Bird Heatstroke
Prolonged heatstroke can lead to coma, brain damage or death.
Signs
- Bird panting, beak open, gasping for air, initially the wings held away from the body.
- Distressed, uncontrolled and agitated movement.
- Often unable to perch or stand.
Treatment
- Cool the bird immediately by:
- Dabbing or spraying with cool water.
- Placing the bird in front of a fan.
- Administering cool water by eye dropper or syringe. Administering cool water by crop tube if you are inexperienced handler.
Caution
- Handle the bird as little as possible as further stress could precipitate death.
- Be careful not to chill the bird when cooling. Stop the cooling process when the bird no longer displays any signs of heatstroke, or when the bird’s temperature reaches 40°C (104°F)
Prevention
- Do not leave the bird confined in a poorly ventilated Prevention
- Area in hot weather, for example, exposed directly to the sun behind closed glass windows.
- Provide a cool, shady area with access to cool water in very hot weather.
- Take care if transporting birds by car in hot weather. Try to travel at night or in the early morning. Open the windows of the car a little way for ventilation and use their-conditioner if the vehicle is equipped with one.