| |
| |
|
Pets Information |
|
|
|
First Aid for Parrots
Unfortunately, accidents can - and DO happen, so it's always a good idea to be prepared! While accidents usually produce obvious injuries, illnesses are often kept well hidden by birds. In nature, if you're sick you pose a threat in making your whole flock vulnerable to predators, so parrots have become adept at masking signs of illness. This is one reason that it's vital to have a "well bird" check-up annually. Needless to day, once a bird is showing obvious signs of illness, he's often very sick and needs immediate vet attention. First Aid is intended to help you get by until you can see the vet, or in treating minor injuries. It's helpful to have a "hospital cage" for emergencies - a smaller, easily portable cage where you can isolate a sick or injured bird and easily move him to a warm, quiet, area of your home. It's advisable to have a quarantine area as well - for new birds coming into the home, as well as sick birds recovering from an infection. This area should be well separated from the rest of your birds to prevent air-borne transmission of germs, as well as those spread by direct contact. Some of the signs of possible illness include: more time on cage floor, talking and playing less, fluffed feathers, lack of appetite, drinking more water, personality changes (such as becoming bitey or not wanting to come out of the cage), tail bobbing, puffy eyes, sleeping on both feet with head tucked, droopy wings, sneezing or coughing, "clicking" in chest, vomiting, diarrhea, soiled vent, etc. I won't go into specific diseases here, but hopefully you get the general idea - if things are "different," get to the vet! Other problems include broken blood feathers or egg binding. It's a good idea to put together a first aid kit (Your Parrot Place has a nice one for sale!) Include: · Eye and skin wash · Styptic powder · Corn starch · Antiseptic wipes · Cotton Swabs and balls · Eye dropper · Assorted bandages - gauze, adhesive, vet wrap · Scissors · Latex Gloves · Forceps or hemostats · Betadine or iodine swabs · Adhesive tape · Penlight · Heating pad and/or lamp · Hydrogen peroxide · Pedialyte (Electrolyte solution for babies) · Hand feeding formula and syringes · Phone number for vets and poison control Generally, with any illness or injury, remove the bird to a hospital cage and put him in a warm, quiet, dimly lit room (bathrooms can work). Provide fresh water (and Pedialyte if needed). Feed favorite foods (healthier things you know he'll eat) plus warm foods like cooked rice or oatmeal. IN addition, spray millet is often enjoyed by smaller birds. If he's not eating well on his own, offer some warm food with your fingers or a spoon. If need be, you may have to mix up hand feeding formula and give by cup or syringe. If you've kept your bird in the habit of eating from a spoon or cup, this will be easier. DO NOT use over the counter remedies from pet stores. It's too much of a guessing game. I know a Pionus who became psychotic after being given an OTC bird "remedy" and would not stop thrashing around her cage. A little chamomile tea can help the bird relax and ginger tea is good for digestive upsets. If you're familiar with herbal remedies, you can safely use those without causing harm to your bird. NEVER give antibiotics without knowing your bird actually has a BACTERIAL infection (and which bacteria!) Broken blood feathers (or those accidentally clipped) can be hard to stop bleeding. Do not use styptic powder on skin or soft tissue - only on bleeding nails. Otherwise, use corn starch as a coagulant. If the blood feather (immature feather with live blood supply) won't stop bleeding, it has to be pulled or the bird can bleed to death. A note on egg binding: If a hen is on the cage bottom, fluffed up and straining, she may be "egg bound". Put her in a warm, humid place (like the bathroom). You can rub some vegetable oil around her vent. Egg bound hens can die fairly quickly, though, and if the egg does not pass within several hours, she needs to get to the vet immediately (a good diet with extra calcium will help prevent this.) So get in the habit of inspecting your birds on a daily basis, and being alert for signs of distress. Read up on diseases and gain a basic knowledge of illness in birds. "Bird proof" your home, avoid toxic fumes and unsafe toys. Have a first aid kit and hospital cage available. No what's "normal" for your bird and act quickly if things don't seem right. Find a good AVIAN vet and see them annually. Be sure your house and your bird's cage and play areas are as safe as possible. Feed the best diet you can to ensure your birds best possible health. Wouldn't it be nice if your first aid kit never gets used?! The First Aid kit available at Your Parrot Place (under accessories) contains most of the essentials such as: Styptic Powder, Latex Gloves, Eye Skin Wash, 1"x6 yd Sterile Bandage, Scissors, Locking Forceps, Iodine Swabs, Antiseptic Towelettes, 2"x2" Gauze Pads, Cotton Swabs, Adhesive Tape, Hand Wipe, Emergency Info Card, Directions, and Case. Perishables, like hand feeding formula, should be stored in the freezer and replaced every six months. ----------------------------------------- Free Parrot eBook
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How Cats With Feline Diabetes Can Lead A Happy Life "Your cat has feline diabetes." If this is your vet's message after examining your beloved friend, it will come as a shock. Dog Pile - Please Pick It Up I really do not hope your are eating something, but did you know that you can get a fake dog pile in long or round bits for a joke. My younger son had initiated this research of mine, by asking why I pick up the dog's business, even though he had done it on the grass. Canine Diabetes - Does Your Dog Have it? Canine Diabetes: A Serious Dog Disease That is Completely ManageableCanine diabetes is a serious disease that causes there to be too much glucose in the blood. If your pet has any of the signs, a dog health exam will help you find out with certainty. Arthritis Pain Relief For Dogs - Simple Home Remedies That Work Did you know that arthritis affects one in five dogs over the age of seven? It is a painful condition that affects the joints and can occur in your pet's neck, hips, shoulders, elbows and back. However, there are many simple solutions that you can provide at home that will relieve the aches and pains in your dog's joints. Indoor Dogfishing - Fun Way To Exercise A Small Or Medium Size Dog When I had a Toy Poodle, I used a small beanie baby toy tied to a twenty foot long cord to exercise him for at least ten minutes at a time, twice a day. I'd throw it across the room and he'd run after it to snatch it up, fueled by canine fantasies of ripping it apart. Quickstart Guide to Making Your Own Pet Food at Home As a pet owner, no doubt you want to give your dog or cat the best care possible. And caring for your pet means feeding him the best diet you can. Setting Up A New Aquarium Location of your aquariumSo, you bought your very first fish tank. And you probably already decided where to place it. How To Know What Your Cat Wants When It Talks To You - Cat Communication Explained Many people think cats are asocial, but in fact they are very social animals. They bond with other cats in their house or neighborhood, their owners, even other pets like dogs and birds. 10 Reasons Why Your Cat Loves You There are plenty of reasons why your cat loves you. Ten of the main reasons are listed below. Decorating for The Cat Owner - How to Protect Your Possessions The first thing a cat owner should know about home décor is to keep it simple. Cats are completely convinced that they are in charge, that the house and its possessions belong to them, and that they have every right to break rip or shred anything they like. The Basics of Dog Obedience Training for Your New Pet Dog obedience training starts even before you get your puppy in your home. Instead, it starts originally with the person that you purchased the dog from. Biting & Nipping Behavior Can Kill Your Dog! Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that we human suffer from as a result of contact with dogs. In the United States alone, there are between 1-2 million people bitten by dogs each year. Thinking of Getting a Lhasa Apso Dog? One of the cutest looking dogs around is the Lhasa Apso. The puppies especially are just irresistible but before one decides to purchase a Lhasa just because the kids are begging for one, there are some things that should be known about this particular breed. Im Allergic To My Cat! Having a cat allergy came as something of a surprise to me. Growing up, I had many pets - cats, dogs and birds. Mind-Set: The Second Of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With Your Horse Your mind-set, approach and way of thinking (beliefs) are critical to building trust and a lasting relationship with your horse. Your mind-set is the first thing you must scrutinize and work to understand in developing skills in horsemanship. A Dog Bit Me, Whom Can I Sue? Any person, whether a minor or adult, having been bitten or knocked down by an animal improperly or inadequately leashed or contained can sue for injuries or death caused by a bite or knock-down. You can sue the person who has or was responsible for the animal. Protecting Yourself From Online Pet Classifieds Scams! Internet Fraud, Classifieds Scams, Abuse and Suspicious Replies are world wide issues that have become widespread in targeting sellers and buyers everywhere specially on the Internet. Often this involves buyers from Nigeria, Africa, Holland and other countries. Weaning Puppies Is Only Natural Weaning puppies is a perfectly natural process. Mamma dogs have been doing it successfully for ages, so how hard can it be, right?But humans, not being dogs, can sometimes forget the natural part, and get confused about it. A Look at Discount Bird Cages Buying a pet bird can be quite an investment. After spending money on your bird and its supplies, you might be looking to save a little on the cage. West Highland WhiteTerrier Grooming - Key Considerations Whether you intend to show your Westie, or keep him for a household pet, the first key to West Highland Terrier grooming is to start while he is a puppy.Take your Westie to his first groomer appointment after he has had all of his shots, at approximately 14 weeks.
|
| home | site map | First Rate Hosting |
| © 2006 First Rate Hosting Powered By First Rate Hosting |
