Vet Visit

[EllenD]

Congrats on becoming a vet, good for you! I agree that there aren't near enough avian specialists, nor reptile or small animal specialists. I'm very blessed in that we have 2 certified avian vets and a 24 hour hospital with an avian vet on call, but most people do not have an avian vet anywhere near them and they must drive for hours. A good rule of thumb is that any vet is better than no vet, so in an emergency if you don't have access to an avian vet by all means get him to the general vet and he can triage as necessary.

When I was in college (graduated in 2002 so I don't know if it is still the same) I studied health science and animal medicine. I worked at the animal diagnostic lab at Penn State University for a year after undergrad, and I worked with many pre-vet students. It was then I was made aware that veterinary school is very competitive because there are very few veterinary medicine schools in the country at all to begin with, so you have tons and tons of applicants for few spots. I just wish that those that do go to veterinary school would choose to specialize afterwards in exotics.

Good luck to your bird, and for future reference, if you are at the vet or at your own doctor and you are thinking of a question, ask it!!! You're paying them a lot of money for their services, so you are more than entitled to ask as many questions as you want to, and most doctors of any type encourage questions because it clears up any confusion and puts people at ease.

Please watch your bird and make sure that his symptoms clear shortly, if not then please do get him to an avian vet for a proper diagnosis.

[ParrotsForLife]

Congrats on becoming a vet, good for you! I agree that there aren't near enough avian specialists, nor reptile or small animal specialists. I'm very blessed in that we have 2 certified avian vets and a 24 hour hospital with an avian vet on call, but most people do not have an avian vet anywhere near them and they must drive for hours. A good rule of thumb is that any vet is better than no vet, so in an emergency if you don't have access to an avian vet by all means get him to the general vet and he can triage as necessary.

When I was in college (graduated in 2002 so I don't know if it is still the same) I studied health science and animal medicine. I worked at the animal diagnostic lab at Penn State University for a year after undergrad, and I worked with many pre-vet students. It was then I was made aware that veterinary school is very competitive because there are very few veterinary medicine schools in the country at all to begin with, so you have tons and tons of applicants for few spots. I just wish that those that do go to veterinary school would choose to specialize afterwards in exotics.

Good luck to your bird, and for future reference, if you are at the vet or at your own doctor and you are thinking of a question, ask it!!! You're paying them a lot of money for their services, so you are more than entitled to ask as many questions as you want to, and most doctors of any type encourage questions because it clears up any confusion and puts people at ease.

Please watch your bird and make sure that his symptoms clear shortly, if not then please do get him to an avian vet for a proper diagnosis.

The whole flock had symptoms and Tiko flew away yesterday so hoping we get her back she will most likely need a vet check after being outside longer than 24 hours now.