What do avian vets do?

I took my conures to an avian vet when I got them (each less than a year ago) for a clean bill of health. My experience there left me wondering just what it is a vet does that goes beyond what a layman with some common sense could do.

When I took them, he held them, looked at them, looked at their vent, spread their wings, felt around a bit, and that was about it. It was a very visual exam.

I do see the value in vet care, and my query is honest and not snarky, but I'd like to know what they do that I can't. I certainly get my cats vetted yearly which seems productive as they are palpated and thoroughly examined; my vet tells me what she's doing as she's doing and I'm learning as she's talking, so I know she's seeing and feeling and looking for things that I can't.

On the flip side, I have completely stopped bringing my reptilian pets to the vet unless I need them to prescribe something that I can't get a hold of myself. I seem to know reptiles more than most reptile vets do (very few of them are experts) and whenever I go to the vet, I get "well, I don't know, let's try this ointment", or the animal recovers because of something I do, or the animal dies regardless of what the vet did. Call me jaded I suppose, but it's been that way with every reptile vet, even the highly recommended ones... I would still bring them in without hesitation but only if I knew what needed to be done and needed their help to accomplish it. Otherwise, I go to reptile forums where trusted experts with 30++ years of experience tell me what to do, and it doesn't cost me $150 just to walk through the door, plus an 800% markup on meds.

Did I just go to a really crappy avian vet or something?

They should do blood work too to rule out any unseen ilnesses. They should also weigh them to make sure they arent underweight.

well like car sales men some are good and some well enough said. Look in your area and see if you can find another I know that I got lucky with my even though I had to travel 65 miles one way to see her my bird pulled thru PPD ad is nowa happy healthy some times ornery fid.

Avian vets do do a lot of visual and physical examining, basically everything you described. However, as has been stated, they are also supposed to weight the birds, do blood work to check for any illness because birds hide that they're sick until they're practically at deaths door most times, and some do fecal checks as well.

Not all Vets are created equal. Just like us humans occasionally get the crappy doctor, so can our pets.

Oh geez, my vet did not weigh her, do blood work or mention a fecal sample. You'd think they would have, they would make more money!

Yes, I will definitely shop around.

ZoeS said:

Oh geez, my vet did not weigh her, do blood work or mention a fecal sample. You'd think they would have, they would make more money!

Yes, I will definitely shop around.

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Sounds like you got one that was less than stellar definitely shop around and look for a different Vet.

Also, I know everyone here touts about Avian Vets, but Exotics Vets are also pretty darn good. Our current Vet is an Exotics Vet, she and her husband have a practice and she does birds and reptiles, he does bunnies and such. No cats or dogs - which is what you want to avoid. They once had a strictly Avian Vet in their practice, but she moved further north, sees fewer private patients and does a lot of work with Avian Rescues and a rehabilitation.

i know how you feel. and i hope you find someone who is good. I am yet to make a second appointment with any of the vets ive seen so far.
It must just be a bit of a thing in australia or my state, but because half of the captive birds are natives anyway all the vets i have seen so far, have a much more laid back attitude to their care. "theyre fine in the wild right so give them a perch and you wont have to trim their nails"

my first vet didnt know what an ekkie was; so based his consult on cockatiels and told me to feed him mainly and pretty much only seed.

my second vet seemed to be in awe of pickle and just wanted to learn what i knew about him

and my third vet tried to tell me that he was a girl. hes an EKKIE its really not that hard -__- lol

That's funny, Rex. Good point about avoiding vets that take cats and dogs, too.

I go to a group of vets that have three specific vets who specialize in exotic animals, including birds. An exotic vet is much better than the average cat and dog vet.

PortaPerch said:

That's funny, Rex. Good point about avoiding vets that take cats and dogs, too.

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If they do dogs and cats, they aren't going to have the time needed outside the clinic to study up and read on the latest trends in Avian medicine or reptile medicine etc. I had a conversation with an Exotics Vet once and he said he spent an average of 80 hours a month just reading up on the latest on the various species he cares for and that didn't include any classes he took throughout the year, any research needed for a specific patient, etc. He said that Vets who do dogs and cats and then try and do any type of exotics, aren't going to be as knowledgeable because they aren't going to have the time to devote to continuing education for all the various species they care for.

patch said:

I go to a group of vets that have three specific vets who specialize in exotic animals, including birds. An exotic vet is much better than the average cat and dog vet.

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I agree. I do think an Avian Vet is the best route to go, but an Exotic Vet can be the next best thing. Or the better choice if you get a crappy Avian Vet like poor ZoeS did.

Oedipussrex said:

i know how you feel. and i hope you find someone who is good. I am yet to make a second appointment with any of the vets ive seen so far.
It must just be a bit of a thing in australia or my state, but because half of the captive birds are natives anyway all the vets i have seen so far, have a much more laid back attitude to their care. "theyre fine in the wild right so give them a perch and you wont have to trim their nails"

my first vet didnt know what an ekkie was; so based his consult on cockatiels and told me to feed him mainly and pretty much only seed.

my second vet seemed to be in awe of pickle and just wanted to learn what i knew about him

and my third vet tried to tell me that he was a girl. hes an EKKIE its really not that hard -__- lol

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Wow. Ekkie's are one of the few parrots you can tell the sex of just by looking at them. What made the Vet think he was a she? Other than their ignorance that their gender determines their coloring?

My experience with exotic vets has been just as crappy. I think that some vets just tack that on because they had a lizard when they were a kid or something and now they think "it's all the same difference". I hate going there and listening to them talk and I know what they are saying is wrong. Doesn't instill trust, lemme tell ya. I once went to a highly recommended exotic vet for my lizard Maru who had an eye infection. I brought him there, he said "well, I don't know, looks like an eye infection" and told me to buy some pink eye stuff from the store. Which didn't work. So then I had to go back and get prescription stuff. If I had just brought some antibiotics online from the start it would all have been fine and much cheaper. But I guess there is reactive, not preventative, so a different ballgame.

I'm sure there are some amazing exotic/avian vets out there so my intention is not to denigrate anyone! I just want an avian vet that blows me away as much as my cat vet. She comes to my house, gets on the floor with the cats, makes kitty noises at them, and is always right.

The vet I go to is a large practice that does dogs, cats, and exotics. They are a multiple vet hospital and while the exotic vet does do dogs and cats the dog and cat vet does not do exotics. As a vet tech, I know first hand that some things are great to do at home, and other things are best left to the pros. Weighing can certainly be done at home and should be recorded frequently. Keeping great records is the best way to ensure good veterinary care. A regular appointment can be a basic exam, weighing, and consult as well as possible blood work and fecal exams. Having a vet who is familiar with your pet means that they will be available for emergencies and has equipment like oxygen, drugs, and x ray machines. If this vet was not though then find one who is and bring all pertinent info such as age, sex (if known), diet, known problems, previous vet records, and be sure to have it written down. It also helps to have all questions written down so that you get your money's worth.

Good thought, RescueMe. My wife is high maintenance, so I finally made up a single page with a summary of her past events and present medications. The med people always burn a copy, so nothing is forgotten or lost in translation. For awhile, I even had it on a text file on a stick attached to her phone, but that didn't get used.

Guess we should do the same for our babies. Is there a standard bird history and situation form circulating, or does anybody have their own?