First aid kit...opinions

[CALVINS MOM]

Originally Posted by Tiki

Over a year ago, I tried to get my bird club interested in a hands on first aid seminar-no takers.

Here's the most important thing to add to your first aid kit. A credit card. Why? So you can pay the vet for the treatment the bird will need. Or stash a couple hundred dollars cash and don't touch it unless the bird needs it. There should never be more than 48 hours (weekend) delay in getting a sick bird to the vet-preferably a certified avian vet. Try to find a weekend emergency option too in case you ever need it.

Yup -very true. I fortunately have not had any serious injuries, but, if I did, the bird would be wrapped in a blanket and taken to the vet.

So, I would add a baby blanket to the list. Sorry Don! You know I love you dearly! I'm just one to allow the vet to make the decision unless it is something very minor.

[Miro The Macaw]

I think that what is required in your particular 'kit' should vary a lot depending on what your situation is. You could have all the best medical equpment in the world, but if you don't know how to use it, it doesn't do a bit of good.

Among other things, When I am on the ship I am acting medical officer. We have some pretty impressive stuff on board- I have access to equipment for all sorts of neat procedures! But, just becuase I have a scalpel and morphine on hand doesn't mean that I plan on operating any time soon- I don't think I am quite trained for THAT!

You should probably approach it in a logical way- And get a kit that will cover your particular situation. I happen to live in an area where there are 4-5 avian vets within 1/2 hour or less, even on weekends. For that reason, I know that if an emergency comes up, I will be able to get to one in relatively short order, so I am not overly concearned about keeping a lot of things on hand, just a few things for critical care. Those who live farther from vets or know that they can't get to them on weekends would obviously want a more extensive kit, and those who live even farther away would probably want an even more in depth setup as well as some training of some sort in how to use the stuff- After all, they are just tools, and won't do a bit of good unless you know what to do with them- And if you Don't know what to do with them, the odds are you will do more harm than good!

Look at it as the same thing as an EMT- They are NOT intended to treat, for the most part- Only to STABILIZE until the victim can be brought to treatment....

-Andrew

[greyburd]

Originally Posted by CALVINS MOM

So, I would add a baby blanket to the list. Sorry Don! You know I love you dearly! I'm just one to allow the vet to make the decision unless it is something very minor.

No need to apologize. I'm definitely NOT saying that you should not take your bird to the vet. That's what I would do as well!! But, what do you do if something happens late at night, or on the weekend, or over a holiday? I only know of one animal hospital (that has an avian vet) that's open 24 hrs. That would be Red Bank Animal Hospital, and that's at least 2 hours away from me. Heck, my avian vet is only in the office a couple days a week. So, even if something should happen, I could at least get on the phone with Red Bank and hope that they could talk me through something that would hold me until I could get to them if I needed to. But yes...... I am not a vet, so I would want them to make the decisions!

And yes..... i love you dearly, also!!!!

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by greyburd

No need to apologize. I'm definitely NOT saying that you should not take your bird to the vet. That's what I would do as well!! But, what do you do if something happens late at night, or on the weekend, or over a holiday? I only know of one animal hospital (that has an avian vet) that's open 24 hrs. That would be Red Bank Animal Hospital, and that's at least 2 hours away from me. Heck, my avian vet is only in the office a couple days a week. So, even if something should happen, I could at least get on the phone with Red Bank and hope that they could talk me through something that would hold me until I could get to them if I needed to. But yes...... I am not a vet, so I would want them to make the decisions!

And yes..... i love you dearly, also!!!!

hey you...you also have Karen Rosenthal at the u of Pa and Evelyn Ivey in Glen Olden. I think both, (if clients) are 24 hours.
Dr Ivey was at the U of Pa and opened her own practice. Emma is a patient of Dr Rosenthal.
Tho ya know I have to be the biggest fan of Red Bank.

[greyburd]

Lisa, thank you for that reminder!!! Glen Olden isn't as close as my AV, but I think I would rather take them there. Dr. Rosenthal might even be closer. I'll have to look into both of them!!! Thank you!!

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by greyburd

Lisa, thank you for that reminder!!! Glen Olden isn't as close as my AV, but I think I would rather take them there. Dr. Rosenthal might even be closer. I'll have to look into both of them!!! Thank you!!

well I do want to make sure Spencer and Tristan have the best available to them if they need it

[The Outlaw]

I keep a well stocked kit. I never know what to expect, but the last time we did have an emergency, it was during the avian vet conferences and you couldn't find an avian vet anywhere. So, I had to opt for the stand in who might as well have been a dog vet.

Its been my experience that most of the time, its a simple problem. The reason I suggested keeping wire cutters was because I had a bird get tangled in a chain. Scissors will not cut chain and it was difficult to lift a struggling BG and unwind the chain. That's another reason I will NEVER have any bird toy strung with chain. EVER. It could have been disastrous.

As for the rest of the stuff, its what you need when you get a broken blood feather or toe injury, for example. You have to clean it, and dress it at the very least and then track down a vet.

And, if the weather is bad and you can't fight that blizzard, doesn't make a darn bit of difference how good your vet is. You have to treat your own pet.

I'm learning as I'm going, that's for sure, but many times in my lifetime, I've had to splint things just to take a pet to the vet. I've also made EB collars. I've needed to use Benadryl when my GW got stung. I'm definitely not discouraging anyone from headin to the bird doc, but sometimes you have to stabilize them to get them there alive. Shock also kills.

Understanding first aid and rescue breathing is a very important part of managing any pet. Your bird is no exception. JMHO

[Buteo]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

I keep a well stocked kit. I never know what to expect, but the last time we did have an emergency, it was during the avian vet conferences and you couldn't find an avian vet anywhere. So, I had to opt for the stand in who might as well have been a dog vet.

Its been my experience that most of the time, its a simple problem. The reason I suggested keeping wire cutters was because I had a bird get tangled in a chain. Scissors will not cut chain and it was difficult to lift a struggling BG and unwind the chain. That's another reason I will NEVER have any bird toy strung with chain. EVER. It could have been disastrous.

As for the rest of the stuff, its what you need when you get a broken blood feather or toe injury, for example. You have to clean it, and dress it at the very least and then track down a vet.

And, if the weather is bad and you can't fight that blizzard, doesn't make a darn bit of difference how good your vet is. You have to treat your own pet.

I'm learning as I'm going, that's for sure, but many times in my lifetime, I've had to splint things just to take a pet to the vet. I've also made EB collars. I've needed to use Benadryl when my GW got stung. I'm definitely not discouraging anyone from headin to the bird doc, but sometimes you have to stabilize them to get them there alive. Shock also kills.

Understanding first aid and rescue breathing is a very important part of managing any pet. Your bird is no exception. JMHO

All very true.....
Though even I'll be the first to admit it's very scary of thinkin of trying to breathe for any small animal or bird....
(the scene from Shrek with the snake & frog balloons comes to mind)..

Now there's an idea for someone with some vet background - teaching classes in emergency pet firstaid.

[cpryslek]

in the bird talk magazine,june 2006. there is an article on how to give cpr to birds

[greyburd]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

hey you...you also have Karen Rosenthal at the u of Pa and Evelyn Ivey in Glen Olden. I think both, (if clients) are 24 hours.
Dr Ivey was at the U of Pa and opened her own practice. Emma is a patient of Dr Rosenthal.
Tho ya know I have to be the biggest fan of Red Bank.

Lisa..... I wanted to thank you again for the reminder!! I called Glenolden Animal Hospital this evening!! Unfortunately, Dr. Ivey is no longer there (as of yesterday to be exact). She's moving to California. But, they do have Dr. Bowers, and the receptionist informed me that she's also very good and working with birds for years. I did a search on Mapquest, and they're only about 45 minutes from me. So, that's not bad at all. AND..... they're open 7 days a week. They're not 24 hrs., but they're definitely there on the weekends. Which is something I like a lot!!!