First Aid Kit for Birds
By Marian Cochran

In an emergency, if a bird is really sick or injured, is no time to be running to the store! This month, I went through the pile of stuff I've accumulated, and decided to organize it into a first aid kit for the birds. Here are things I'm putting in mine.

• antibiotics for bacterial infections, like Amtyl - and probiotics to restore balance with good bacteria
• band cutters
• bandaging gauze & Q tips
• calcium for egg-bound hens: neocalglucon or Calcivet (calcium, magnesium, and D3 for calcium absorption)
• campho-phenique (1 part) and Vaseline (2 parts) for rough legs, stored in closed vial.
• diarrhea: poppy seeds
• E. coli infections, like sweating hen: Amifur
• eyedropper
• heating pad/hospital cage
• hemostat for pulling feathers, and untangling things
• eyes: artificial tears, and terramycine ophthalmic ointment (sold for dogs)
• electrolytes: liquid Pedialyte or powdered Spark
• gloves: latex and/or rubber
• lice/mite treatment
  • Ivermectin & Scatt kill both internal & external,
  • Frontline & Avian Insect Liquidate kill only external, and are less toxic
• magnifying glass
• nail and beak clippers
• net - one made for birds
• rubbing alcohol
• salve and wash for scrapes, cuts or sores: neosporin, polysporin, betadine, hydrogen Peroxide, or Hibitane
• soft foods like couscous pasta for going light, powdered hand-feeding or nestling food for weak or recovering birds, and Polyaid supplement
• styptic powder to stop bleeding. Silver nitrate (like Kwik Stop) is OK for nails. but use "tissue glue" for healing blood feathers
• Vet's phone number, and phone of few club experts.
• wire cutters for cage bars
• wormer like Worm-Out

Right along with the first aid kit, I'm putting a hospital cage. It helps a bird to be isolated in a quiet place, not too bright. Sometimes it's hard for a sick bird to fly, so I'll put in a low perch, and get some shallow food dishes to put low or on the floor. But most important is the heat. Some things that are good for heat are:

• heating pad
• reptile rock heaters
• ceramic bulb
• red or black light bulbs (heating lamp bulbs can hurt the bird's eyes

Some all-purpose things I can get from the local pet stores, pharmacies, and health food store. Two of my favorite sources for the bird-specific medicine and tools are:

• Ella Galik, distributor for Avian Medicine Chest (916)366-0195
• Birds 2 Grow (Carol Heesen) PO Box 752 Riverside, CA 95367 (209)869-5900 http://www.birds2grow.com/

Copyright © 1999 Marian Cochran. All rights reserved.

Return to Articles Index