Help!! My cag got soaked in windex!!!!

[lisamarie973]

OMG!!!!! Just now, while I typed my last post my grandson (2 yrs old) grabbed a bottle of windex and SOAKED Maui with it. I am crying uncontrollably and have bathed Maui getting all of it off, but am still totally distraught and scared. I called the vet, they told me he'd be ok as long as I bathed him in dawn dish liquid. Luckily he didn't get it anywhere near his face, eyes or mouth, just his belly, but I am still SOOO scared. I can't stop crying and I want to beat the tar out of the 2 yr old. My daughter has been advised to get him the hell out of my house before I explode. The bird is stressed out because of my crying, however, he thoroughly enjoyed the bath, THANK GOD. Maui just sat right there, not a tad upset by the soaking, of course he doesn't know it was a dangerous chemical being squirted on him, he was just thinking COOL, I'm getting wet.

REALLY? Did this REALLY happen. I have ONLY myself to blame, as I ALWAYS keep the bird with me when they're here, for reasons I now do NOT have to explain. I am so angry with myself AND the 2 yr old, as just yesterday, he had the SAME bottle of windex and was squirting Logan, my 5 yr old German Shepherd in the face. I removed ALL chemicals from his reach, yet my daughter left the windex out, she was cleaning the slider door yesterday and didn't put it up where I had it, instead putting it back where we normally keep the chemicals below the sink. BTW... My daughter and her 2 little boys have just moved in here temporarily until they can get on their feet again from their home being burned down.

 

[DustyDusky]

oh geesh...seems like you have your hands full.

It is a strict rule in my house that no one goes near Dusty's cage in my house unless given my permission first. My cousin who is seven has a bad habit of putting his finger in Dusty's cage and Dusty does not like intrusions like that. The last thing i want is for the kid to get bit because he wasn't smart enough to keep away Also, the same cousin has a tendency to try to give dusty foods that he normally isnt fed, some even Dangerous for him to have. So it has been made a family rule that when guests are over, guests are not allowed near Dusty's cage unless I am with them.

 

[Aussie Ben]

Oh my that is awful, I am sorry that happened. Sorry I can't be of much help. I would just keep an eye on him and bath him a few times over the next couple of days (don't over do it). Watch to make sure it isn't irritating him (feather picking and stuff). I hope he will be okay

 

[lisamarie973]

THANKS GUYS! He seems to be just fine, but Mama is freaked out over it. My grandchildren are very ill behaved, I've never seen anything like it in my life. I have kind of taken over the disciplining since they've been here because they seem to have more respect for me and listen to me better. However, the little one, is more stubborn than a donkey. It's unreal, honestly. So, rather than for me to take any chances, Maui is bedroom bound until "Mimi" feels as though they can be trusted (which isn't looking to be anytime soon) or Maui is with "Mimi" and/or "K-Pa" (my hubby's name is Kevin, we've only been together 6 yrs, he did NOT want to be called grandpa when my young daughter gave birth, he became "K-Pa")

 

[McCaleb]

Just do as the vet said. I'm so sorry you have had such a rough time. You and your bird will be in my thoughts. I'm sure everything will turn out ok.

If it was me that kid wouldn't be able to stand ever again. I think your daughter should reprimand that child. I know i would have been if i was that age and did that to an animal.

 

[lisamarie973]

OH, he was FOR SURE reprimanded, along with a nice little spanking on the behind!! Thank you so much for the kind words and offers to be in your thoughts. Maui is just chattering away as I type right now, definitely soothes my soul a bit.

 

[wuvzbirdies]

YIKES!

As a rule in my house since I brought home my CAG we no longer use store bought cleaners. For my windows I use vinegar and water with a microfibre cloth, works better than windex! I know this doesn't help in this instance but it might help going forward in case anything like this happens again then you can be assured it is safe for your fid.

here's a link with some bird safe cleaners you might be interested in, basically stock up on vinegar and grapefruit seed extract!

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww35eii.htm

I hope Maui feels better soon.

K-Pa, that's funny, my Mom refuses to be called Gramma so she is G-Ma LOL

 

[Bobby34231]

Ouch, sorry to hear about that Lisa, as long as it didn't get in Maui's eyes you should be ok providing he/she didn't ingest much, which by now you would probably see some symptoms of poisioning, for now just keep an eye on him, he should be fine, but I know how you worry about Maui, if any of you think your over protective about your fids, believe me you have nothing on Lisa :09:, remind me later Lisa and I'll give you some info on where to get all natural bird safe cleaning products.

 

[lisamarie973]

That would be GREAT, Bob! I was so scared for Maui, I cried like a baby, he does seem to be o.k., thankfully. I think all the chemicals are going to the shed, period, end of story. I can't take those kinds of scares, it's just too much!!

 

[SharonC]

Now, go hug your grandson...LOL!

 

[wildheart]

Ai Lisa that is horrible!

We try so hard to be perfect and then things like this happen. You would think that he would have learned his lesson after the dog incident.

It sounds as if Maui will be ok especially with a mom like you. Have a strong cup of coffee or tea and sit back and enjoy Maui until you are completely calmed down.

Thinking of you.

 

[bogo1]

wOW, you have had a rough day!. Several thoughts, and a warning... the nurse in me is in full mode... feel free to roll your eyes and mutter through any of the following paragraph.

Windex bottle needs to be stored up as you know and you are going to need to work with your daughter on this and other risky stuff. I imagine she had baby proofed the house that burned so get her to think that way now too. Even if you switch over to Vinegar and H2O instead of this spray bottle, toddlers plus chemicals are bad combo. Get down on your knees, or better yet, get your grandkids into a "find the bad things" game and look at the house they are in now the way you did when your daughter was young. You are houseproofing now for grandkids and also for Maui who will soon be working the rooms with a toddler's "what can I get into next?!" frame of mind. Second, forgive me, but remember that the toddler was merely being a toddler. Spray bottles are way cool. When you have him back explain that not everything that comes out of spray bottles is okay. Some is YUK. Put the YUK stickers (available from cloest children's hospital poison center) on those things the kids may be able to get to...trash cans, alcohol, cigarettes, whatever, and have them help you find the YUKs that have hidden (a lighter on the deck or under a couch, a bottle of alcohol based cough syrup in a bedside table???) Let them know how bad they are. They hurt and make you and Maui sick, sick, sick. Then go ahead and show them where you have put these "bad" things to keep them and Maui safe, and show how you have locked (available from baby stores or rig something up from hardware store) the bad things away to make the house a safer place for Maui and the kids. Put safety plugs in empty outlets and high locks on doors to outside if you haven't already. Try to think like a two year old displaced from home or a CAG on that first world-wide exploration. Then, get a safe spray bottle from store...new... and fill with H20 and with a felt tip waterproof pen, put a smiley on it and label it with your grandson's name and let him go to town in a place you don't mind soaked. He was not "at fault" for spraying Maui. You were not "at fault" for over-reacting. Your daughter was not "at fault" for losing temporary track of one of the kids. You are all human and all need forgiveness and to go forward in unity to make the world safe for democracy... oh wait... I stitched soap boxes there for a second. You get my drift, Lisamarie. Maui is okay. Focus on increasing safety and teamwork for all the human players in Maui's life. Take care!
__________________

Barbara

 

[lisamarie973]

Grandchildren are off with their mother, I'm kind of happy about that, they can be a bit loud and overwhelming some days. Peyton gets plenty of hugs and kisses, he rather enjoys them, He will for sure tell me how he's is sorry that he didn't listen to me and proceed to tell me that he's going to be a good boy and listen better, which he won't follow through on, but hey, he's 2! I will give him some love when he returns, I"m sure my frantic tears and panic freaked him out a bit.

 

[triordan]

Sorry but IMO its your daughter who should be in trouble~ she left it out
I hope your bird is ok

 

[Spiritbird]

Windex either has vinegar or amonia mixed in it and of course the coloring. Hopefully all washed off the bird and not in eyes or ears. You just never know what can happen in just a flash with our birds. I know this was super stressful for you.

 

[lisamarie973]

Sorry but IMO its your daughter who should be in trouble~ she left it out
I hope your bird is ok

OH trust me, she got it. She didn't leave the bottle out, she put it away, but, put it away in my "normal" spot. The pre-grandkids living here spot. We only just removed all of the chemicals/cleaning supplies from under the sink on yesterday, she just put it in the WRONG place. Nobody is in trouble, I take full responsibility for leaving Maui in the living room without my being there. Believe me, it will NEVER happen again. His cage is in MY bedroom, where it will remain until my daughter moves out. That doesn't mean that Maui will be secluded, it just means that when he want's to sleep, relax or just simply be in his cage, he will be in my bedroom behind a locked door in his cage. Maui spends a GREAT deal of time outside of his cage with me, unless he wants to nap or relax.

 

[lisamarie973]

Windex either has vinegar or amonia mixed in it and of course the coloring. Hopefully all washed off the bird and not in eyes or ears. You just never know what can happen in just a flash with our birds. I know this was super stressful for you.

I KNOW!!! Thats why I was so freaked out, so far so good, but, I still don't feel like I can trust that he's "out of the woods" yet. If he happened to have inhaled too much of the ammonia which is the main ingredient in windex, he could still possibly die from asphyxiation. Luckily, I was only 5 minutes at tops and probably more like 2 minutes behind the action and was very quick to rinse Maui off thoroughly and bathe him in dawn dish liquid and major rinsing again, just to be sure there was ZERO windex residue for him to breath in or taste.

Again, he seems to be fine and I'm very very thankful for that. I waited all my life to commit to having this bird, because I wanted to be able to be the best I could be for him and not ever have to worry about my children hindering that in any way shape or form. When my girls were children, THEY were my priority, now that they're all older, it's easier for me to make Maui a priority (within reason, obviously my kids are important too)

My living situation is only temporary, we're all glad about that, including my daughter, LOL, who would like to get back into her own home, routine, etc..