Bird First Aid

There are common illnesses and injuries that you can treat at home. Basic bird first aid does not take the place of a veterinary. Birds can hide their illness for a long time. In the wild any sign of weakness could mean they would become lunch.

The best way to tell if your bird is ill is to weight them on a regular bases. If your bird is losing weight chances are it's sick. Here's a little first aid.

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Broken Blood Feathers

• Pack styptic powder or flour in the broken shaft.
• Gently apply a tefla pad or gauze around the wound.
• Transport your bird to the vet.
• The vet will probably remove the bleeding shaft.
• If your vet has shown you how you can do this at home.
• Once the shaft has been removed the bleeding will stop.

Dog or Cat Attack

• Handle the bird gently.
• Keep it warm and quiet to prevent shock.
• Wrap any bleeding wound with gauze. Apply gently pressure.
• Check for broken bones.
• If a wing is broken wrap both wings loosely to the body and tape down to prevent flapping. Do not tape tightly or the bird will not be able to breath.
• If other bones are broken, leg or skull for example, do not try and treat these ar home it can cause further injury.
• Take you bird immediately to the vet. Bite wounds carry lots of bateria and can wuickly lead to infection.

Cuts or Abrasions

• If the wound is superfial and not bleeding clean with chlorhexidine (Novalsan) or betadine.
• Use a tweezer to remove and debris, dirt or feathers.
• Apply an antibiotic ointment. The wound should heal in a few days.
• Do not allow the bird to pick at it.

For bleeding wounds or cuts

• Gentle apply pressure to the wound using gauze.
• Loosely wrap wound and seek immediate medical help from your veterinarian.
• Do not allow the bird to pick at it.

Bleeding from the Tongue

• There are many blood vessels in the tongue. It can bleed profusely.
• Do not attempt to treat this at home. Seek immediate medical help from your veterinarian.

Bleeding Toenail

• Apply flour or styptic stick to the bleeding toenail.
• The bleeding should stop in a few minutes.
• If it does not, take the bird to your veterinarian.

Breathing Trouble

• Check the nose for any bloackages. If you see anything that might be blocking the nose, such as excess mucus, seeds, grit or dirt, remove with a damp cloth.
• Do not poke or dig in the bird's nose. The operculum, an interior part of the bird's nose can be mistake for a foreign body. If in doubt get thee to a vet.
• If your bird is panting with an open mouth it could be caused by over-heating, exhaustion, fright, environmental temperature or exercise.
• For over-heating place the bird on a wet towel and gently mist with cool water.
• Do not cool the bird down to fast this can lead to shock.
• Shortness of breath can also be a sign on illness.
• Seek the help of your vet.

Burns

• Run cold water over the burn for 5 minutes until it cools.
• Dry the area and apply a cold compress.
• If the burn is severe or overs large parts of the body take your bird immediately to your vet.
• Birds can go into shock from burns and require immediate care.

Chilling

• Warm the bird using a hot water bottle or a heat lamp. The temperature should be no hotter than 85-90.
• Be careful not to burn the bird.
• If the bird is chilled because of illness or shock take it to your vet immediately.

Poisoning

• If your bird has inhaled a poison remove it to a well ventilated area.

External COntact with Poison

• Bathe the bird immediately.
• Call your vet for further treatment.

Ingested Poison

• Call your vet immediately.
• Get the name of the toxin.
• You will need to know the active ingredient of the poison. You can call poison control at .
• You will need to know the weight of your bird, how much it consumed, any symptoms you bird is having and how long ago it swallowed the poison.