JAMES HARRIS, DVM
Can parrots eat onions, spinach - or Rolaids?
 My lovebird doesn't care for many vegetables, with the exception of a select few. She loves spinach, and eats it with much relish. I have stopped giving it to her because I read it was high in oxalates, which as I believe, are supposed to thin the blood. Is this true?
-- Tom M., Big Bear City, Calif., timetreader@hotmail.com
My roommate's parrot got hold of one of my Rolaids antacids. I got it from him as soon as I heard the crunch so he wasn't able to ingest too much of the tablet. I'm wondering if the antacid can make him sick. Thank you for your help.
-- Michael McDonald, Seattle, Wash., moflappy@hotmail.com
I have heard that onions are bad for my cockatoo. Also, is raw
asparagus a health problem for birds?
-- Leroy Rice, Grants Pass, Ore., rvcc@grantspass.com
 Fortunately, very few human foods are toxic to birds. Alcohol, salt, caffeine, chocolate and avocado are the main culprits. Spinach, onions, and asparagus aren't harmful. However, as you note, spinach does contain oxalic acid, a compound that can form stones in the body if it's present in large amounts. For this reason, I'd suggest feeding spinach no more than twice a week.
If you let your bird roam freely outside the cage, it's imperative to keep potentially harmful substances safely stored. Birds by nature are very curious and will sample almost anything. This time you were lucky: Rolaids aren't toxic.
James Harris, DVM is owner and medical director of the Mayfair Veterinary Clinic in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia. He founded Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has served as medical director and chairman of the board for the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Berkeley. Dr. Harris' numerous professional honors include California and National Bustad Companion Animal DVM Awards.
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