Avian Medicine Readings Recommendations

Hi all,

I've been discussing on and off with my partner if I would be interested in avian medicine, and decided the best way to find out is to start reading/studying it. I'm starting my PhD this year, and have yet to find a topic - my background is in Information Technology, but I'd be interested in applying my skills to another field. (For my Honours project, I looked at the use of IT to help improve eTourism). Not sure if they'd mesh, but even if I don't pursue it, I at least have the knowledge for my own guys.

Someone a while back recommended a book to read, but I can't for the life of me, remember which one it was. All I know was it was entitled "Avian Medicine"

I suspect it is this book:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Avian-Medicine-Thomas-Diplomate/dp/0702028746/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340900768&sr=8-1&keywords=avian+medicine"]Amazon.com: Handbook of Avian Medicine, 2e (9780702028748): Thomas N. Tully Jr. BS DVM MS Diplomate ABVP(Avian) ECAMS, Gerry M. Dorrestein Prof Dr Dr hc DVM , Alan K Jones BVet Med MRCVS: Books[/ame]

But then I came across this one:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Avian-Medicine-Jaime-Samour-ECAMS/dp/0723434018/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1340900768&sr=8-3&keywords=avian+medicine]Amazon.com: Avian Medicine, 2e (9780723434016): Jaime Samour MVZ PhD Dip ECAMS: Books[/ame]

Has anyone read either? And would you recommend any?

The one I am chasing has two versions: the full one and the 'essentials' one I believe. If you have recommendations, I am happy to hear.

Thanks

There was this one as well:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Avian-Medicine-Surgery-Brian/dp/1405157550/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340901162&sr=1-11&keywords=avian+medicine]Amazon.com: Essentials of Avian Medicine and Surgery (9781405157551): Brian Coles: Books[/ame]

I've started following blogs and facebook pages of Avian Vets online as well as reading more articles.

There are many sad stories, miracle stories (one was of a duck that had it's neck skinned from the middle up to the eyes! *cringe* Yet it survived and made a recovery! Insane... ), and happy stories as well.

I'm going to keep reading and if I get enough theoretical knowledge, I'm going to try and talk with the Vet School here on Campus (I lecture at a University part-time) and get their opinion as well. All comes down to:
> Will I understand what I have read? (so far, so good)
> Am I academically capable of keeping up with the demands of a vet science load?
> Will I still be interested in it 6 months down the track??
> Plus others...

I think if I decide to do it, I don't want to rush into the decision. I want to ensure that I make the right choice because a Vet Science degree is a big commitment, both time wise and financial. If anyone here studies, or has studied vet science, I'd like to hear feedback, both GOOD and BAD.

Thanks.

If you're interested in birds, you'll be interested in Avian Medicine, I'm sure... lol...

I read anything on parrots/birds, and if I wasn't 60+ I would study Avian Medicine... Go for it!

I don't have any advice, but good luck!

I did read "Holistic Care for Birds", which I liked, but it's not a medical text by any means.

[Warning: Semi-depressing post, turns into a bit of a rant at the end]

Note: I've purposefully changed the colour of this post to make it 'blend' with the forum background so people can skim over it if they want.

I think the biggest thing for me to get over would be death...

Originally, when I was younger I was VERY against euthanasia, but my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was told he had 6 months left to live. He lasted for two years.... while that may sound good, it was a rather bittersweet time because he wanted to die. I didn't understand it at first when I heard my parents talking about it, but when I watched him walking and watching his pain as he could no longer do the things he wanted to do, I was finally able to understand why he wanted to die. (He was an athlete runner and would go for a run in the morning and afternoon; the cancer attacked his bones and he found it difficult and painful to walk) Medication couldn't do much to relieve his pain; and he tried so, so hard to be happy in front of myself and my sister, but I could see how hard it was for him to fight the pain. It's painful even now as I write this remembering it.

I can understand why vets need to euthanize, and I understand that sometimes it is better for our companions to go peacefully rather than die a slow and agonising death. So I am "OK" (used loosely) with the need to euthanize; I don't like the idea of it personally, because I believe that if there is a chance to live, that you should take it, but I also know what it's like to watch someone suffer through their final years/months/days as quality of life diminishes..

What I am NOT OK with is preventable deaths. See my post http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/20495-cheap-birds-plea-poem.html People who let their companion die because they can just "replace it with a new one" or they are too cheap to pay for surgery. (There is a difference between being cheap and poor - being cheap means you HAVE money to pay for vet care, but can't be bothered, and being poor is understandable - however some vets can do payment plans with the owner if they are in financial hardship[1]) Same thing with (can't think of correct term) "convenience" euthanasia. People who put down animals because they don't want to take care of it any more, or don't want to pay for surgery, or they want to replace it with a "younger, healthier" companion (sadly, happens for a older cats/dogs that get replaced with a "cuddly kitten/puppies"[2]).

[1] - Difference between not having money to spend on anything, versus people who can spend money on a new phone/latest gadget, but not their pet. Sometimes people do experience financial hardship and cannot afford vet care over their own personal living expenses; but if you can afford to buy a new shiny smartphone/laptop/tablet/etc, you can afford to look after your pet. Your pet didn't choose to be bought by you - you made the decision yourself.
[2] - I remember reading a vet's story about a woman who came in with a 14 year old cat to get a check up. Clean bill of health, nothing wrong. The woman complained that the cat scratched the furniture and left fur everywhere and she was getting fed up of it. The vet offered advice on how to fix that, e.g. brushing fur, having a cat scratching post. The woman went home. Later that afternoon, the lady called back saying how the cat was "elderly, and that she thinks it was time for the cat to move on" and requested euthanasia; the vet declined and said to take it to another vet.
>> There have also been some reports of [insertbadwordshere] low-lives who blackmail vets by saying that they'll "do the deed themselves". It just sickens me. I am really worried about what would happen if I do take this profession up and get that person through the door; needless to say, I am going to be in contact with the RSPCA and Police if that ever happens.

Making a new post to keep "depressing/angry post" separate from this one. Sorry for the earlier rant, it just a touchy topic with me.

====================

lene1949 said:

If you're interested in birds, you'll be interested in Avian Medicine, I'm sure... lol...

I read anything on parrots/birds, and if I wasn't 60+ I would study Avian Medicine... Go for it!

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lene - having worked and taught at a university; I can certainly say you are never to old to pursue further study! Look at this from just in May: World's oldest university graduate - ABC North Coast NSW - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

ABC said:

Southern Cross University lecturer, Doctor Sonia Brownie, says she did a double take when she first saw an enrolment application with a date of birth of 1915

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Remy said:

I don't have any advice, but good luck!

I did read "Holistic Care for Birds", which I liked, but it's not a medical text by any means.

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I do like the idea of holistic medicine, particularly in avian medicine. It's a shame they don't practice it as much as they should in human medicine; far too often its "take this drug, or that drug" rather than looking at other factors.

I'll keep an eye out for that book anyway. Thanks for that.

I have this book. It's very big (1400 pages) but it's a great book.
Avian Medicine: principles and aplication by Ritchie, Harrison and Harrison

You can read a bit of it in here:
http://www.ivis.org/advances/harrison_2/chap10.pdf

I think this maybe what your looking for.

Avian Medicine Online

I hope you can open it.

Yes that is the book I was referring too! Great to be able to read it online!

PS: I paid a lot of money for that book and now you can read it for free online??? Go figure!

I went down to the university library earlier and found the avian medicine section. (Rather small, probably about 10-20 books or so) but checked out three books to read:

Manual of Avian Medicine - Olsen and Orosz
Essentials of Avian Medicine and Surgery; and
Avian Medicine

I found two giant books entitled Avian Medicine I and Avian Medicine II; I'll look into those next

Had a chat with a vet student today about the degree; from the looks of it, I can do the undergrad work locally, but when it comes to the Avian special-isation, it will require relocation down south. (No avian vets up here) I'm looking into it, will find out if I can enrol in a subject or two as a 'taste' next year.

Echo said:

I have this book. It's very big (1400 pages) but it's a great book.
Avian Medicine: principles and aplication by Ritchie, Harrison and Harrison

You can read a bit of it in here:
http://www.ivis.org/advances/harrison_2/chap10.pdf

Click to expand...

Pedro said:

I think this maybe what your looking for.

Avian Medicine Online

I hope you can open it.

Click to expand...

Just read the first chapter the book about avian medicine and how there is limited information. So very true.

On second look/double take - I just noticed the author of Chapter 1!! Dr Ross Perry! He's an Avian vet that is in Gold Coast if I'm not mistaken. http://www.facebook.com/DrRossPerryBirdVet

Echo said:

Yes that is the book I was referring too! Great to be able to read it online!

PS: I paid a lot of money for that book and now you can read it for free online??? Go figure!

Click to expand...

Eh - I prefer real books over eBooks any day I just had a squiz online and it varies from $80 up to $200 new.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Avian-Medicine-Applications-Branson-Ritchie/dp/0967406609/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342069180&sr=8-2&keywords=AVIAN+MEDICINE%3A+Principle+and+Applications]Amazon.com: Avian Medicine: Principles & Applications (9780967406602): Branson W. Ritchie, Greg J. Harrison, Linda R. Harrison: Books[/ame]

Though it's a 1994 book... Wonder if there is a revised/updated version??


[Edit] Have you ever tried printing a textbook?? haha - a friend of mine did because he didn't want to buy it, but the amount of trouble, with printing, getting paper and binding it didn't seem worth it from my view but then again I am that sort of person who tries to buy new books right away so I can get it in hardcover before it runs out of print and they switch to softcover. *laughs*

Alisana said:

Echo said:

Yes that is the book I was referring too! Great to be able to read it online!

PS: I paid a lot of money for that book and now you can read it for free online??? Go figure!

Click to expand...

Eh - I prefer real books over eBooks any day I just had a squiz online and it varies from $80 up to $200 new.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Avian-Medicine-Applications-Branson-Ritchie/dp/0967406609/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342069180&sr=8-2&keywords=AVIAN+MEDICINE%3A+Principle+and+Applications]Amazon.com: Avian Medicine: Principles & Applications (9780967406602): Branson W. Ritchie, Greg J. Harrison, Linda R. Harrison: Books[/ame]

Though it's a 1994 book... Wonder if there is a revised/updated version??


[Edit] Have you ever tried printing a textbook?? haha - a friend of mine did because he didn't want to buy it, but the amount of trouble, with printing, getting paper and binding it didn't seem worth it from my view but then again I am that sort of person who tries to buy new books right away so I can get it in hardcover before it runs out of print and they switch to softcover. *laughs*

Click to expand...

I must say that I like real books as well! I have a Kindle but still buy paper books LOL. I don't think there is a revised book for that one but it is a great book! It cost me $117 new.