First Aid Kit For Birdies

Accidents happen to our pets.   Hopefully you will never need to use a first aid kit, but just in case something happens, it's a good idea to have one on hand.  I keep mine in the aviary out in plain view so I don't have to go searching for it should I ever need it. 

A first aid kit should include the following:

*Phone numbers of your veterinarian, an emergency clinic in your area for after hours, the phone number to the poison control center, and the phone number of the breeder you bought the bird from.

*Antiseptic - To cleanse a wound area.  You can use iodine or betadyne available at your local drug store.

*Bandages - Gauze and liquid "New Skin".  The gauze for wounds.   Liquid "New Skin" can be found at drug stores and is great to repair cracked eggs.

*Q-tips and Cotton Balls - To clean a wound area or injury where blood is obstructing your ability to see the wound.

*Hydrogen Peroxide - Cleans the area of the wound.

*Scissors - One pair blunt tip and one pair sharp tip.

*Syringes and Eye Droppers - Hand feeding types.  Found at your local pet store, these can come in handy for feeding the bird that will not eat and for giving medicine.

*Powdered Gaterade - Or any electrolyte supplement.  Use to keep the bird hydrated.

*Kwik Stop - Styptic Powder.  Cauterizes the wound.  Most pet stores carry this.

*Towels and Paper Towels

*Flashlight or a Penlight

*Heating Pad - Sometimes putting a sick bird in a box or plastic tub with a heating pad set on low will be helpful.  Put the box half on and half off the pad in case it is to hot the bird will have a cooler place to go.  Also I put a towel between the heating pad and the container the bird is in.

*Wax Paper - If possible get a sample of feces to take to the vet for testing when you bring your bird in.  Put in on wax paper and put it in a plastic bag.

*Plastic Bags

*Hand Feeding Formula and Karo Syrup - Can be used to feed the bird to give it much needed energy.

*Pen and Paper - Take notes for your vet.   How does the bird appear? Was he fluffed up on the perch or bottom of the cage? When did it last eat?  What time bird was found ill?  Any discharge around nose, eyes, or vent?  Describe feces.  Note anything that may help your vet.

When a bird is in trouble, a few hours can mean life or death.  Take action immediately!!!!

Tips for Keeping Your Birdie Safe

*Any TEFLON coated product heated over 500 degrees will kill birds.  There is no way to save      your bird.   Death occurs within minutes.  Teflon can be found on pots, pans, space heaters, and grills.  Another name for teflon is Silverstone.

* Sprays for removing odors from carpet, chairs, couches, etc will kill birds when used as little as 12 feet away from the bird.  The active ingredient is Zinc Chloride.  The labeling claims to be safe around pets.  Zinc Chloride affects the lungs.  Zinc in any form is toxic to birds. Do not spray in your bird's room or on yourself if you are planning on holding or playing with your bird.

* Never leave your bird alone with dogs and cats in the room and never allow them to interact with each other.  No matter how "easy going" you believe your cat or dog to be, remember it is a natural instinct for them to be hunters and the bird is natural prey.  Pets should never be allowed access to the room where the bird is in it's cage either.  Cages will not protect your bird.  I can't tell you the horrible stories I have heard where the owners of the trusted cat or dog got their bird and they said they were only gone from the room for just a second.  Well, that's all it takes.  I know there are many people out there that allow their bird to interact with their other pets and they may disagree with me since nothing has ever happened to their bird.....YET.  I say why take the chance.  

* Please do not let anyone feed your bird anything with out your permission.  Many things are harmful to birds like chocolate, caffiene, avocados, and some things are just plain not good for them like sugar, fats, and meat. 

* The bowl brackets in most cages can pose a harmful situation to birds.  When the bowl is removed for feeding the bird can fall into and/or entangle themselves in these brackets and may injure themselves trying to get out and may injure you by biting if you try to help them.  Always keep bowls in the bowl brackets to prevent this from happening.  Or when you remove the bowls for feeding, stuff a dish towel in the bowl holder while you go get the birds food.  I had this happen with one of my birds.  We were both lucky, I was able to get the bird out without injury to me or the bird.