How to Give a Bird CPR

Hopefully you should never have to give a bird CPR, but it is a very good thing to know.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. If your bird is unconcious, watch for the breast & abdomen rising and falling. Open its beak and examine the oral cavity, and if it is necessary, clear with your finger or a Q-Tip. Listen to your bird's chest (on either side of the keel bone) for a heart beat, or you can use a stethoscope.
2. At the base of the tongue is the "glottis", which is the opening to the airway. If you can't see it, pull the tongue forward gently to see the windpipe's opening. The heart is centrally located far beneath the breast muscles and under the keel bone, almost midpoint along the length of the keel bone. There are nares (nostrils) at the base of the beak, either in the fleshy band called the cere or at the edge of the beak where feathers meet beak tissue.
3. If the bird is not breathing, but it has a heartbeat, begin rescue breathing. While holding its head in one hand, and supporting its body in the other, tilt it slightly away from you. With your own head turned a quarter turn to the right or the left, begin respirations. For small birds, seal your lips around the beak and nares. With large birds, seal your lips around the beak only while placing the index finger over the nares. Take a breath, and blow five quick breaths into the bird’s beak.
4. The size of the bird determines the strength of each puff of breath. Use small puffs on small birds and more force for larger birds to ensure that air moves into the lungs and airsacs. This takes practice and some skill.
5. Birds breathe like a bellows, out and in, so look for a rising sternum with each breath. You can see this most easily where the sternum meets the abdomen. If the breast is not rising, you are not getting enough air into the respiratory tract; recheck to ensure that the airway is open. If the breast rises with each puff, then pause after five breaths to see if the bird is breathing on its own. If it is not, then give two more puffs of breath, and evaluate for breathing again.
6. Don’t forget to periodically check that the bird’s heart is still beating. Do this either until the bird begins respiring on its own or until you can bring the bird to your avian veterinarian or emergency clinic.
7. If there is no respiration, the airway is clear and there is no heartbeat, or if the bird’s heart stops beating while performing rescue breathing, begin CPR. Continue providing puffs of breath into the beak, but now add chest compressions. Birds have a rapid heart rate compared to humans and dogs, so you will attempt to provide the bird with 40 to 60 compressions per minute, based on the size of the bird.
8. Place one to three fingers on the keel bone (depending on the size of the bird, one finger for budgies, three for macaws) and apply finger pressure to the keel bone. Depress the keel or sternum, which compresses the heart, moving blood through the tissues. As with performing rescue breathing, the amount of pressure necessary to adequately depress the sternum depends on the size of the bird. You need to use enough pressure, so that you can see the sternum depress downward. Again, this is easiest to see when looking at the place where the keel and abdomen meet.
9. Give five puffs of breath, followed by 10 compressions; check the bird for heartbeat and breathing. Next, give two breaths, 10 compressions, two breaths and 10 more compressions. Continue in this manner for a minute. If possible, have someone time this for you.
10. At one minute, reevaluate the bird for heartbeat and respiration. Continue providing CPR until the bird recovers or is transferred to a veterinary clinic or emergency facility. If the bird begins breathing, it should be placed in a warm, quiet environment while you contact your avian veterinarian for instructions.
11. Once the bird has been delivered to the avian veterinarian, the bird will be reevaluated and possibly intubated (provided with a breathing tube). The breathing tube provides oxygen to the bird. The veterinarian might administer certain medications to stimulate the heart, correct metabolic problems and stimulate breathing. Your avian veterinarian will provide your best chance for stabilization and recovery.
12. Investigate CPR classes in your area, or ask your avian veterinarian if he or she will teach a small class. Practice CPR on a human dummy, a dog dummy or even a stuffed bird before an emergency occurs, but never attempt to practice avian CPR on a live, healthy pet bird!
    
    
    
    ***From BirdChannel.com***