Your Winged Pet’s Health

When deciding to add a winged, feathered friend to your family, it’s important to select a bird whose needs can be met in your home.

There are species of birds with physical, behavioral, and social needs that are simply too great for many average households.  Canaries, finches, cockatiels, parakeets, and lovebirds are birds who have a long history of selective breeding in captivity and are considered domesticated.

Your pet’s basic health needs can be easily satisfied and supplies are readily available. Your bird can live a long, happy life in a caring home. Above all, your pet’s health is top priority.

Most bird owners do everything within their power to protect their feathered friends from illness or injury, but accidents do happen.  Your approach to your pet’s health should be guided by a common sense approach.

Responsible bird owners should have a special First Aid Kit available for the bird so you can handle minor emergencies yourself.

For instance, birds do not have much clotting agent in their blood. A broken blood feather, or a minor cut can be life threatening. The blood feather must be removed, or bleeding stopped by use of Quik-stop or a styptic pencil. If bleeding does not stop, apply pressure and rush the bird to the veterinarian.

Any time your bird stops eating, sits fluffed on the bottom of his cage, has trouble breathing and has loss of balance, depression and lethargy, don’t wait to take him to the veterinarian.

Birds get sick for many reasons, but two causes stand out; your bird’s environment and diet.

If you can optimize your pet’s environment and diet, many problems that avian veterinarians see can be avoided.  Your bird can live a longer, healthier life and your wallet will also be spared much trauma.