There are a number of items we should have on hand in the event of an emergency when a vet is not readily available, or for a very short-term "fix" until you can get your baby seen. Be advised, this is not a post to suggest you try to "vet" your bird yourself, but in the event of bleeding, or a broken blood feather, these things can be life savers.

Some things I feel are important to have on hand are as follows:

Kwik Stop - this is great for toenails or broken blood feathers; however, KWIC STOP OR ANY OTHER AVIAN STIPTIC PRODUCT SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO SKIN

Corn starch - corn starch helps stop bleeding and can be applied to the skin; however, remember that it is a food product and will grow bacteria. Once you are certain the bleeding has stopped and the blood has clotted, it should be rinsed thoroughly.

Neopsporin - this is a great way ward off infection with a small wound. If the wound is not one that requires vet care, a very small amound of Neosporin applied for about five days is helpful.

Vet wrap - you must be careful using this product so as not to wrap the wound (for instance, a toe or foot) too tight. This can cause more damage than good, but is great if the bird is picking at the wound.


Anyone have any additional suggestions?

GREAT thread Kathie! Here is my list of things that "should" be in my first aid kit. I haven't rounded all of them up yet...

This was compiled by several people:

Silvadine: This is used to force wounds to heal and to seal burns
styptic powder: NO STYPTIC POWDER. It is a chemical cauterizer. Use corn starch instead to stop a blood feather.
cornstarch or flour: Pack into a blood feather shaft to start a clot
latex gloves: to keep your germs off of a sick bird and vice versa
birdie eye/skin wash: to rinse out wound or eye
sterile gauze: To secure a splint or wrap a wound
scissors: to cut gauze. Keep a second pair for wing trims.
forceps: to remove things caught in a mouth or tiny things too small for fingers
hemostats or needle nosed pliers: to remove a blood feather
iodine antiseptic swabs: to seal and clean wound
antiseptic towelettes: to clean a wound
gauze pads: to collect bodily fluids usually post surgery
cotton swabs: to clean out areas around the vent, mouth and eyes
adhesive tape (cloth kind): to secure a splint or secure a gauze pad
hand wipes: to clean your hands
betadyne: To clean a wound. Especially good if added to warm water to soak a sore foot or toe injury. Also good for cleaning HUMAN wounds.
vet wrap: To secure a collar, wrap a perch, hold a splint
ace bandages: to protect YOUR arms
Neosporin cream: antibiotic cream to dress a wound. Don't use ointment.
nail clippers (two different sizes large and small): to clip nails. Clean after every use.
gram scale: to chart the progress of a birds weight.
Restraint: to keep a toweled bird restrained and free up both hands to administer meds, clip nails, administer shots
syringes (size from 1 cc to 50 cc): for administering meds
Prep H cream: to reduce swelling and ease pain from an injury.
Hot water bottle: to keep a sick bird warm
Children's Benadryl: antihistamine. Good for bee stings and other allergic reactions
splints: to stabilize legs and wings
foam insulation tubing: to make collar to prevent plucking and mutilation
Emergency vet information: Keep all vets within one hour and at least 2 avian vets.
Bird's Medical records: Take them with you to the vet
Ophthalmic drops: eye drops
derma-clens cream: Skin cleaner
Throat and vent swabs: to collect samples
blood collection cards and tubes: to collect samples for labwork
Avian biotech forms (for disease testing): submission cards for labwork
Heating pad: to heat an ICU as a bird convalesces
sterile hand and bath towels that are in a vacuum sealed bag: to restrain and clean a bird
Mini flash light: to look down throats and in the vents
Tweezers: to remove splinters
Wire cutters: to remove O rings and chains
Instant Ounces: to add calories to sick and recovering birds diets
Lactated Ringers Solution and needle syringe: to administer Sub Q injections in cases of dehydration
Sterile water: for cleaning and mixing of meds
Metamucil: add to soaked bread to help with kelation if your bird ingests something toxic
Pepto Bismal: to administer to birds with digestive disorder.
Ivory soap or Parafin wax: to pack a blood feather

Thanks, Camille. Are we sure all those products are okay? I was good untll I came upon the Metamucil, Pepto Bismol, Benadryl and Preparation H. Can you educate me on these items? (I know, I am anal).

Kathie, I'm really not sure about any of those you listed except for Prep H. I would never give those to my birds unless recommended by an avian vet. I DO know that the Prep H on that list is for US if we get bitten by our birds. I never thought of using it on our birds until either yesterday or the day before when somebody on here said they have used it on their birds before and it works great for reducing swelling. I'll try to find that thread...

If I am not mistaken our Avian Vet has mentioned the use of Preparation H as a mild anti-inflammatory & itch reliever. But cautioned its use for prolonged periods of time. (Not sure how long is to long) Again, I don't recall the details, but I have also heard of Benedryl being used in small amounts for birds. I maybe mistaken though. Maybe Winged Victory will chime in here soon, I know he has much more knowledge than I do on this subject.

As for Metamucil and Pepto Bismol. I know nothing about there use for birds.

I will also add to the list "Aloe Leaves"

Stirlings foot

Post #23 Kathie!

Okay, so when I put this list together, I will be certain to note that certain things are for US to use and others are for the birds. Perhaps I will leave out the Pepto and Metamucil, as I wouldn't want someone giving their bird a slug of Pepto if it has diarrhea. Okay with you?

A great way to apply cornstarch is to get one of those plastic mustard or ketchup bottles and put your cornstarch in it. When you are trying to apply it---this makes it much easier. I have a tackle box that has emergency items in it such as vet wrap, cotton, gauze, qwik stop, hemostats and scissors.

I keep it in my bird room closet.

i put together an emergency kit for valo and keep it in a box close to his cage.... and knowing myself in stress situations (aka confused) i added a section to valo's binder that contains procedures for most common emergencies (right behind the section with phone numbers and directions to avian vets in the area)

Its not Pepto, but when Paco was having all the issues with his GI tract my avian vet prescribed Keopectate, regular flavor and formula to give him 2x's daily. She said it would mimic the minerals and substances he would be getting if he were at a clay lick in his natural habitat- it would also cool his GI tract down and help with the inflimmation. I gotta tell you, it worked.

Another thing I would personally add to the list- liquid bandaids. Not to be used on the skin or feathers, but on a wound that has stopped bleeding and needs to be sealed, like the beak. I had a lovebird once who got beat up by her mate real bad... broke the end of her beak off. I stopped the bleeding with flour and as a preventative measure sealed the end of her beak with the liquid bandage- it worked. Took her out every day to reapply and she never reopened the wound and it healed nicely. It does sting like a SOB on human cuts, so please use with extreme caution.

Things I always have on hand are carriers, in the house. I have collapsible carriers under my bed that can be set up in 2 minutes to transport a sick bird. I also always have a clean supply of towels, syringes, ACV (for disinfecting syringes), pain reliver- Metacam, and handfeeding formula. I have Harrisons in the fridge right now, but have used Kaytee and a high potetency formula from the vet. I recommend everyone ALWAYS have handfeeding formula in the house... whatever age bird you have. I have used it more then once on a sick bird. Also, for the bird that does not like to take meds, a good supply of syringes, and tongue depressors.

Another thing I recommend is perches that can be easily disinfected. I have a couple of Poly perches I use when the birds are sick... they are a hard, colorful plastic that have been sanded and grooved so the birds can get a good grip on them. They are made so they can be thrown in the dishwasher and disinfected completely. Much easier to deal with then wood or rope perches, where germs can leach into the pores of the wood and cotton.