Happy Holidays! As you may know, this can be a dangerous time of year for our animal friends. However, Fluffy and Fido aren’t the only pets that can get into trouble here. You’ll also need to be careful with Polly! A Greater Cincinnati veterinarian discusses holiday bird safety below.
Those pretty trees are extremely dangerous for Polly. For one thing, the needles are very sharp, and could injure her if she were to try to perch. Your cute pet could also get tangled up in ribbons, lights, or tinsel, or cut herself on sharp ornaments or hooks. (Note: tinsel is a particular concern here, because birds are often naturally drawn to shiny things.) Keep your feathered pal out of the room the tree is in.
Scents are a big part of those special holiday scenes, but hold off on lighting that vanilla caramel candle your co-worker got you. Birds have very sensitive lungs, and they can get very sick from breathing things like perfume, cigarette smoke, fireplace smoke, cooking fumes, and wax burners. Certain types of cookware also release vapors that are toxic to your little buddy.
The tree isn’t the only dangerous piece of greenery. Many popular holiday plants are toxic to birds. That includes poinsettias, holly, ivy, and yew. Ask your vet for more information.
Birds are very small, and they can get frightened quite easily. Keep this in mind if you’re having a party. Cover Polly’s cage if you have company. Or, if you can, move it to a quiet room for the night.
Don’t forget to get Polly some presents! Toys and perches are both great options. Many birds enjoy ripping up paper books, such as old phone books. There are also plenty of great DIY playthings. Look online for inspiration.
Polly will definitely enjoy a special treat! Just stick with safe options. These will vary a bit, depending on what type of bird you have. What’s fine for a parrot isn’t necessarily good for a finch. Ask your vet for specific advice.
Does your winged buddy like to sing and dance? Get some videos of Polly boogeying down to her favorite carol. Carol of the Birds wouldn’t be inappropriate, though your colorful little pet may prefer Frosty The Snowman.
Happy Holidays! As your Greater Cincinnati animal clinic, we’re here to help! Call us anytime!
