Heres what you can do if you accidentally cut your parakeets nail too short and its bleeding.
Tip: Clean the Nails Beforehand
I always clean my parakeets’ nails before cutting theirs, just in case. In this manner, there is minimal possibility of bacteria entering the wound in the event that someone gets cut too short and leaves an open wound because the area has already been cleaned. I accomplish this by wiping the nails with a clean cotton ball dipped in a small amount of diluted rubbing alcohol (which I dilute with warm water to make it less harsh and odorous). I next give his tiny feet a quick wash in lukewarm water to remove any remaining rubbing alcohol residue.
Keep Your Parakeet Calm
Make every effort to maintain your parakeet’s calmness. His heart rate will increase when he is stressed, which causes his blood to flow through his veins more quickly. By soothing him, you can lessen the amount of blood that goes to the nail.
Use cornstarch (baby powder) to stifle the bleeding. Dip the bleeding nail into some that you have in your hand.
How to Stop a Parakeet’s Nail From Bleeding: A Quick Reference
Be sure to read the details of these steps down below!
- Keep holding your parakeet, and try to keep him calm.
- Clean the nail with lukewarm water.
- To stop the bleeding, place cornstarch in a bowl or your palm and dip the bird’s nail into it. The nail might need to be dipped several times before it stops bleeding.
- Make sure your parakeet doesn’t inhale the cornstarch and that it stays out of his eyes!
- Return your parakeet to his cage and continue to monitor it. Dont let him bite the nail.
- As soon as possible, clean the parakeets’ toys and perches to prevent infection while the nail heals.
- Dont hesitate to call a vet if youre worried.
The red line visible in the upper portion of the nail is the “quick.”
This budgie was a “second hand” acquisition that I acquired after my cousins gave it up and we adopted it. I had to bribe/distract him with seeds so I could not see the quick in his nail that well because my cousins weren’t taking good care of them and weren’t used to having their nails trimmed. I didn’t think I was cutting them too short, and yes, the guilt is eating me up. I have three other birds: two older budgies that I’ve had for six or seven years, who are accustomed to having their nails clipped, and one that came with the bird in this post. She’s very docile and lets me trim her nails when necessary. Since this has never happened before, I’m unsure of what action is appropriate at this time. He doesn’t even appear to be aware of his injury as he sings right now.
Unfortunately, there are no avian veterinarians near where I live, so we’re on our own. I accidentally cut the nail too short, which caused it to bleed a little bit and only leave a dot on my finger. I was able to get him to step into some cornstarch to stop the bleeding, and it seems to have stopped. What should I do now? Though he doesn’t seem to be bothered or limp, I’m still concerned. He’s a very energetic and joyful bird, so I’ll be watching him closely.
FAQ
What can I put on my bird to stop bleeding?
Can birds stop bleeding on their own?
What happens if I cut my birds nails too short?
Can I use flour to stop bird bleeding?