suggestions for a sick bird

[delia]

I gave my cockatiel meds out of a suringe, and about 5 mins later she had a sneezing fit. It has slowed down now, I hope!!!! I don't know what went wrong! Any suggestions, how to avoid this from happening again?

[Lovebirdfan]

You may have accidentally got the medicine into the trachea (wind pipe). "Aim the syringe to the left part of his the inside of his beak (your left, his right side), as that is where the hole toward his crop is. Be very careful and make sure that it is aimed there the whole time."

This quote was from an article about hand feeding, but the principle is the same. You don't want to get the medicine in his windpipe as he could choke/axphixiate. Read the article for additional tips on how to position the bird properly so you can get the medicine in without danger of getting it in the wrong pipe.
http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/b...andfeeding.php

[delia]

You may have accidentally got the medicine into the trachea (wind pipe). "Aim the syringe to the left part of his the inside of his beak (your left, his right side), as that is where the hole toward his crop is. Be very careful and make sure that it is aimed there the whole time."

This quote was from an article about hand feeding, but the principle is the same. You don't want to get the medicine in his windpipe as he could choke/axphixiate. Read the article for additional tips on how to position the bird properly so you can get the medicine in without danger of getting it in the wrong pipe.
http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/b...andfeeding.php

It's sooo hard to give the meds,I'm sooo worried about her. Thanks for the help!

[sweetytweety]

yes this happend to me once
but since then i am ever so more careful
i virtually administer anything via the mouth drop by drop ... u have to have very steady hand..no trigger fingers cos u can drown the bird with the sudden surge of liquid which might go down the wrong way
im so much better at it now but i totally sympathise with people who have reservations about giving meds
good luck!

[Birdmad Girl]

to Tailfeathers Delia.

Karen has given you some great advice there. Gently dropping the meds into the top corner of the beak, so it goes on to the back of the tongue where it is swallowed, is a good way to do it. There is less chance of squirting it into the trachea, and also it has less chance of gathering into the bottom part of the beak and being flicked back out again when the bird shakes his head.

HERE IS A LINK to one of our articles about medicating pet birds. It might give you some helpful tips.

Best of luck, and please let us know how you are getting on.

[boomer girl]

When I had to give my bird meds I would give it to him in tiny squirts instead of giving it to him all at once, it made it easier on both of us that way. It is a scary thing to do, my daughter would help me and it did make it easier. Just keep telling yourself, you are not torturing your bird, you are making it better and it helps to give it to them.