First Aid For Cockatiels

Is There Such A Thing As First Aid For Cockatiels?

Sometimes your pet cockatiel will get itself into a situation where quick action is required to prevent further injury or even death.  Here is some basic first aid for cockatiels.

These are techniques and aids that you should keep should the situation arise for your cockatiel to need first aid.

It is a good idea to assemble a bird’s first aid kit to keep on hand for your cockatiel.

Here is a list of things to include.

• A heat lamp, a heating pad or other heat source.
• Some appropriately sized towels for catching and holding your cockatiel.
• A note pad and pencil to make notes if required.
• Cornstarch or styptic powder to stop bleeding.
• Nail clippers, file and blunt-nosed scissors.
• Needle nosed pliers to pull blood feathers if need be.
• Blunt nosed tweezers.
• Disinfectant solution.
• Pedialyte for sick birds.
• Hydrogen peroxide.
• Eye irrigation solution.
• An eyedropper and plastic syringes.
• Penlight or small torch.
• Alcohol pads for a quick sterilization.
• Surgical tape for binding broken wings or legs.
• Visine Eye Drops to wash wounds, not the eyes of the bird.
• A book like the one below to use as a reference.

Keep all the above supplies handy in one box altogether, and this will eliminate having to search for supplies when an emergency arises.  This box should travel with your bird, whether it is to a bird show or the pet sitters.

If there happens to be a medical emergency, here are some steps to follow.

• Firstly keep as calm as possible.
• Next stop the bleeding.
• Keep the bird warm and avoid handling it overly much.

Once the above is accomplished, call your veterinarian for further instructions.  Describe what happened to your pet in as much detail as possible.  Listen carefully to the instructions given, write them down and then follow them.  Finally, transport your pet if need be to the vet as quickly and safely as you can.

Here are some examples of medical emergencies that may arise with your cockatiel.  In all these cases, the cockatiel will need to be taken to the vet.

1.    Injury to the Beak

If the bird injures its beak and it is bleeding or a portion of it has broken off, take it to the vet.

2.    Animal bites

If another animal bites your pet cockatiel, take it to the vet, as infection can set in from the saliva on the other animal’s teeth.  The internal organs will also need to be checked out, as they could be damaged with a vicious bite.

3.    Bleeding

If a cockatiel loses more than 20% of its blood it will be in danger.  For external bleeding apply direct pressure to the wound.

Once the bleeding stops watch your cockatiel for signs of shock and to make sure the bleeding doesn’t start up again.

If a blood feather is broken by accident, the only way to stop the bleeding would be to pull the feather out with flat-nosed pliers.

For more on cockatiel health and other emergencies, click here.