As a bird owner, you need to know how to identify an emergency situation and take care of it until you can reach professional help. For your bird, this can mean the difference between life and death. It can also help you to avoid needless worry and confusion.

Contrary to popular belief, a bird will not die from losing a couple of drops of blood. However, a bird can bleed to death very quickly due to their small size, so emergency first aid is essential. Remember that illness can also be an emergency. Often a bird will be sick for quite a long time without displaying obvious symptoms, so when his condition deteriorates, it can do so very quickly.

Whenever you recognize your bird is sick or injured, you must get to a qualified avian veterinarian as soon as possible. Here are some guidelines to help you to understand what to do.

Emergency Situations

All of the following should be considered emergency situations.

• Bleeding
• Illness
• Animal attacks
• Flying into objects, ceiling fans and panes of glass
• Getting chilled
• Egg binding
• Diarrhea/Violent vomiting
• Broken wings/Trauma
• Poisoning/Inhalation of toxic vapors
• Seizures
• Burns

Hospital Cage

A hospital cage is a necessity for those who adore birds and keep them as pets. Hospital cages come in a variety of designs, but all should include an internal heat source, thermostat and thermometer. A hospital cage can save your bird's life by providing a way to keep him warm while traveling to the veterinarian. Sick birds should be warmed without delay, since chilling can worsen a condition. Disinfect the hospital cage after each use. If you don't have a hospital cage, put a warm water bottle in the cage for the trip to the veterinarian. Try to keep the cage at a temperature of 85 to 90 degrees F.

Basic First Aid

Bleeding: Restrain your bird by wrapping him in a soft cloth. Determine the site of the bleeding.

Bleeding from a Feather: Pull out the feather at its base with pliers and apply clean cotton or gauze to the empty follicle with light pressure to stop the bleeding. If the area continues to bleed, apply light pressure and immediately go the your veterinarians office.

Bleeding from the Toenail: Apply a styptic pencil, flour or cornstarch. Press firmly on the toenail until the bleeding stops, which could be five to 10 minutes.

Bleeding from the Tongue: Take your bird to the veterinary hospital immediately.

Breathing Trouble: Check the nostrils for blockage. If the nostrils are externally blocked, wipe gently with a cotton ball dipped in warm water to relieve the blockage. Call your veterinarian to see if they have any specific instructions. If your bird is having trouble breathing for any other reason, immediately go to the veterinary hospital.

Broken Beak: Restrain your bird by wrapping him in a soft cloth or light towel. Gently wipe the area with gauze. Call your veterinarian.

Burns: Run cold water over the affected area. Call your veterinarian.

Cat Attacks or other Traumatic Injuries: If an animal is attacking your bird, carefully dislodge the bird from the animal's mouth. Check for hemorrhaging and bleeding. If there is bleeding, apply first aid.

Check for broken bones. If you suspect a bone is broken, gently restrain your bird but do not attempt treatment because it could cause further injury. Take the bird to your veterinarian. The bacteria from an animal's mouth can cause a severe infection in a bird if left untreated.

Chilling: If your bird is sick or injured, it is urgent you provide a warm environment by putting him in a separate enclosure and heating his environment to between 85 and 90 degrees F. Put a thermometer in the enclosure to monitor the temperature. Be certain to take your bird to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Method 1: Set a heating pad to low and place the cage on the heating pad. Cover the cage with a light blanket or other covering.

Method 2: Warm up the bathroom or another small room to a temperature of 85 to 95 degrees F by putting a space heater in the room. Be sure to use a thermometer placed near the cage to monitor the temperature. You don't want the temperature to get too high.

Method 3: Place a heat lamp near the cage. This method works especially well for larger birds. One advantage is the bird can move away from the heat source if it gets too hot.

Method 4: Put your bird in a hospital cage. Set and monitor the temperature.

Once your bird is well, you'll need to reacclimatize him gradually, especially in the winter months.

Egg Binding: This is a very serious condition that should not be treated at home as time is of the essence. Take your bird to the veterinarian for treatment.

Limb Fractures: Do not attempt to fix a broken limb on your own. Take your bird to your veterinarian.

Wing Fractures: Do not attempt to fix a broken wing on your own. Take your bird to your veterinarian.

Skull Fractures: Take the bird to the veterinary hospital without delay.

Illness: Move the bird to a warm, darkened, enclosed area. Move food and water (Pedialyte or Gatorade) close to your bird in order to encourage eating and drinking. Sick birds will often eat treats such as warm corn kernels, baby rice or oatmeal mixed with warm water.

Add a little extra calcium to your bird's diet to help prevent weakness and seizures. Take your bird to the veterinarian for treatment.

Inhaled Toxin: If the toxin is an inhaled poison, such as fumes from an overheated Teflon pan, remove the bird to a well-ventilated area. Take the bird immediately to the veterinary hospital.

Ingested Toxin: Try to determine what toxin and how much of it was ingested. Call your veterinarian or the National Animal Poison Control Center.

Seizures: Wrap your bird in a soft cloth or light towel and gently restrain him until the seizure is over. Wait for the bird to calm down. Call your veterinarian.

Wounds, Cuts, Abrasions: Stop the bleeding by applying light but direct pressure to the area that is bleeding. Be very careful not to hold your bird by the chest or compress the chest because this can easily cause your bird to suffocate.

If it is a small cut or abrasion, clean with water and apply antibiotic cream. If there is a large amount of blood loss, offer the bird some Pedialyte or Gatorade. Take the bird to a veterinary hospital for all cuts.