Every parrot owner should have an Bird Emergency First Aid Kit in their home, tailored to meet the special needs of their flock.

Here's a general list of supplies to include in your kit:

• An adequately large water-proof or water resistant container to store the supplies
• Phone numbers of vet, emergency pet care, and animal poison control hotline
• A booklet on general avian first aid procedures.
• Antiseptic towelettes or hand wash to clean hands before and after handling bird
• Towel for handling birds
• Saline solution or clean water for eye and wound irrigation
• Betadine, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol (don't use alcohol on head or vent), and/or Neosporin for disinfecting minor cuts and scrapes.
• Styptic powder, corn starch or baking flour to control minor bleeding
  
• Hemostat, needle-nosed pliers, or tweezers for pulling broken blood feathers
• Nail clippers and several emery boards for trimming nails
• Scissors
• "Vet wrap," gauze rolls, gauze bandages, or other sterile material for cleaning and covering wounds.
• Masking tape, nylon stocking, or "vet wrap" for immobilizing broken wings (masking tape is not very sticky and can be removed from feathers)
• Q-tips
• 10-cc syringes for administering fluids, irrigating wounds, feeding, and so on
• Pedialyte (pay attention to expiration date and replace as needed)
• Clean, small plastic bags for stool samples or storing a sample of poisons or other substances the bird may have ingested

Remember, if your bird is wheezing, has been bitten by a cat or dog, has a broken foot/leg/wing, or very deep or open wounds TAKE IT TO A VET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Such problems and injuries need immediate treatment but trying to "fix" them yourself can make it worse.

The Alaska Bird Club • P.O. Box 101825 • Anchorage AK 99510
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alaskabirdclub/
Email: akbirdclub@yahoo.com
Voice mail: (907) 868-9070