Answer

A swollen eye can be caused by an injury or an upper respiratory infection, from what you have told me, it sounds more like an injury. Unfortunately I would not redcommend giving your bird any over the counter medication for a few reasons
1. they usually under dose or overdose the bird, the latter causing antibiotic resistance.
2.If it is an eye injury you do not need a systemic antibiotic
3.if there is a scratch on the eye and you use certain medicines it can actually cause the eye to ulcerate (a very bad thing).

To offer him some relief you can hold a warm compress on the eye until you can have a vet examine him, the vet will listen to his lungs (& air sacs) to confirm there is no upper respiratory infection and check his eye for any type of injury. Depending what he finds he will either just prescribe an antibiotic ointment (there's lots of different ones for eyes) or something oral & systemic, or both.

I don't think this is an emergency so a weekend clinic ( and the extra $) is not necessary but you should call an avian vet (one that sees bird DAILY) Monday for an appointment. He is probably quieter because he is uncomfortable or painful, unless he stops eating, is on the bottom of the cage fluffed, or gets worse, he should be okay till monday. By the way- DO NOT give your bird ANY human meds.

Hope this helps, let me know if I can be of more assistance, Marie

Expert:	Marie
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Answered:	10/21/2006

Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Technician at cat and exotics hospital (birds, reptiles, etc.) 5 years, Felv + foster mom