FIRST AID KIT

BE PREPARED TO SAVE YOUR PARROT'S LIFE


Thinking positively is healthy, but thinking that you never will have a bird emergency is not healthy for your parrot. Sooner or later, Murphy's Law may catch up with you and you must be ready. Once an emergency occurs, it is too late to prepare. Start now to assemble your first aid kit! Below you will find a suggestion for two books to be kept in the kit, and links to comprehensive lists of items to include in your kit. There are lists of poisonous plants and trees and lists of hazardous household substances which you also should print out and keep in your first aid kit. Otherwise, there are three addresses to order a ready-made first aid kit. If you order a kit, check it thoroughly when you receive it and add to it any additional items or reading material that you consider important. A first aid kit can literally mean the difference in life and death for your parrot.

INFORMATION AND ITEMS FOR AN AVIAN FIRST AID KIT

Recommended books for reading and to be kept in first aid kit:


   

Safety and Emergencies--comprehensive list of links




Here are the essential items for a first aid emergency kit:
If you have a brooder, obviously you will not need the aquarium nor the thermometer. If not, and if you don't want to acquire an Eclectus-size aquarium, there are many other containers that can be used for a hospital cage, such as a smaller sleeping cage or a temporary cardboard box.
Here are the essential items for a first aid emergency kit:

  • Veterinarian phone numbers
  • Poison control hotline number
  • Two thick towels
  • Aquarium large enough for an adult Eclectus to rest comfortably
  • Thermometer to monitor aquarium temperature
  • Heating pad (all sick or traumatized birds must be kept warm)

    SUPPLIES
  • Naturade Aloe Detoxifying formula (emergency treatment of unknown illnesses)
  • Aloe vera gel (multiple uses including pain relief for bird bites)
  • Charcoal capsules (to absorb toxins -- only on advice of poison control)
  • Grapefruit Seed Extract (disinfectant anti-microbial)
  • Corn starch (for broken nails and feathers--Quik Stop causes soft tissue damage)
  • Citra-Solv (to remove sticky adhesives from feathers)
  • Sterile saline solution (for flushing eyes and cleaning wounds)
  • Betadine or Chlorhexidine (for disinfecting hands and wounds)
  • Infalyte or Pedialyte (for rehydrating sick bird)
  • Distilled water (for mixing formula, cleaning, etc.)
  • Gauze swabs & bandages
  • *Formula (must be kept in freezer for emergency use)

    TOOLS
  • Nail clippers
  • Nail file
  • Small scissors
  • Small, bright pen light
  • Magnifying glass
  • Masking tape 1/2 inch (for stabilizing broken wings, etc. on vet advice)
  • Tweezers
  • Needle nose pliers or hemostat (to remove broken blood feathers, etc.)
  • Wire cutters (for entanglement in cage or other wire)
  • Feeding syringe, cup & spoon (for emergency feeding of sick birds)

SETTING UP YOUR FIRST AID KIT
Laminate vet numbers or place in a small plastic bag
Line the aquarium with a thick towel
Place the SUPPLIES (except for formula) in a transparent basket
Stand the TOOLS in a see-through vase or basket Fit both supplies and tools into the aquarium
Place heating pad on top
Cover aquarium, supplies, and tools with the second towel

IN AN EMERGENCY
Use towel cover to restrain a sick or injured bird.
Plug in the heating pad and place it UNDER the aquarium.
Remove the baskets of supplies and tools.
Treat the bird and place bird on towel in the aquarium.
Monitor the bird and thermometer for comfortable temperature.
Call your vet for further instructions.
This emergency kit can be activated within minutes of an accident or illness.
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