Avian Hazards and Prevention (part 2 of 2)

* If styptic powder or another type of clogging medicine - such as Kwik Stop - is not available, flour is a suitable alternative.

Broken Bone

Take the bird gently and place it in a container, such as a Rubbermaid container or a cardboard box. The container should be lined with tissue and shredded newspaper. Rush the bird immediately to your Avian Vet. You should tell your vet which circumstances under which the accident happened.

Animal Bite

The saliva and bacteria from the animal can be dangerous or possibly deadly for your bird. The wound should be cleansed immediately with a bird-safe cleanser such as Oxyfresh Gel or Peroxide. Ask your vet for suggestions on other bird-safe cleansers. You should rush your bird to the vet as soon as possible.

Eating House Plants

Some common house plants can be very toxic to your bird, and could cause serious harm, and, if not properly responded to, possibly death. You should determine what type of plant the bird was chewing, and notify your vet for further instructions. You can administer to your bird orally either Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate to stop absorption of the plant toxins. The ratio for administration is 1.0 cc/100 g of body weight.
A list of common dangerous plants is available here.

The Bird Bath in the Kitchen

The kitchen, as mentioned earlier, can be an accident waiting to happen. A turned-on heater, a pot of boiling water, a bucket of mop water, a cup of hot cocoa, the list goes on. All these should be safe-guarded whenever your bird is present. In case your bird does meet up with these dangerous foes, an immediate call to your Avian vet is in order. He or she should be able to give you some first aid instructions, before taking your bird to see them.

So remember, if prevention is number one on your list, I guarantee you'll have an extra breather from your hectic bird schedule. That is if, I hope you won't have to go through the stress of an emergency that often. Prevention always goes a long way.

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