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Every parrot owner should have an Bird Emergency First Aid Kit in their home, tailored to meet the special
needs of their flock.
Here's a general list of supplies to include in your kit:
- An adequately large water-proof or water resistant container to store the supplies
- Phone numbers of vet, emergency pet care, and animal poison control hotline
- A booklet on general avian first aid procedures.
- Antiseptic towelettes or hand wash to clean hands before and after handling bird
- Towel for handling birds
- Saline solution or clean water for eye and wound irrigation
- Betadine, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol (don't use alcohol on head or vent), and/or Neosporin for disinfecting minor cuts and scrapes.
- Styptic powder, corn starch or baking flour to control minor bleeding
- Hemostat, needle-nosed pliers, or tweezers for pulling broken blood feathers
- Nail clippers and several emery boards for trimming nails
- Scissors
- "Vet wrap," gauze rolls, gauze bandages, or other sterile material for cleaning and covering wounds.
- Masking tape, nylon stocking, or "vet wrap" for immobilizing broken wings (masking tape is not very sticky and can be removed from feathers)
- Q-tips
- 10-cc syringes for administering fluids, irrigating wounds, feeding, and so on
- Pedialyte (pay attention to expiration date and replace as needed)
- Clean, small plastic bags for stool samples or storing a sample of poisons or other substances the bird may have ingested
Remember, if your bird is wheezing, has been bitten by a cat or dog, has a broken foot/leg/wing,
or very deep or open wounds TAKE IT TO A VET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Such problems and injuries need immediate treatment
but trying to "fix" them yourself can make it worse.
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