Accidents

Keeping your house safe for birds is the best way to avoid disaster.

Birds are fragile animals. They weigh very little and have delicate bones. They have a minimal blood supply, and even a small injury resulting in significant blood loss can cause death if the blood flow is not stopped immediately. Unclipped birds can become airborne at any given time, once outside the cage. Fully flighted birds are more likely to have accidents (or fly away, never to be seen again) than birds with clipped primary wing feathers. However, even clipped birds can, occasionally, pick up enough of an updraft to glide into a window, mirror or ceiling fan.

The best way to deal with accidents in the home is to prevent them from happening in the first place. If you allow your bird playtime outside its cage, turn off the ceiling fan, draw the curtains on your windows, and cover your mirrors with blankets/sheets/towels. Do not allow your birds free range of your house. Birds are excellent at finding trouble, and hazards exist at every turn. Not only could you possibly step or sit on your feathered friend, easily crushing it to death, but your bird could ingest a toxic substance or item, be injured by another family pet, drown in an open toilet, receive burns by landing on a lit stovetop or boiling pot of water, or succumb to any of a number of other dangers.

Do not wait until you need the immediate help of an avian vet before you locate one in your area. If you haven't already, go out today and find a veterinarian with experience treating exotic birds.

Loss of Appetite

This condition may indicate serious illness.

Birds need a great deal of food daily to survive. Their metabolism is very high; therefore, they must intake regular amounts of food. If you notice that your bird is not eating or if you can feel your bird's keel bone (the bone between its breast that runs vertically from its upper chest to it stomach area) very easily, take your bird to your veterinarian as soon as possible. Loss of appetite can be a symptom of parasites (especially Trichomonas), psittacine proventricular dilatation syndrome (PPDS, also known as macaw wasting disease), a fungal infection or any number of other illnesses.

Animal Bites

Bites can lead to serious illness in birds.

Even more lethal than the actual bite itself is the bacteria transferred from the animal to the bird in the puncture bite wound. This is especially true of cat bites. Pasteurella multocida is the bacterium to which birds are very sensitive. Birds that have been bitten (especially by cats) must be taken to the veterinarian immediately for treatment, which includes a strenuous antibiotic therapy.

Broken Blood Feathers and Bleeding

Bleeding must be stopped immediately to prevent rapid death.

Birds have a relatively small supply of circulating blood in their bodies. If you notice any blood on the bird or on its cage or surrounding area, try to locate the cause of the bleeding immediately. Unchecked blood loss can result in death in a fairly short amount of time. Handle the bleeding bird carefully so as not to cause it to struggle and panic, which could result in more blood loss.

Once the location of the bleeding has been determined, try to stop the blood flow immediately. If the bird is bleeding from the beak (from flying into glass or another object), apply styptic powder or any cauterizing agent (cornstarch, flour, baking soda) by packing it heavily onto the bleeding area. Be very careful! If the bird is bleeding from a broken toenail, follow the same procedure as for the beak. If the bird is bleeding from a broken blood feather (a developing feather that still has a flowing blood supply in the shaft), pull the feather immediately with a pair of needle-nosed pliers. Grab the feather firmly at the base of the quill, and pull the feather in the growth direction. If the area continues to bleed after the feather has been pulled, apply a cauterizing agent to stop the blood flow. Keep a close eye on the area of injury even after the bleeding has stopped to ensure that the wound does not open again.

Broken or Fractured Wings and Legs

Birds with broken limbs need immediate veterinary care.

If your bird has broken or fractured a limb, gently and loosely wrap the bird in a towel to immobilize it and to prevent it from causing further damage. Keep the bird calm, and take it to the veterinarian immediately.

Burns

Bird-proof your kitchen to avoid serious injury.

A bird can burn itself easily if it is allowed free flight in the kitchen. Many burns occur when a bird lands on a hot stovetop, in a pan of hot oil or other food, or in a pot of boiling water. Burning can occur from direct contact with chemicals such as acids (i.e., hydrochloric acid) or bases (chlorine bleach). Also keep your birds away from electrical cords and outlets, since these, too, can cause a bird to burn its tongue if it is allowed to chew on a plugged-in cord.

If your bird has burned itself, keep it calm and warm--it could go into shock. Flush the burned area with cool water (grease burns should be sprinkled with flour before being flushed with cool water; this makes rinsing the grease away from the skin easier); apply a thin coat of baking soda paste to acid burns; base burns can be treated with vinegar. If the burn is severe or doesn't heal quickly, take your bird to your veterinarian for prompt treatment.

Diarrhea

A bird with diarrhea must be kept well hydrated.

Overconsumption of fresh fruits or vegetables may cause diarrhea in birds, as may stress. Diarrhea that persists, however, may be a symptom of some other illness, including GI tract problems, liver disease or parasitic gastroenteritis. The feces will appear watery and unformed. It's very important to make sure the bird experiencing diarrhea does not become dehydrated. If your bird's diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, consult your avian veterinarian.

Egg Binding

Even non-breeding female birds can lay eggs.

Just because a female bird is kept as a single pet doesn't mean that it won't occasionally lay an egg (infertile, of course). Sometimes, especially with young females or females with insufficient calcium in their diets, an egg may become stuck in the bird's pelvic area. The egg-bound hen may exhibit signs of swelling around the abdomen, fluffed-up feathers, straining, sitting low on the perch and/or weakness.

If your pet bird becomes egg bound, handle her very gently; crushing the egg in her will cause death. It is important to place the bird in a humid environment as soon as possible to promote passing of the egg. This can be accomplished by putting the bird in a bathroom where the shower has been running to produce steam, or by placing a steam vaporizer near the bird's cage. If the egg has not passed within a few hours, take the bird to the avian vet immediately.

The Avian First Aid Kit

Be prepared for small emergencies.

Forearmed is forewarned when it comes to avian emergencies. Prepare a first aid kit expressly for your pet bird. Some items to include are: a cauterizing agent (such as Kwik-Stop, flour or cornstarch), scissors, gauze, hemostats, needle-nosed pliers, a small hospital cage (an aquarium or brooder), a heating pad, a towel, extra bird food and bottled water.

Frostbite

Treatment is gradual warming.

The toes and feet are the areas most prone to frostbite on birds. Pale, dry, avascular skin areas are indicative of recent frostbite. Untreated frozen tissue may become necrotic, often resulting in amputation. Treatment consists of submerging the frostbitten area in gradually warmer circulating water for 20 to 30 minutes. If the area still seems symptomatic of frostbite, contact your veterinarian.

Head Trauma

Head injuries should always be taken seriously.

A bird that flies into a window, mirror or ceiling fan can sustain severe head trauma. Although birds can recover from this type of injury, the bird may be in shock and should be examined by an avian veterinarian. In extreme cases, neurological damage can occur, so do not take head injuries lightly.

Lethargy

A sluggish bird may be very sick.

If your bird is lethargic (sluggish, inactive and/or resting on the bottom of its cage, usually accompanied by a fluffed-up appearance), it may be in the late stages of a serious illness. Seek veterinary assistance immediately.

Hyperthermia (Overheating)

The best way to conquer hyperthermia is to avoid the possibility of it occurring in the first place.

Do not place your bird's cage in an area that receives direct sunlight (especially by a window that reflects the heat of the afternoon sun), and do not leave your pet bird in a parked car in the sun (never leave your bird in a parked car--period). The overheated bird will pant (birds do not sweat), hold its wings away from its body and appear "slick" (hold its feathers tight to its body). It may also drink large amounts of water if available. Heatstroke may occur, resulting in permanent brain damage.

Signs of heatstroke include the above and also the following: weakness, a dazed expression, dry skin and, ultimately, collapse. If your bird is exhibiting any or all of the above signs, try to reduce its body temperature immediately by spraying it with cool water, offering it water to drink or by placing its feet in a cool bath. Shock may occur, so keep the bird calm, and take it to the veterinarian immediately.

Poisoning

Many household substances and plants are toxic to birds.

A pet bird can be poisoned either through inhaling or through ingesting a toxic substance. Airborne toxins include aerosol sprays (i.e., insect repellent), cleaning products, toxic glues, overheated nonstick-coated appliances, smoke, etc. Commonly ingested poisons can include, but are not limited to, toxic plants (i.e., bulb plants, azaleas, holly, English ivy, etc.), items that contain lead (i.e., solder, old paint, leaded glass or framed doors/windows, fishing weights, costume jewelry, antiques, etc.), household cleaners, antifreeze, perfume, mothballs, weed killer, silver/brass polish, etc.

Poisoning is very serious. The poisoned bird may vomit, have difficulty breathing, have a seizure or fall into a coma. If your bird has gotten a poisonous substance into its eyes, wash them out immediately with slightly warm water. If the bird's skin has been in contact with a toxic substance, flush it with large amounts of water. Call your veterinarian immediately to let him know you are on your way in with a poisoned bird. Since the bird may go into shock, keep it quiet and calm until you reach the vet's office. If your vet is not available, call your local poison-control center for assistance on dealing with your bird.

Respiratory Problems

Symptoms may indicate serious illness.

A bird that is having difficulty breathing is a bird in serious trouble. Signs of respiratory problems include labored breathing, tail bobbing, a clicking noise when the bird breathes, wheezing, sneezing, stretching out the neck and gasping for air (often looks like yawning), breathing with its beak open, scratching at its nostrils constantly, nasal discharge and swollen eyes.

If you notice your bird exhibiting any or all of these symptoms, take it to the veterinarian immediately. Respiratory distress is indicative of such serious problems as upper-respiratory infection and aspergillosis, a difficult-to-treat fungal infection that more often than not results in death if not caught and treated in the very early stages.

Convulsions and Seizures

Several factors can cause seizures.

Convulsions or seizures may occur as spasms of the muscles in the wings, legs, head and body. Seizures may vary in characteristics. A minor seizure may be nothing more than a brief inability to perch, while a grand mal seizure may involve extreme motor activity. If your bird experiences convulsions, keep it calm and quiet. Make sure that it is not in any danger of injuring itself on any hard object. Call your veterinarian immediately.

Seizures may be indicative of such problems as poisoning, idiopathic epilepsy, infectious diseases, hyperthermia and metabolic disorders.

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