First Aid Kit

[Hayden1987]

After keeping and breeding parrots and volunteering for bird rescue here in NZ and dealing with wild and domestic birds I have come to realise the importance of having a first aid kit especially put together for birds..
Accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime so be prepared!
I always have 2 fully stocked at all times..
One is always in my car (mainly for wild birds)
But the other is in the house in an easy to get to place.

Heres my kit for anybody who is interested.

Equipment and Supplies
-Scissors
-Tweezers
-Nail clippers and metal nail file
-Cornstarch (to help control bleeding from a nail)
-Flashlight and batteries
-Scalpel blades and handles
-Eye dropper -Syringes of various sizes
-Feeding tubes of various sizes (if you are trained in how to use them)
-Lubricant such as mineral oil or KY Jelly (without spermicide)
-Cotton swabs
-Clean cloths and/or paper toweling
-Disposable gloves
-Stethoscope
-Gram scale
-Needle-nose pliers or*hemostats
-Wire cutters
-Net/Towels for restraint and/or to cover cage
-Pet carrier Heating pad or heat lamp to use at home
-Home thermometer to measure temperature of bird's environment
-Heat pack or hot water bottle (to keep the bird warm during transport; wrap the pack in a towel - do not apply directly to your bird, or burns may result)

Bandaging Materials
-Square gauze of various sizes - some sterile
-Non-stick pads
-First aid tape - both paper (easily comes off of skin and feathers, or use masking tape) and adhesive types
-Bandage rolls - gauze and Vetwrap
-Wooden sticks of various sizes for splints - tongue depressors, Popsicle sticks, toothpicks
-Band-Aids (for humans)

Nutritional Support
-Rehydrating solution such as Gatorade or Pedialyte

Medicines
-Wound disinfectant such as Betadine
-Triple antibiotic ointment for skin
-Antibiotic ophthalmic ointment for eyes, e.g., Terramycin Eye wash solution
-Sterile saline
Watch the expiration dates on any medication, and replace as needed.

Remember,
Don't crop tube unless you have been trained
Keep the bird warm in a quiet area
Make sure you do your best to keep the bird hydrated, this is more important than food in an emergency, but do offer food as well
And most important get to your vet as soon as possible.

I'm sure most of you know all this but for all the newbies out there i hope this helps.

 

[JerseyWendy]

AWESOME!!! Thank you SO much for this!!

 

[Hayden1987]

You are more than welcome..
I just know what its like to not have a vet available on hand 24/7
So i was trained by an avian vet to administer 1st aid.
If its at all possible ask if your vet can train you to do a few important things like examinations.. check for breaks in wings, how the wing is being held, keel bone and muscle tone,
As well as crop tube/needle fluids especially if your vet gives you oral medications...
I am lucky to have such a great vet who supplies me with saline solution syringes, needles, broad spectrum antibiotic and pain relief. Even tho shes not really meant to haha.
Bandaging is also important to learn just incase the need arises and you have to immobalise a wing if there is a break or even do a wing to body bandage if its a fractured coracoid, which can happen from hitting a window.
Generally when a bird shows symptoms its urgent and can escalate very quickly

 

[Sarbear]

Awesome job....!!!!!

 

[ziggybird]

I want to bump this thread and also put the number for animal poison control on here so it's easily searchable.

animal poison control: 888-426-4435

They charge $65 for the call, but they are wonderful. They are a 24/7 company with vets on staff at all times. They can tell you what to do at home, what signs to look for, and if you need to rush to the vet and instructions to give them about what exactly is going on with your pet. They only charge once per case, so you or your vet can call them multiple times and will only be charged once.

This would be a great number to keep on hand near your parrot emergency kit along with your vets number.

 

[Pajarita]

I would add some sulfa powder (it works wonders on open wounds) and a band cutter as well as.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I made this a sticky, so it will stay on top and not get lost in the crowd.

Thank you again for this GREAT and VERY important information about First Aid Kits!!

 

[weco]

Hayden, I'm not trying to impose on your thread or take it over, just expanding it a little.....

A number of years ago I had as many as 20 some odd birds, usually just perching for a while and often had to contend with the invariable broken blood feather and even an occasional half-bitten-off toe, so like Hayden & many others around here, I put together what I thought I might need.

The aquarium in the list is for use as a hospital cage, not for herps or snakes...actually any snakes or predator herps you might keep should be in securely locked reptile cages anyway or you might find your feathered friend(s) a quick meal for the reptiles.....

 

[henpecked]

First Aid kit ??? mine's more like a foot locker.

 

[weco]

First Aid kit ??? mine's more like a foot locker.

Yeah, HP, around here, those are thought of more as toy boxes.....

 

[bonita]

Dear Hayden, My parrotlet has a mild infection on the end of her to. I soaked in warm salt water several times and just applied Triple Antibiotic. But I think she's eating it off her toe. Help what to do. Thanks Bonita P.S. thanks for the post.

 

[Tiki Bird]

heating pad, humidifier, hospital cage!

 

[Methughous]

Hiii, i just want to now do birds get diseases like fever? My parrot is eating normal and his poop also seems fine. But he's been kinda lazy lately , is it okay for him to be this way, keep in mind it is winters if this could be the reason? As in winters even we dont feel like getting out of the bed.