Finding a vet

So I'm getting a bird a couple months, and called a few vet clinics in town in advance. I was under the impression that the one local vet clinic had an avian vet on staff (the receptionist told me such over the phone). I went in in person to ask a few questions, and found out that said vet is in no way specialized, just "very interested in exotics". Shes also right out of school; only been in the practice a year.

Feeling a bit discouraged, I proceeded to call every vet clinic in the city. No certified avian vets.

The one clinic does have a vet who has been in practice quite a while, and he apparently sees birds quite often. But, once again, not specialized.

I suppose the second vet might be the better option? He at least has experience. I'm still disappointed; I guess I assumed in a city of 80'000 there would be at least one avian vet. But alas, it would seem the nearest one is 5 hours from me.

Any local breeders in your area ? check with them.

I would try and see what their clients think. Just because the other vet has more experience doesn't mean he is better qualified. In fact, being right out of school could be a good thing, she is probably up to date with the latest practices and she has a lot more to prove than someone that has their own practice or has been doing it for awhile.

New guy might be willing to go the extra mile and develop a new client base.

henpecked said:

Any local breeders in your area ? check with them.

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Yeah, when I go to put the deposit on my Senegal chick I'll be asking the breeder who she goes to. I'm just complaining I guess lol. I'm sure either one will be fine with basic check-ups and non-invasive procedures. It's more anesthesia and surgery I worry about; obviously I hope that is never necessary, but I like to be prepared (or as my roommate has decided to call me, I'm "parrotnoid").

Well, I first also used a new vet who wasn't avian certified, but had "high interest" in birds. I looked at it this way. He is a veterinarian, which means he went to school. And I figured he had the education to read veterinary handbooks written for veterinarians and understand and learn the material, whereas a lay person such as myself would only get the gist of the material here and there. I had no complaints about his knowledge nor his handling of my birds.

Basically the same way that I can read graduate level mathematics texts and understand them, but those of you who aren't math majors or engineers would not. Does that make sense? Try reading an actual medical text if you aren't a doctor or at least a nurse, and I bet much of it seems like gibberish. It does to me anyway.

So I think a veterinarian who truly wants to learn the material will probably do just fine if he/she is motivated.

If I didn't have an avian vet within driving distance I'd be willing to work with a vet who had an interest in birds. BUT! I would do a TON of reading and research on my own as well and if said vet wasn't interested in working with me and open to what I learned then I'd find someone else.

You all make good points. I really shouldn't immediately dismiss the newer of the two vets. I'll have to look in to it a bit more, maybe sit down and talk to the both of them. Thanks for all the great input

Well, today I learned the vet I've been using for years is not really a board certified avian vet! I needed to take in Merlin, called my vet and found out he was on vacation. AAAHHH!!! Panic!!! Well, they referred me to someone else, who is a board certified avian vet, and she told me he is not. Now could be she is wrong, but I really liked her better anyway, so will be going there from now on. She was able to run a complete blood panel right there on the spot and share the results with me. So no waiting, she even had me look in the microscope at the gram stains and explained to me what I was seeing.

However, I'm now wondering about the first guy. When I asked if he was an avian vet, he said yes. The other vet says he isn't. Well, I guess he didn't do anything wrong in all these years!