First Aid Measures You Can Take

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First Aid Measures You Can Take

First Aid

As a general rule, I discourage "pet Shop" medications for treating sick birds. You are jeopardizing your bird's health by relying on your own diagnosis, or that of the pet shop staff, and then choosing an over-the-counter medicine to treat a guessed-at disease. Neither you nor the pet shop staff are qualified to diagnose diseases or prescribe treatment. If the diagnosis is wrong and the prescribed medicine proves harmful, it may be too late for corrective therapy when the veterinarian finally does see the bird. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential. Do not allow your bird to be sick more then two days before you seek professional help. The longer the bird is sick, the harder it is to treat and its chances of recovery are greatly reduced. HOW YOU CAN HELP---There will be times when you cannot get your sick bird to a veterinarian immediately. In that brief waiting period, there are certain first aid measures you can take. KEEP THE BIRD WARM---This is most important. Raise the temperature in the bird's environment to (80-85 degrees). There are several ways to do this. You can heat the roon the bird is occupying with an electric base board heater, or heat the cage itself. If the cage is not to large, set it on top of a towel-covered heating pad, and cover the entire cage with another towel, leaving only a narrow opening at the front of the cage. Put a thermometer in the cage (where big birds cannot destroy it), and turn the heating pade control to a setting that keeps the inside of the cage at (80-85 degrees). The back of the cage can also be covered with clear plastic wrap in order to let in light, while still maintaining the desired heat level.

A 60 watt light bulb is less effective than the heating pad, but still useful in a pinch. Set the light bulb about (12 in.) from the open side of the otherwise covered cage. The heat from the bulb will warm the bird, although the constant light may interfere with its sleep. Remember, the bulb is a temporary measure to keep the bird warm until a heating pad can be obtained.

STOP THE BLEEDING---Birds cannot afford to lost much blood, especially the smaller species, so you must act quickly to stop any hemorrhaging. If a pin feather is bleeding, pull it out and apply firm pressure to the wound with a dry cotton pad for a few minutes. If a toe nail is bleeding, rub a moistened styptic pencil on the bleeding area and again apply pressure with a piece of dry cotton until the bleeding stops. Always have a styptic pencil around, however in a pinch, you can use flour and then apply a dry cotton until the bleeding stops. Stubborn bleeding may require heat cautery. When the bleeding is from a skin wound, apply pressure to the area, wrap the bird in a blanket or towel, and rush it to a veterinarian. HE MUST EAT---A bird may have less then 48 hours to live if it will not ear. Be sure it does. Encourage your bird to take any kind of food it will eat, and place its food within easy reach. Hand feed the bird if need be. KEEP HIM QUIET---Leave the bird to himself as much as possible; sick birds need far more undisturbed rest. EYE INJURIES---For severely injured or infected eyes, first prevent the bird from aggravating the eye further by gently cleaning it with a piece of damp cotton, then apply a small amount of soothing eye drops or eye ointment. Human eye products can be used safely. To inhibit the bird's scratching, you may have to hold your pet when you take it to the hospital, or fit the bird with a wide Elizabethan collar. DIARRHOEA---For Diarrhoea about 5-15 drops (depending on the bird's size) of Kaopectate per ounce of water in the bird's drinking water, or give boiled rice water after the water has cooled.

THE DO NOT GIVE: Do not give a laxative to your bird unless directed to do so by your veterinarian. Do not give alcoholic products to your sick bird. A few drops of brandy or whisky will not cure the bird and may even kill it. If you must use whiskey, drink it yourself. Do not try to "play Doctor" and treat the bird yourself, unless you are very experienced and know exactly what you are treating. A delay in proper treatment could cost the life of the bird. Do not use human or pet shop medicines unless your veterinarian has specifically suggested these. Remember that your bird's life is at stake, so trust no one's diagnosis and prescription save that of your veterinarian. Birds must have the right drug for the particular disease, asministered in the proper dosage. Too much medicine may kill it, and too little will do nothing to help.