Bird Health and Safety
- National Pet Recovery Hotline: 1 800 984 8638. Whenever your pet is lost, this is one of your first places of help to report your missing friend. This 24-hour service will help you to locate your pet. Lost pets usually end up in an animal shelter before the county or city steps in. Members pay $25.00 for the lifetime of the pet or $55.00 to find the pet for free and non-members pay $50 and above.
By Marc Johnson, Foster Parrots, Ltd. Used with permission
Your shelter may occasionally get calls to assist someone with locating a parrot who has become lost. The following is information intended to help with recovering an escaped bird. Many escaped birds are kept clipped and escape when one or two flight feathers grow in unnoticed by the guardian. Sometimes a door or window is carelessly left ajar and the bird gets out. Often the caregiver may forget the bird is on his shoulder when collecting the mail, the daily paper or greeting the Avon lady. Other people may bring their birds outside on purpose, with the intention of getting them some fresh air and sunshine, without knowing that birds can fly easily should a sudden gust of wind offer the lift needed despite clipped wings. . An escaped bird often will not even recognize his or her own home and some suggest that it is wise to acclimatize your bird to their yard and outdoor surroundings.
There are many problems which you should be prepared for. We do not intend to list them all. Any time a bird has any of the following symptoms: stops eating, sits fluffed on the bottom of his cage, is bleeding from mouth or vent, has uncontrollable bleeding, has runny eyes, can’t breathe, sneezes with discharge, has diarrhea, has constipation (straining to defecate), has loss of balance, depression, lethargy... do not wait! Take your bird to the veterinarian!
By Sybil Erden and Carol Highfill, Phoenix, AZ - July 21, 1996
One of the most important items a responsible bird owner must have is a First Aid kit just for your bird. This is true whether you have one bird, or are a breeder caring for a hundred of more avians. Having a well stocked avian First Aid kit handy can prepare you to handle minor emergencies yourself or enable you to stabilize your bird’s condition while getting your bird to your avian veterinarian. In an emergency you will not have the time to run around your home getting the necessary materials or equipment, so this kit can be a life saver. Decide before hand where you wish to keep the First Aid kit. The kitchen, bathroom or the bird room are good locations. Wherever you place it, keep it there.
By Heike Ewing, aka Hyacinth the Dragoness, "The Mac Doctor" email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Check the "find an avian vet" web pages and see if your prospective vet is listed and recommended. (1 point)
- Is the prospect a member of the AAV? (Association of Avian Veterinarians? (1 point)
- Ask the prospect to provide you with some (at least 3) references from -avian- clients. Call them! (2 points per good reference)
