Are we better off not bringing parrot to vet?

[Michael]

Are we better off not bringing healthy parrots for voluntary vet check ups? Besides complications as we had recently heard about, there are also chances that the office isn't sterile and the parrot catches an illness from a previously visiting sick bird. Are our parrots better off just staying home?

Or do these preemptive vet visits reveal major problems and treat them in time saving parrots lives? Are the risks worth it to do these check ups?

[MandyG]

I was thinking of posting the same question. It's something I've been thinking about for a while as well.

My usual vet, who specializes in exotics but is not an avian vet, said that younger birds do not need annual bloodwork because they usually don't develop severe problems until they're older. He did say it was worthwhile to come in for the gram stain and float tests and that sort of thing to check for parasites and bacterial infections.

After talking to a few other individuals I've been thinking about the possibility of my birds picking something up while at the vet. I was wondering if the risk was worth it when my birds seem healthy.

I'd love to hear what other people think and what their experiences have been like.

[Rrrma]

It's so hard because birds are still so unknown to man. We know they hide illness well, and there are still lots of ailments we probably haven't discovered yet.

I'm curious as to how many tests we can do at home ourselves? I know there are lots for other animals and you can even give them shots yourself and deworm them, but can we do a fecal smear at home, or anything else for our parrots?

I'll admit I don't take my child to the doctor for a yearly visit. I've heard so many parents say the same thing for their healthy kids. There is so much risk of picking something up there, I bet there is way more risk at a human doctor than a vet, but the illnesses humans pick up are noticeable within a couple weeks of exposure... not so much birds.

[Sekica]

Good question: In my case I'm better off not bringing mine in. The only avian vet is an hour away in a different state, plus he isn't even experienced. After he made a mistake that led to me losing a budgie, I'd rather not go there unless I absolutely have to. Plus, he keeps a parrot in a cage in the waiting area, and that bird could have and transmit anything that comes in/out of that office. For me at the moment the risks and stress on the birds are greater than the "rewards".

[cathy]

u are right the vet i went to today seperates her appointments well checkes in the am only after noon is for sick birds she seemes bissy with well checks .she told me she would inform me on blood work but said if there were no problems i wouldnt have to come back???

[pchela]

I personally think that they only need to go to the vet if they are sick. I don't think it's worth the risk to take a healthy bird into an environment where possibly sick birds have been.

[birdvet]

As an avian vet I actually agree, mostly . I don't think annual visits are necessary, especially for experienced parrot owners. I think new bird health checks are vital and you should get the full "service" then - bloodwork, faecal check, crop check, physical exam, chlamydia test, beak and feather and polyoma virus DNA test. Bear in mind that this list of diagnostics will not pick up all diseases so any vet that guarantees that your bird is healthy after receiving normal results from these tests is stringing you along. Remember that injured kidneys need to be 70-80% compromised before the blood tests will even show that there is a drama, and sometimes a liver is so badly damaged that the liver results will tend to be in the normal range because the organ cannot produce the enzymes anymore...just as some examples of where test results aren't accurate. However, a young, healthy bird with no clinical signs of illness and all tests come back normal can be classed as healthy to the best of the vets knowledge (based on physical exam and test results).

A note on faecals: Just because your bird has an abnormal gram stain doesn't mean its sick as there are many bacteria that are ubiquitous in the environment that will just be transient through the gut. ALL gram stains need to be interpreted with clinical signs and in fact, I only ever do gram stains if a parrot is showing signs of gastroenteritis or other gut problems. Another note: Gram stains are only valuable in parrots...NOT in other species

Birds that are housed outdoors should have regular parasite screens which is as simple as sending a faecal sample to your vet every 3-4 months and doesn't require the bird set foot in the hospital.

Experienced owners will pick up on subtle sick bird look (SBL) signs and behaviour changes early enough to get their fid to the vet. Inexperienced owners may benefit from regular health checks until they become confident with picking up the subtle changes themselves.

We certainly don't recommend annual health checks where I work but maybe that's because we're a wildlife hospital that sees private patients on the side (that sounds very dodgy ) - the private patients help us fund wildlife treatments and if anything, we charge too little because we're so used to doing free stuff for wildlife...sigh!

Another good idea (if you have a good avian vet nearby) if you're an aviary owner is to have regular aviary visits. That way the birds can be assessed at home where it is more relaxed and they're more likely to show clinical signs of illness if there are any.

There aren't many tests you can do at home unless you're trained and know what to look for. Things you can do include the usual, monitor behaviour, monitor weight, feel the keel regularly, check the droppings, make sure you know what is normal for your bird so you know when they're abnormal. Make sure the bird is eating (monitor weight or even weigh the food daily to check)...etc.

So yip, annual health checks probably not mandatory but definitely take your bird to the vet (an avian vet!!!) the moment it looks even a smidgen unwell...I know I'm preaching to the choir and the converted already but that preservation reflex in birds is super powerful so often by the time the signs are showing they are horribly ill and immediately get downgraded to a guarded to poor prognosis and if the bird is sitting on the cage bottom and unable to perch then it is critical and given a grave prognosis for recovery.

That's my two cents worth

[Kim S]

How many old people die of pneumonia when going to the hospital for simple eye laser surgery?
If they can't even keep human hospitals steril, I wouldn't put my money on the vets office.

Nothing more substantial to add, really.

[rebeccaturpeinen]

this is a very interesting question.... when we found Joey i wasnt sure if we should take him to the vet or not so i called them and discussed joey with them. they said if he seems fine to stay at home and not add stress since he probably already had stress from escaping and being out by himself and stuff.

but this wasnt an avian vet. now i have been thinking about taking him to an avian vet soon (if i can find one ) for a general check-up and to get his nails cut.

but i am worried about the stress this would caus him

[Rrrma]

but i am worried about the stress this would caus him

how long have you had him and is he bonded to you? If he and you are close and you are with him at the visit, I doubt it will add that much stress. But I forget how long it has been since you found him. My vet wanted to wait until Norma put on some weight before trimming her nails. He knows it would stress her out and she really needs to put on a little weight before being exposed to stress again.