814 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. (US HWY17)
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 216-VETS (8387)

Home Ferret

 

Emergencies

bulletHow do I know if I have an emergency?
bulletAvian Emergencies
bulletExotic Emergencies
bulletFerret Emergencies
bulletThe Hospital Box
bulletPoison Control
bulletAfter Hours Help

 

Recognizing an Emergency:

If your bird or exotic is exhibiting any of the symptoms described below, contact us immediately. 

Avian:  Any weakness, staying at the bottom of the cage not perching, fluffed up while perched, sleeping a lot, not talking or singing (if does normally), loose droppings, not eating, blood in droppings, blood loss of any kind, prolonged straining to pass stool or egg.

Ferret:  Diarrhea, vomiting, pawing at the mouth (may indicate nausea due to dangerously low blood sugar), frequent trips to litter box with little or no urine production, pain in the abdomen, depression, lack of appetite.

Rabbit, small mammal, marsupial:  Diarrhea or decreased number of stools, lack of appetite, weakness, depression, painful when lifted or touched, head tilted to one side, rolling or flipping.

Reptiles, amphibians:  Weak or unresponsive, open-mouthed breathing, tremoring or twitching, prolonged lack or appetite, frantic movements, bloody droppings, prolonged straining to pass stool or egg.

Fish:  Rapid respiration, thick slime coating on body, red or white blotches on skin, listlessness, rubbing frantically against bottom of tank, loss of equilibrium.

Of course, if you are in doubt as to whether your situation is an emergency, call us and we will help you assess the situation.

 

Emergency Admission:

In the event that we have no available appointments on a given day, but you encounter an urgent situation with your pet during business hours, we offer Emergency Admission service.  You will bring your pet in a small box or carrier to our office, and we will immediately assess your pet's condition and place him/ her into an incubator.  We will begin any supportive care necessary to stabilize your pet, such as giving fluids, oxygen administration, or medications as indicated by your pet's condition.  The doctor will attend to your pet as soon as possible.  The doctor or one of our technicians will contact you at the number you specify after we have a tentative diagnosis and course of treatment.  We will have already begun the process of diagnostics, doing any radiographs or bloodwork deemed necessary by the doctor.  There is no difference in the cost of treatment of a pet that is admitted as an emergency versus a pet that has a scheduled appointment: the only difference is, since the owner cannot be present for the examination of the pet, we do require a deposit to begin working with your pet.  The deposit can be cash, check, or credit card, and will be used strictly towards services to said pet.  The amount of deposit required may vary depending on the severity of illness or injury.

 

Avian Emergencies:

The vast majority of “emergencies” encountered with exotic animals and birds require stabilization prior to transport.  In most cases the animal can be stabilized at home until he/she is in better condition prior to coming to our hospital.  Of course this is not the case for every emergency, but the following are suggestions that might help in times of need.

For example:

Scenario I

If you get home and see that your bird is ruffled up, quiet and at the bottom of the cage, it may not be the best thing to grab it and rush it to a veterinary hospital.  A sick, hypothermic (low body temperature), hypoglycemic (low blood sugar), or dehydrated bird does not need added stress.  Trying to handle him a lot and the stress of the transport might make the difference between life and death.

Scenario II

You get home and find blood in the bottom of the cage or on your bird.  If the bleeding has stopped the immediate crisis is over, for now. Monitor your bird closely. Place it in a hospital box and bring him over once he is stable so we can determine the cause of bleeding. 

  1. If the bleeding is coming from a “blood feather” it should be pulled.  Even if the bleeding has stopped, it may resume if the tip of the feather brushes a perch, or is groomed by the bird. If the feather appears to be gone but continues to bleed, look or palpate for a remnant of the feather shaft in the follicle (be gentle!).  Once the feather is pulled, do not put hemostatic agents on the follicle!  The bleeding will usually stop if the follicle is pinched off for 60-90 seconds.  If the hemorrhage continues, try gluing the follicle closed with a drop of tissue cement in the opening of the feather follicle. 

  2. Bleeding toenails may be cauterized with a mild styptic such as ferric sub-sulfate or the quick may be covered with a thin layer of tissue cement. 

  3. Broken beaks are occasionally difficult to stop bleeding.  You can try a hemostatic powder and patience. 

  4. When the underlying cause of bleeding is apparent, getting the bleeding under control is the immediate objective.  Timely diagnosis may make the difference between life and death.

 Some of the most common signs of illness in birds are:

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Bird staying at bottom of cage

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Ruffled feathers or fluffed up

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Labored breathing/tail bobbing

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Repeated loose or malodorous stools

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Sudden change in stool/urine color (not diet related)

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Matted or caked vent (anus)

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Discharge from eyes, nose, mouth or ears

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Pronounced keel bone (sign of long standing illness)

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Continuous closing/squinting of the eyes

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Bleeding from feather, skin or any other sources

 Other situations that require veterinary assistance:

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Dog or cat (silent killer) attacks.

(The cat is referred to as the "silent killer" because there are several potentially deadly bacteria present in the cat's mouth/nails, and even if the bird appears unharmed and the skin appears unbroken, the bird is still in danger of succumbing to these bacteria.)

 

Exotic Emergencies:

**IF YOUR RABBIT, GUINEA PIG, OR SMALL MAMMAL IS NOT EATING OR POOPING,
IT NEEDS TO COME TO OUR CLINIC IMMEDIATELY!**

If your rabbit or small mammal is not eating, their gastrointestinal system can go into stasis, a serious condition which may require extended hospitalization and treatment, or even surgery to correct.  In order to prevent this condition, you can feed Oxbow Critical Care from a syringe.  This will provide fiber and nutrients to support your pet until you are able to get to our clinic.  Supplemental feeding is based on the weight of your pet, and our staff will be happy to assist you in figuring out how much to feed and how often.  Not eating is often related to dental issues or internal blockage, and as such is an emergency situation which demands immediate medical attention.  Dietary supplementation is meant only as a supportive measure, and your pet needs to come to our clinic as soon as possible.

 

The Hospital Box

This is a temporary “at home” suggestion for sick birds until they are stable enough for transport.

1)      Take a plastic clear container (i.e. Tupperware or Rubbermaid) that is large enough for your bird. A parakeet can use roughly a shoebox-sized container.  Some sort of vented top is recommended so the heat will not escape; remember that you do not want to “cook” your bird.

2)      Place a heating pad underneath the box and set it on low to medium. Place your hand on it to make sure it is not too hot.  Ideally you can use a thermometer and you want it to be roughly 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  In the daytime you can place a lamp over the box to supplement the heat.  Make sure the light is turned off in the evening so your bird can rest.

3)      Place some paper towels in the bottom of the box to use as a substrate. This way you can monitor your bird’s fecal output and urination. If there is decreased fecal output, or only urates (the white powder in the stool), this may mean that your bird has not eaten for a while.

4)      Place 3 small dishes or paper plates inside the box, for water, one for feed and a third one for vegetables. This way you can monitor your bird’s food intake and water consumption. Remember that a bird may pick at the food but it does not necessarily mean that he/she is eating it.

5)      You can use an eyedropper or syringe to supplement your bird with some fluids/calories once he/she seems more stable. Ensure, Gatorade or baby foods are some products that you can use. Make sure that these items are warmed up in a warm water bath, not a microwave, prior to administration. You can give a parakeet approximately 1cc or ml, a cockatiel about 3-5cc and so on.

 Never to give over the counter preparations (i.e. antibiotics) in the water since this may mask signs and can worsen the situation.

 

Animal Poison Control Center

1-888-232-8870
A fee will be charged for your consult.

 

After Hours Emergencies

If you have a veterinary emergency during business hours (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm) bring your pet in and we will do everything possible to stabilize your pet and begin medical treatment.  If it is an after hours emergency requiring immediate treatment, there are two emergency clinics in the Charleston area.

Greater Charleston Emergency Veterinary Clinic

3163 West Montague Ave
North Charleston
843-744-3372

Mount Pleasant Emergency Veterinary Clinic

930 Pine Hollow Road
Mt. Pleasant
843-216-7554

** The veterinarian on duty will notify Dr. Biascoechea of the emergency.

When a bird or exotic animal shows signs of illness it is critical to have it seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.  At Birds and Exotics Animal Care, we know how important it is to see your pet at the time the symptoms appear.  If we do not have any appointments available that day, you can drop your pet off  and we can treat it until it is stable enough to return home.

 

Copyright © Birds and Exotics Animal Care. 
All Rights Reserved.
March 2003

Last Update:  March 2008

Website maintained by Kerry Bateman

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