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QMY neighbour found a baby bird in her garden. She took it indoors but it died. What is the best way to deal with apparently orphan birds?
AIT is important to differentiate between a nestling and a fledgling, as they require very different solutions.This is usually straightforward.A nestling will have few (if any) feathers and therefore clearly would not be in any condition to fly.
The outlook for nestlings is very poor unless a wildlife rehabilitator can be contacted.The nestling should be put in a quiet, dark and warm, well-ventilated container until transport can be arranged.
Putting the nestling back in the nest will risk disturbing the others.
Fledglings are learning to fly. They will have full feather coverage and are found hopping, perching on low branches or hiding in bushes. The parents will be nearby continuing to feed them so it is not a good idea to move them indoors or try to feed them yourself.
If they are in an exposed place and in danger of being attacked by cats, they can be moved a very short distance to a safer area. If the bird is supporting itself on both legs, with the wings folded tight to the body, and there is no sign of
ADVICE: Don’t put chicks back in the nest
blood, injury is not likely. Many uninjured birds begin flying quite quickly. If injury is suspected, confine the bird in a box and get help.The RSPCA has designed a flow chart with advice. Look up “Found a baby bird – what to do” on rspca.org.uk
QATHE medical term for increased thirst is polydipsia, and there are many causes.There may be increased urination as well.You will need to contact your vet when it can be arranged.
I am assuming your dog has been spayed. If not then an infection of the womb is a possible cause that requires urgent treatment.
If she has had a recent season and seems unwell then contact your vet as soon as possible.
If she is otherwise well, while waiting for an appointment it would be very useful to measure exactly how much she is drinking over a 24-hour period. I advise attempting this over several days to account for variation in daily temperature. Fill her water bowl with a known amount at 9am and top up continually until 9am the next day. Polydipsia is defined in dogs as water intake in excess of 100ml/kg body weight per 24 hours. In your dog’s case polydipsia could be drinking between 800ml and one litre a day but knowing her exact weight is obviously important. Common causes of polydipsia include diabetes mellitus, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and overactivity of the adrenal glands, known as Cushing’s disease. Some drugs such as diuretics or steroids also cause polydipsia. If your dog is genuinely polydipsic blood and urine tests will be necessary to diagnose the cause. Ultrasound scans of the liver and kidneys are often very useful.