| Occasionally, our feathered
friends become host to all sorts of nasty bacterial critters. Sometimes,
the best way to treat the illness is to give the parrot antibiotics via
the beak. Here are some pointers to help you with this task.
In theory...
1. Retrieve the bird from
the cage.
2. Set the bird on a table
and hold its head by carefully grasping the neck where it joins the lower
jaw, or mandible.
3. With your other hand,
grasp the medicine syringe and place the tip into the left side of the
bird's mouth.
4. Depress the plunger and
squirt the medicine toward the back of the bird's throat.
5. Wipe excess medicine from
the bird's beak
6. Place the bird back in
the cage.
7. Watch for signs of stress.
In reality...
1. Attempt to retrieve the
bird from the cage.
2. Apply bandages as necessary
to wounds on your hands and arms.
3. Retrieve the bird from
it's new hiding place under the coffee table.
4. Carefully immobilize the
bird's head to prevent further tissue damage to your body.
5. Attempt to break the "Vulcan
Death Grip" and remove the bird's feet from your hand.
6. Apply more bandages and
a strong analgesic cream to the new wounds on your hands and arms.
7. Attempt to immobilize
the bird by carefully wrapping it in a bath towel.
8. Chase screaming bird down
the hallway and into the bathroom.
9. Throw the towel over the
bird and pick up the writhing, squirming package.
10. Watch in amazement as
the bird "morphs." Its head and tail will probably swap position, putting
your skin in mortal danger again.
11. Hold the bird snugly
in it's terrycloth prison.
12. Grasp the medicine syringe.
Try to stop trembling in fear and pain. Place the tip of the syringe into
the left side of the bird's mouth.
13. Ignore the sound of crushed
and mutilated plastic. Depress the plunger and squirt the medicine toward
the back of the bird's throat.
14. Wipe excess medicine
out of your eyes and off the drapes.
15. Release the bird and
squirt medicine in the general vicinity of its face. Some medicine may
actually go into the mouth. The rest will be absorbed by osmosis.
16. Shoo the bird back to
the cage.
17. Spend the rest of the
day attempting to regain the bird's affection with yummy snacks and new
toys. |