quanity", I do know that its
>more than you would use to brush your teeth with) can be extremly
>dangerious to young children. I imagine any small body ingesting large
I think that there are some kinds of 'natural' toothpaste that do not
necessarily have Flouride in them (although i could be way off!)...
Perhaps your bird would find this to be an acceptable substitute for the
current brand, and you wouldn't have to worry...:)
Try looking at one of the Tom's of Main toothpastes to see if they would
be ok... Or, you might be able to make something that is ok with a minty
flavour...
Gee... i wonder if he would like eating Tic-Tacs...;)
Smile...:)
...jones
--
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jo...@nick.csh.rit.edu
"I don't patronize bunny-rabbits!" - Veronica's dad
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