Help w/Nail Polish!!

[Omgir]

So before people tell me that it's dangerous, I know that you shouldn't paint your nails around birds. I know that NOW...didn't think about it while I was painting them.

Anyway, my Cockatiel is 7 months old and decided that while he was hanging out on my shoulder he was going to jump down and investigate the polish brush..with his beak.

I don't know if he ate any, but I got him to drink some water right away and wiped off what I could. What do I do?? There is some polish he got on his feathers as well, how can I get that off?

I feel sick to my stomach that I was so careless and may have put my baby in danger.

 

[itzjbean]

Whoops! Yes, it's never safe to paint your nails while the bid is actually out of the cage or has access to it.

Watch him closely for the next few days for any changes in behavior, loss of appetite, lethargy or just acting off. It wouldn't hurt to call your trusted avian vet to get their advice about it too.

Only time will tell I'm afraid.

 

[EllenD]

Yeah, that's not good. At least now you know.

Do not use anything to try to get the polish off, like Acetone, as the fumes are also toxic to him. It's just going to have to wear-off, and it will soon. You may be able to pick it off of his beak or feathers with your fingernail, depending on if he'll let you or not, sometimes a warm bath with also help to get it off. If not, it will eventually wear off. I'd actually be more concerned about the polish that is on his feathers rather than what's on his beak, as he could potentially ingest what is on his feathers. But hopefully it will come off soon. I'm not aware if their is anything that you can use to take off nail-polish that doesn't emit fumes, but maybe someone else will.

Just watch him, any signs of him being ill and right to the Avian Vet. I don't know how much of it he actually ingested, hopefully not enough that would warrant having to give him Activated Charcoal to absorb it.

 

[Kiwibird]

It is my assumption your bird does not have a large amount of nail polish on him right? If he does, consult with an avian vet ASAP. If it's just a dab, let it dry. Once dry, it will be unlikely to cause him any issues if he does ingest a small amount preening etc... and the feathers it got on will likely molt out soon. Parrots bodies do not like to hang on to damaged feathers very long.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Great advice above, all of it.
Good for you, for just being honest and putting it all out there, and asking for input!

 

[ChristaNL]

Paint your nails in another room than the bird is in and do not come back in for at least an hour!
The fumes will still go pretty strong at that point ( I am only a human and can still smell semifresh nailpolish 12 hours after its been applied ...)

My parrots wil always try to remove nailpolish anyway- so I do not bother anymore.
(esp since the macaw usually tries to remove the nail *and* the polish in one go)


I hope your tiel will be allright and that you can pick of the dried left-over easily.
Good on you that you did not (out of panick or otherwise) dosed the bird in remover! \o/

That would really have been bad.


We all make mistakes.

 

[Taw5106]

Yes those fluffy creatures like to investigate and get involved with what we are doing. A warning, the kitchen. I keep mine out of the kitchen when cooking or using hot appliances like a toaster. If mine see me doing something they are curious and gotta check it out.

Good catch and work on your part. They surprise us.


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