First Aid Kit for Parrots
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by Heike Ewing Ott The idea of a first aid kit for parrots may seem strange, but it's a good idea to keep a few things on hand in case of an injury or other type of emergency with your bird. The following is a very complete list of first aid supplies. The items toward the top of the list are things that most parrot owners would wish to have on hand. |
Is there a web site that tells what should be in a first aid kit?
I've read some good articles, but I don't know of a web site…. I'll be glad to share with you what's in mine. Items marked with a * you will have to get from a vet, but your avian vet will probably sell them to you if s/he is convinced that you know how and when to use them properly.
- KwikStop or similar powder : used to stop bleeding -strong tweezers or needlenose pliers : use to pull out broken blood feathers -scissors or wire cutters : used to cut damaged or blocking feathers from injured areas
- roll of cotton gauze
- cloth (firstaid) tape : used to bandage open wounds, burns, abraded areas
- popsicle sticks and/or flat toothpicks
- vetwrap or sports wrap : used with cloth tape to splint and immobilize injured parts such as wings, legs, feet, neck, etc.
- antibiotic ointment (neosporin, betadine, triple antiobotic, etc
- clean, soft cotton towel&
- hot pack : for getting a bird warm quickly to treat shock or exposure
- baby jar of apple juice & feeding syringe : useful in cases of mild dehydration and sometimes helps with crop blockage or stoppage; quick energy
- bag of instant ounces or hand-feeding formula : can be mixed with apple juice and given for acute malnutrition or starvation
- * 10cc bottle of D5W (dextrose solution) or saline solution and 3 or 6cc syringe with fine needle : use to inject fluid under the skin for severe dehydration, blood loss
oral syringe of sm amount (check w/vet for your bird's dosage) of liquid infant benadryl : for treating acute allergic reaction - * Intramuscular dosage of steroid sealed into insulin syringe : for last-ditch emergency treatment of SEVERE shock
fingernail file : can sometimes help stop bleeding of beak or nail to rough it up and/or file it down a bit (use with extreme caution!!)
(Remember, I was a breeder - the ordinary pet owner may not need about half of that stuff!)