We often have medicine
chests stocked with band-aids, peroxide, iodine and other necessary first aid supplies for when
we or our children get cuts and bruises. Have you given any thought to
what you would do immediately if your cockatiel flew into a mirror, broke a
wing and started to bleed?
When a hurricane or blizzard is predicted, you probably rush out to buy milk and
bread. Do you include having extra bird food on hand as well? What about catastrophic
occurrences such as floods or tornados that require emergency evacuation?
How will you take your bird with you? Do you have a small travel cage? You probably
have smoke detectors in your home and fire escape plans for your family also. Have you included
your bird in those plans ? Last but not least, who
will take care of your cockatiel if you get sick? Does anybody other than you
know what your bird's daily diet and routine consists of?
Planning ahead can mean the
difference between life and death for your cockatiel
during a medical crisis or emergency evacuation. Put together a first-aid,emergency kit for your bird.
Use a shoebox or a plastic food storage container. Keep it where you will remember
and it can be easily reached in a hurry.
First Aid Kit
Rubbing alcohol for sterilizing.
Styptic stick for bleeding beak/nails.
Kwik-Stop for broken blood feathers, bleeding
beaks/nails and minor skin cuts.
Cornstarch to stop other bleeding.
Betadine for disinfecting an open wound.
A topical antibiotic cream for wounds.
Hydrogen peroxide to cleanse wounds.
Pliers to remove broken blood feathers,
Wire cutters for cage/toy injuries.
Scissors and nail clippers.
Gauze and bandages for wounds.
Surgical tape for binding broken wings/legs
Cotton swabs for use on small wounds.
Eyedropper and feeding syringes.
Hand feeding formula for sick birds.
Pedialyte for sick birds.
A supply of pellets and birdseeds.
New, unopened bottled water.
Magnifying glass to inspect injuries.
Towels and washcloth for holding birds.
A heating pad for source of heat.
A list of your bird's daily routine.
Phone number of your avian vet.
Phone number of 24 hour emergency vet clinic.
Money for taxi or bus fare to vet.
Your name, address and phone number.
Book on cockatiel care and treatment.
Keep a small pet carrier near your first aid kit
for emergency transportation, with a towel or blanket
to cover it with.This is very important so you can move quickly during a
crisis. After you have made a fire escape plan which includes your cockatiel, keep
a pillowcase tucked near your bird's cage. You can put your bird in this safely and quickly. It will also protect
your bird from smoke inhalation. Your first aid kit should have bird food
replaced every 6 months.
Medical Emergencies
There are many situations that require immediate treatment from an avian veterinarian. This is just a partial
list of urgent medical conditions.For more information on egg binding and broken blood feathers,see the main index.
Egg Binding-Results, without treatment--death.
Animal Bites-Results, internal injuries or bacterial infections.
Bleeding-Results, after losing 20% of blood, bird will not recover.
Broken Blood Feathers-Results, bleeding to death. Click Here
Fractures-Results, infections and bird may go into shock.
Lead and Zinc Poisoning-Results, death, permanent neurological disorder.
Symptoms, loss of balance, inability to fly, muscle weakness.
bright red droppings or vomiting.
Concussion-Results, bird may go into shock or suffer brain injury.
Overheating-Results, high body temperatures can kill a bird.
Frostbite-Results, loss of toes, feet, or bird may go into shock and die.
Inhaling or Eating Foreign Objects-Results, respiratory or digestive damage.
Beak Injuries-Results, inability to eat and preen, infections from wound.
Breathing Problems-Results, life threatening and an indication of illness.
Shock-Results, death because bird's blood does not circulate.
Poisoning-Results, rapid death.
If your cockatiel has any of the conditions listed above stabilize it to prevent
it from going into shock. Calm your bird by talking. Stop bleeding by applying
direct pressure and use cornstarch or flour as a coagulant. Kwik-Stop can
be used to stop bleeding on beaks/nail injuries as well as on minor skin
cuts. Kwik-Stop also contains Benzocaine, an anesthetic to minimize pain.
You can purchase this at pet shop or veterinarian.
Keep your cockatiel warm by placing a heating pad on low, under the cage and
covering the cage 3/4 with a towel.
If you suspect a broken wing and you don't know how to make a splint, try to
restrain your bird's body with a towel that has been snuggly secured with tape
or velcro. Keep your bird warm.
Call your avian veterinarian immediately and tell him/her that it is an
emergency and take your bird for treatment.
Egg Binding. Click Here
for Detailed Information on Broken Blood Feathers.
Helpful Tip: Suppose
you yourself have a medical crisis?
Does anyone else know how to take care of your bird?
Keep a detailed list of your cockatiel's diet and daily routine taped some place
visible. This can on a wall near the cage or on the refrigerator.This will be
very helpful for the person who looks after your bird while you are
recovering. It's also a good idea to keep a cockatiel care and first aid book
visible, near your bird's cage at all times.
Cockatiels & Emergencies
Keep a small pet carrier near your first aid kit
for emergency transportation, with a towel or blanket
to cover it with.This is very important so you can move quickly during a
crisis. After you have made a fire escape plan which includes your cockatiel, keep
a pillowcase tucked near your bird's cage. You can put your bird in this safely and quickly. It will also protect
your bird from smoke inhalation. Your first aid kit should have bird food
replaced every 6 months.
Medical Emergencies
There are many situations that require immediate treatment from an avian veterinarian. This is just a partial
list of urgent medical conditions.For more information on egg binding and broken blood feathers,see the main index.
