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    		• Parrot first Aid

    Broken blood feather
    Broken blood feathers can cause what appears to be a lot of blood loss. They are relatively easy to treat. At home, pack the broken shaft with styptic powder or flour. Apply minimal pressure with a gauze or telfa pad while traveling to the veterinarian. At the clinic, the veterinarian will probably pull out the bleeding shaft. If you have been shown how to do this, it is something you can do at home. The bleeding stops after the shaft has been removed.

    On occasion, a blood feather will break and start to bleed, or it may accidentally be cut when the wings are trimmed. In a healthy bird, a broken blood feather is usually not a life-threatening emergency if appropriate steps are taken. Even if the bleeding stops quickly, however, you may wish to have your bird examined by a veterinarian, and have the broken blood feather removed. Even if the blood has clotted, broken blood feathers are often removed so they cannot be reinjured and consequently bleed. If a broken blood feather is removed, a new one will start to grow.

    If a blood feather is repeatedly injured, continues to bleed, or the bird has a medical condition, such as liver disease which can affect the clotting ability of the blood, a significant amount of blood may be lost. This is an emergency situation, and action must be taken quickly.

    If there is bleeding from a blood feather:

    • Restrain the bird.
    • Apply pressure to the broken shaft with gauze or a cotton ball. Cornstarch, flour, or preferably a commercial "quick-stop" powder can be applied with the cotton ball to help the blood to clot..
    • If the feather continues to bleed, it will need to be removed. If you have not done this before, it would be wise to call and talk to your veterinarian who can walk you through it. Removing the feather is best done using a tweezers (for a small bird), hemostat, or needle-nosed pliers. The feather should be gripped close to the skin and pulled quickly and firmly in the direction the feather is growing. Pulling out a feather will cause pain, so be sure you firmly, but carefully, hold the bird. If it is a wing feather, support and immobilize the wing to keep it steady during the procedure. Do not jerk on or twist the feather.
      • .
    • If bleeding occurs from the follicle after the feather has been removed, continue to apply pressure to the area for several minutes..
    • When the bleeding has stopped, return the bird to his cage, keep him quite, and monitor him for bleeding for an hour..
    • If the feather broke off below the skin line, the feather cannot be totally removed, or pressure has not stopped the bleeding, the bird should be immediately examined by a veterinarian..
    • Also consult your veterinarian immediately if your bird appears weak or there is excessive blood loss..

      • Cat or dog attack
      Handle the bird quietly and calmly to avoid adding to its stress. Keep the bird quiet and warm (to help prevent or treat shock).

      If the wound is bleeding, apply direct pressure with a gauze, but do not restrict breathing. Transport the bird to your veterinarian immediately.

      Check for broken bones. If a wing is broken, wrap both wings loosely to the body with gauze and then tape to prevent further injury from flapping the wing. Do not tape tightly or the bird will not be able to breathe. If other bones (skull, legs) are broken, do not attempt to treat at home as further damage may occur.

      Poisoning
      If the toxin is inhaled such as fumes from a Teflon pan, remove the bird to a well-ventilated area.

      If the bird had external contact with a poison such as insect sprays, bathe the bird immediately.

      If the bird ingested a toxin such as a plant or a household cleaner, get the name of the toxin. Your veterinarian needs to be called immediately in all cases of possible poisoning. Any time poisoning is thought to be a possibility, the veterinarian or Poison Control Center will need to know the name of the toxin, the active ingredients, the weight of the bird, how much was consumed, when the exposure occurred, and any symptoms the bird currently is showing.

      Summary
      Any time an injury or illness occurs, the first thing to do is to prevent further injury. Then consult with your veterinarian or emergency clinic to determine what type of further treatment is necessary. Be prepared for emergencies by having a first aid kit for your bird readily available.

      Bird First Aid Kits should include:

      • Bird Kit Case
      • Styptic Powder to stop toenail/feather bleeding
      • Latex Gloves
      • Eye and Skin Wash for flushing eyes or wounds
      • Sterile Gauze Bandage to wrap wounds
      • Scissors for trimming feathers and cutting bandage tape
      • Pair of 5" Locking Forceps for removing broken blood feathers
      • PVP Iodine Antiseptic Swabs for sterilization
      • Antiseptic Towelettes for cleaning wounds and hands
      • 2" x 2" Gauze Pads to cover wounds
      • Cotton Swabs for application of oinment and creams
      • 1/2" x 2 1/2 yd. Adhesive Tape to secure bandage
      • Hand Wipe for personal cleanup
      • Bird Emergency Card

      Credit for this page goes to http://www.peteducation.com/ except first aid kit



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