We’ve often heard it said that chocolate is bad for dogs. While this is true, did you know that this delicious treat is inappropriate for many other pets, as well?
Unfortunately for our feathered friends, parrots can’t eat chocolate, either. This food is not only extremely toxic to them but also fattening, so if by some miracle your talkative bird doesn’t get ill from eating a chocolate bar, there’s a good chance it’ll suffer from the effects of excess sugar consumption.
With that in mind, let’s further examine why chocolate is bad for parrots!
Why Is Chocolate Bad for Parrots? Because of the Substances It Contains
Chocolate is loaded with substances that can harm a parrot. These substances are as follows:
Theobromine
Chocolate counts cocoa solids among its main components, and cocoa contains the alkaloid compound theobromine.
Theobromine is highly toxic to animals such as parrots, dogs, cats, and horses, which is why the compound, and consequently chocolate, can kill them when ingested. In fact, even a tiny amount of chocolate, or any type of food or drink that contains cocoa (including soda/soft drinks and tea) can be deadly to a parrot.
But what exactly does theobromine do to a parrot? Simple – it damages the liver and nervous system. If a bird consumes a deadly dose, it can lead to liver failure, which in turn results in problems such as:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Black droppings
- Hyperactivity
- Heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
- Respiratory distress or breathing difficulty
- Seizures
- Death
Take note that death by theobromine toxicity is neither painless nor quick.
The sad fact of the matter is that there are unfortunate cases of parrots perishing after ingesting chocolate. Some of them eat chocolate given to them by well-meaning but ignorant humans; other parrots find this food lying around the house, in parks, or in the trash. So if you want to ensure your pet’s health, never offer it chocolate, and store your chocolate where your parrot can’t access it!
Caffeine
Chocolate also contains caffeine – another alkaloid compound that’s toxic to parrots.
Ingesting caffeine can cause the following issues:
- Hyperactivity
- Heart arrhythmias
- Increased heart rate
- Cardiac arrest
- Death
For these reasons, never give your feathered friend chocolate or any other caffeinated products including beverages like tea, coffee, and soft drinks. If your bird is thirsty, give it water or the occasional fruit juice.
Sugar
Like many animals, parrots are drawn to sweet, sugary foods. Unfortunately, human foods such as chocolate contain an unnatural form of sugar called processed sugar, which is bad for parrots.
True, processed sugar isn’t toxic to parrots. However, it can cause digestive distress such as diarrhea and stomach pain. Diarrhea is particularly worrying as it can lead to potentially deadly dehydration if left untreated.
Worse, consuming sugar regularly can result in obesity.
In parrots and other birds, obesity increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. Most obese birds develop fatty liver disease (a.k.a. hepatic lipidosis) and atherosclerosis (the buildup of substances such as fats and cholesterol on the artery walls). All of this makes them exceptionally prone to strokes and heart attacks, with some of them dying just from the stress of being examined by a veterinarian.
Additionally, the fat deposits in an obese parrot’s blood vessels cause said vessels’ walls to grow inflexible, inhibiting the flow of blood through them. This, in turn, reduces the oxygen delivered to its brain whenever its blood pressure rises.
Obese birds are also more likely to develop lipomas or other fatty tumors known as xanthomas. And because they’re more vulnerable to heart disease and strokes, they’re at a greater risk of experiencing adverse effects from anesthesia than birds that have a normal weight.
Highly fattening foods such as chocolate can also raise the risk of pancreatitis, another condition that can have potentially life-threatening effects.
Artificial flavoring and other chemicals
Chemicals such as artificial flavors are bad for parrots and can trigger everything from allergic reactions to digestive problems such as diarrhea and stomach upsets. Some chemicals may even cause seizures.
Parrots VS. the Three Types of Chocolate
The three main types of chocolate – dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate – have varying amounts of theobromine and other substances.
Based on the amounts of said substances, which of these chocolate varieties are safest for parrots? Let’s find out!
Dark chocolate
Because it contains less sugar and significantly more cacao, dark chocolate is the healthiest of the three chocolate varieties – for humans, anyway. For birds, a higher amount of cocoa also means more theobromine, which is deadlier for them.
In short, dark chocolate is the most dangerous type of chocolate for your parrot. Never give it dark chocolate!
Milk chocolate
Milk chocolate contains a lot of sugar, making it more likely to cause digestive concerns such as diarrhea and more serious problems like pancreatitis and obesity.
This chocolate contains less theobromine than dark chocolate, which may sound like good news. Sadly, even small quantities of theobromine can kill parrots, so we don’t recommend feeding milk chocolate to your pet.
White chocolate
White chocolate doesn’t contain any cocoa solids, so it typically doesn’t contain any theobromine or caffeine.
Unfortunately, white chocolate is chockfull of sugar, cream, and other ingredients that can cause illness in a parrot. If your bird ingests white chocolate in excess, expect concerns such as diarrhea and indigestion. If it eats this food regularly, it may end up having to deal with obesity, pancreatitis, and related health issues.
Also, take note that some varieties of white chocolate do contain small amounts of theobromine.
What Are Additional Symptoms of Chocolate Ingestion in Parrots?
We’ve already discussed the symptoms of theobromine and caffeine ingestion above. Below, we list other symptoms a parrot may exhibit after consuming chocolate.
- Lethargy or lack of interest in normal activities
- Plucking and pulling of the feathers, particularly around the head
- Loss of appetite or refusal to eat anything for several days
- Polyuria (or frequent urination)
- Polydipsia (or increased thirst)
- Loss of balance
- Muscle tremors
Other Foods Parrots Can’t Eat
In addition to chocolate, parrots can’t eat the following foods:
- Avocado
- Salt
- Fat
- Onions and garlic
- Apple seeds and fruit pits
- Xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free foods)
What to Feed Parrots Instead of Chocolate
Eager to have your parrot enjoy a snack? Then feed them any of the healthy treats below!
- Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
- Nuts (almonds, pine nuts, walnuts)
- Dried fruits (peaches, apricots)
- Dark leafy greens (mustard greens, collard greens)
- Corn on the cob (frozen and sugar-free)
FAQs About Chocolate for Parrots
Let’s answer more frequently asked questions about chocolate for parrots!
My parrot ate chocolate. What should I do?
Don’t panic but act quickly.
If your parrot ate white chocolate, check the food’s ingredients for theobromine or caffeine. The absence of these substances should tell you that your pet will likely be fine. However, monitor it for digestive concerns such as diarrhea. With or without any symptoms of distress, you can call up a veterinarian for advice on how to ensure the health of your pet.
Did your parrot consume dark or milk chocolate? Then it has likely ingested theobromine and caffeine, which can be deadly. Contact a veterinarian as soon as possible, tell them about any theobromine or caffeine toxicity symptoms that may have already emerged, and do as they instruct. If they tell you to take your bird to their clinic or hospital, do so immediately, as hesitation could have fatal consequences.
If you can’t reach a veterinarian, those in North America can call the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 or Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.
Chocolate chip cookies generally don’t have much chocolate. Nevertheless, a tiny amount of chocolate can sometimes be enough to kill a parrot. So no, avoid giving your pet chocolate chip cookies.
Even if your parrot doesn’t get sick from the chocolate, these cookies have a high amount of sugar. This means your pet can end up suffering from digestive issues such as diarrhea and indigestion. Worse, frequently feeding your parrot such cookies can make it grow obese, which is associated with serious health concerns such as heart disease, cancer, liver disease, and more.
Can parrots eat chocolate ice cream?
Don’t give your feathered pal chocolate ice cream. While parrots can eat some types of ice cream, chocolate ice cream is a no-no due to containing chocolate – and chocolate is so toxic to these birds that even a small amount of it can kill them.
Additionally, ice cream is a high-fat dessert, so any parrot that eats it leaves itself at risk of diarrhea, stomach aches, and other digestive problems, as well as more dangerous concerns such as obesity and pancreatitis.
Conclusion
Parrots can’t eat chocolate.
This food contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to parrots. Theobromine can cause problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, respiratory distress, seizures, and ultimately death. Caffeine can cause hyperactivity, increased heartbeat, cardiac arrest, and also death.
Chocolate also has plenty of sugar and chemicals such as artificial flavoring. The former can cause diarrhea, pancreatitis, and obesity; the latter can lead to allergic reactions and seizures.
For all these reasons, never feed your parrot chocolate!