MSD Manual

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MSD Manual
Veterinary Manual
The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955

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VETERINARY PET
Common Household Poisons

Common Household Poisons

This list is not inclusive because there may be other substances toxic to birds that have not been widely documented. The bird’s environment should be limited to those items known to be safe.

  • Acetone (nail polish remover)

  • Ammonia

  • Antifreeze

  • Ant syrup or paste

  • Avocado

  • Bathroom bowl cleaner

  • Bleach

  • Boric acid

  • Camphophenique

  • Carbon tetrachloride

  • Charcoal lighter

  • Clinitest tablets

  • Copper and brass cleaners

  • Corn and wart remover

  • Crayons

  • Deodorants

  • Detergents

  • Disinfectants

  • Drain cleaners

  • Epoxy or super glue

  • Fabric softeners

  • Fluoropolymer fumes

  • Galvanized materials

  • Garden sprays

  • Gasoline

  • Gun cleaner

  • Gunpowder

  • Hair dyes

  • Hexachlorophene (in some soaps)

  • House plants (including calla lilies, mistletoe, poinsettia, and others)

  • Indelible markers

  • Insecticides

  • Iodine

  • Kerosene

  • Lighter fluid

  • Linoleum (contains lead)

  • Matches

  • Model glue

  • Mothballs

  • Muriatic acid

  • Mushrooms (some varieties)

  • Nail polish

  • Oven cleaner

  • Paint

  • Paint remover

  • Paint thinner

  • Perfume

  • Permanent wave solutions

  • Pesticides

  • Photographic solutions

  • Pine oil

  • Prescription and nonprescription drugs

  • Red squill

  • Rodenticides

  • Rubbing alcohol

  • Shaving lotion

  • Silver polish

  • Snail bait

  • Spot remover

  • Spray starch

  • Sulphuric acid

  • Suntan lotion

  • Turpentine

  • Weed killers

  • Window cleaners

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) is dedicated to using leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.  The Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community.  The legacy of this great resource continues in the online and mobile app versions today.

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