Cockatiel First Aid

Cockatiels as pets are generally easy and problem free.  However, there are times when accidents happen and Cockatiel First Aid needs to be administered.

Here is some useful cockatiel first aid you can apply should your pet meet with one of the following accidents.

A foreign object that has been inhaled or eaten

Cockatiels can develop respiratory problems if they have foreign objects in their bodies.  If your bird has inhaled something, you will normally see him wheezing or battling to breathe.

If he swallowed something, he may look as though he is choking.
If you suspect your cockatiel has eaten or inhaled a foreign object, take him to your avian vet immediately.

Bleeding

If clipping your bird’s wings or claws, accidents can happen if you cut the blood feathers or file the claw down too much.

Since a large amount of blood can potentially be lost over a short period of time, immediate action is necessary.

To help stop the bleeding, you can apply styptic powder, corn starch, or flour to the damaged end of the feather or claw.

If the bleeding does not stop within 3-5 minutes seek help from an avian veterinarian.

Lead Poisoning

Cockatiels are at risk of dying of lead poisoning.  Some of the symptoms include depression, walking in circles at the bottom of the cage, regurgitation, and droppings that resemble tomato juice.  You will need to start treatment as soon as possible.

To avoid lead poisoning, keep your cockatiel away from stained glass, parrot toys that are weighted with lead, fishing hooks, and paint with lead in it, normally found in older homes.

Overheating

Cockatiels don’t have sweat glands and can overheat quite easily.  If your bird is too hot, he will show signs by taking his wings out from his body, breathing with his beak open, or rolling his tongue.

Cool your bird by putting him in front of a fan or misting him with water.  If the bird is badly overheated, contact your vet as quickly as possible.

Poisoning

Cockatiels that have ingested poison will either regurgitate, be disorientated, or have bloody stools.

They may also go red around the beak and have convulsions or even go into shock.  If you know what the bird ingested, take the poison with you and get your bird to the avian vet as quickly as possible.

Seizures

Seizures can indicate any of these conditions – lead poisoning, epilepsy, nutritional deficiencies, or heat stroke.

Your cockatiel could go into a seizure that lasts anything up to a couple of minutes.  Afterward, your cockatiel may seem dazed and sit on the floor of the cage.

First, cover the cage to make it dark and reduce the bird’s stress levels and then contact your vet for further assistance.

Shock

If your cockatiel goes into shock, it means that its circulatory system cannot move the blood supply around its body.  This is a serious condition that can lead to death if left untreated.

Birds in shock will look fluffed up, breath rapidly, and look depressed.  If you suspect shock, cover the cage and transport her to the vet as soon as possible.

In most emergency situations, you should keep the following in mind.  Keep your bird warm, reduce stress by placing it in a dark and quiet room, make sure his food is easy to reach, and lastly make sure that he is protected from further injury.

If you need to medicate your cockatiel at all, please read this article.

Hope that this article helps somebody who needs to administer Cockatiel First Aid.

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