How To Give Your bird CPR | CPR for Birds

Summary

In this video, Diane Burrell from Birds of Ice discusses the important topic of bird CPR, sharing her personal experience with her bird Smokey, who suffered an electrical burn. Diane explains the steps to take when a bird is unconscious or unresponsive, including checking its vitals, performing rescue breathing, and administering CPR. She covers key techniques such as the right number of breaths and chest compressions based on the bird's size. Finally, she emphasizes the importance of contacting an emergency vet after reviving the bird, ensuring it's safely cared for.

Takeaways

• 😀 It's important to learn how to give CPR to your bird, even if it seems unlikely you'll need it.
• 😀 If you find your bird unconscious, first check its chest for movement, listen for a heartbeat, and feel for any signs of life.
• 😀 If the bird is not breathing or has no heartbeat, check for obstructions in its beak or airway, and clear any blockage if needed.
• 😀 To perform rescue breathing, tilt the bird's head back, cover its nares with your fingers, and give five gentle breaths, ensuring the chest expands.
• 😀 After rescue breathing, continue checking for signs of life (heartbeat and breathing).
• 😀 If there is still no heartbeat or breathing after a minute, begin CPR by giving five breaths and ten chest compressions.
• 😀 For CPR, use three fingers for a larger bird, two for a medium-sized bird, and one for a small bird, pressing down firmly at the bird's sternum.
• 😀 Perform CPR in a cycle of five breaths and ten compressions, continuing for about one minute, and reassess the bird's vitals.
• 😀 If the bird becomes responsive, handle it gently to avoid startling it, and place it in a safe, calm environment (hospital cage).
• 😀 Always have your emergency vet's contact information on hand and head to the vet as soon as possible if the bird regains consciousness or remains unresponsive.

Q & A

Why is it important to learn how to give CPR to a bird?

Learning bird CPR is crucial in case of emergencies, such as when a bird is unconscious or experiencing a life-threatening situation like an electrical shock, as it can help save the bird's life until veterinary care is available.

What should you do first when you find a bird unconscious or in distress?

The first step is to assess the bird's condition by looking, listening, and feeling. Check if the bird's chest is moving, if there's a heartbeat, and if it is breathing.

How can you tell if a bird's airway is obstructed?

To check for an obstruction, gently open the bird's beak and inspect for any beads, food, or other objects blocking the airway. If something is stuck, remove it carefully.

What is the method for giving rescue breathing to a bird?

To give rescue breathing, tilt the bird's head back slightly, seal your lips over its beak, cover its nares with your fingers, and gently blow five breaths into the bird’s lungs, ensuring its chest expands.

How do you know if the bird is responding to rescue breathing?

After giving rescue breaths, reassess the bird by looking for chest movement, listening for a heartbeat, and feeling for breathing. If no response is detected, continue the process.

What is the recommended CPR compression technique for different bird sizes?

For CPR, use three fingers for large birds (e.g., cockatoos), two fingers for medium birds (e.g., cockatiels), and one finger for small birds (e.g., budgies). Perform chest compressions at a rate of 40-60 compressions per minute.

How should chest compressions be performed on a bird?

Place your fingers gently but firmly in the center of the bird's breastbone (sternum) and press down in a steady rhythm, aiming for 40-60 compressions per minute, depending on the bird’s size.

What is the correct ratio of breaths to compressions during bird CPR?

The recommended ratio is five breaths for every ten chest compressions. This should be repeated in cycles until the bird responds or professional veterinary help arrives.

What should you do after the bird begins to respond to CPR?

Once the bird starts to regain consciousness, handle it gently and place it in a quiet, secure 'hospital' cage to recover. Be mindful to avoid startling the bird.

Why is it important to contact an emergency vet after performing CPR on a bird?

Even if the bird seems to recover after CPR, it is important to seek professional veterinary care as soon as possible to ensure that there are no underlying health issues or complications from the incident.