Microchip Numero Dos: Anesthesia?

Tonight I am taking Sammy to a different vet who offers the Home Again chip (which has 9 digits and can be read by a "universal" chip scanner). For those of you who don't know, about a week and a half ago I went to my normal avian vet and told her I needed to microchip my Quaker for international travel to Honduras--the Pet Passport requires a form of permanent identification, and the Honduran government requires the chips be checked at the airport. It went SO much better than I expected, they put him out for only three minutes, got the chip in, then he was ready to go home fifteen minutes later. He didn't even act sore, playing with the feathers where he was stuck just a bit then ignoring it. All seemed well... until I realized that he'd been chipped with an AVID chip, a company whose 8-digit numbers are encrypted so they can only be read with an AVID scanner--common in the USA but rare everywhere else. So I did more research and realized that to get my baby to Central America he needed a 9 digit chip that can be read by a universal scanner, be it an ISO chip or the Home Again. (The first vet gave me my money back and was VERY apologetic.) So I called around and found an avian vet who does Home Again chips... Only thing is that he doesn't plan to anesthetize Sammy when he sticks him.

This makes me feel sick, as I am already going to have to leave him the evening before and pick him up the next day thanks to my work and how far away this vet office is. My last vet said that putting it in such a small bird without anesthesia would be cruel. Should I ask this vet to give him the anesthesia? They've said they another plan to use anesthesia if he gets upset. I am already feeling a huge mound of guilt over the poor guy having to get stuck twice... I don't want him to be in a huge amount of pain. What do you guys think I should do?

If you trust your last vet should ask for anesthesia. I changed my whole response after rereading your post. It comes down to which expert is more credible. Once when my son was sick it took 3 different ERs to get him treated properly. The last ER doc told me to stop using the ER and take my son to his PCP. I told her to do her job and let me worry about mine. I then demanded a chest x Ray.

They kept telling me he just had cold. Oh the look on her face when she came back. She knew she was wrong. He had bronchialitis with secondary Asthma. Spent a week in hospital. Still has asthma.

So to tie it to your topic you have to decide which vet to listen to. The New vet might think the risk of anesthesia outweighs the benefits. if you trust your first vet don't be afraid to stand up for your fid.

It's because he is so little and the needle is so big that they put him under. The chip itself is a little bigger than a grain of rice. No big deal for big birds or dogs but big for a 125 gram bird. He was under for about three minutes last time then was drowsy for twenty.

I changed my whole response after I reread your post. I didn't quite get it at first.

I know how vets who are competent with avians are few and far between as compared to dog and cat vets, but sounds like you might want to keep looking for a vet who not only uses the ISO or Home Again brand, but is confident enough to KNOW HOW TO SAFELY anesthetize Sammy and do the procedure! You might have to travel some distance to find the right vet for this.

I guess that vet who didn't want to put him under is only used to sticking dogs and cats who are so much bigger of an animal that it isn't necessary. With a bird, especially Sammy's size, it's like us being impaled by a large sword without anesthesia. Um... ouch to say the least! Furthermore, I wouldn't trust that vet with anesthesia dosage for a small bird if he's not comfortable and experienced with it.

Buy a Home Again chip kit and have the original vet do the placement with anesthesia

The vet I am taking him to this time is actually the more experienced avian vet. My regular vet is much closer but has also only been a vet for a few years. This second vet has been an avian vet for over thirty years and is also a falconer. Both of them are members of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. I called and talked to them again, and the receptionist said that if when the doctor did his exam he thought it would cause Sammy any major stress that he would use anesthesia with him (I have to get him an exam there before they will microchip him since we have not been there before) . So I guess I will just sign the paper saying he can put him out if he feels its necessary and trust that he knows what he is doing. I just hate that I can't be there but I have work and my grandmother passed away yesterday evening so we are going nuts with all the funeral plans (my mom wants to have the funeral as quickly as possible because my aunt just lost her husband of only 65 years suddenly last Christmas eve and wants to get this over ASAP for her sake, but that means a lot of work in a short time!)

My condolences on the loss of your grandmother.

gracebowen said:

My condolences on the loss of your grandmother.

Click to expand...

Thank you. She was 94 and in very poor condition. Only two days ago we moved her from assisted living to a memory facility because her dementia had gotten so bad. She honestly looked like she was on the edge of death, I guess because she was. She didn't know us and could barely eat... She was also in physical pain. We are happy that she is in heaven with her husband and son-in-law, but it is always sad to say goodbye to someone you love, even if it is their time to go.

Well, I dropped off Sammy at the vet last night and told them I wanted them to go ahead and give him anesthesia, that I didn't mind paying. I'm actually quite fond of this vet. They made me fill out an EXTENSIVE history, not just medical but EVERYTHING about Samsung's life, from the size of his cage to what foods he's eating (having seperate sections for you to list everything from seeds to pellets to veggies to fruits to breads to meats), as well as a box to check stating that you know that many household cleaners and all aerosol sprays can hurt birds. They even asked on the form if I take him outside and if I do whether or not he is supervised and what precautions I take. Seems like these guys really care about birds. I was like a mother on her child's first day of kindergarten, though. It's the first time I've been away from Sammy overnight, and I got all teary thinking of him stuck some place scary with people he doesn't know. Everyone seemed very nice, though, so hopefully all goes well. I had no choice but to drop him off--I would never make it to work on time if I took him this morning. I am going to pick him up after school lets out, about five or five-thirty, then immediately afterward I have my grandmother's viewing at six o'clock to eight o'clock. Just praying that all goes super smoothly for Sam my man--I do NOT need anything else to happen right now, LOL!

I am SO unhappy!!! I TOLD the vet tech I wanted the doctor to give him the anesthesia no matter what, that I would pay for it, but he DIDN'T! Also, he put the second chip in Sammy's back. I told the vet tech (note that I never even got the chance to speak to the esteemed doctor!) that I read birds shouldn't be chipped there because they could tear it out, and she said that the vet said they don't chip birds there because they are easy for people to CUT out... Not at all what I had read. After they chipped him they called me to let me know "he did great" and that they "didn't even have to anesthesize him" and that he was perfectly fine... He is NOT fine. Last time he was his normal self within an hour. This time he is a mess. His personality is TOTALLY off--he is quiet, yielding (let's me touch him whatever without putting up his usual protest of a sqwauk), shaking, wobbly on his feet, and unable to fly and make his landings. (He has clipped wings but is always flying short distances and is a very adept semi-flier). The only normal thing he has done is try to preen inside my nose. I am hoping he will feel better in the morning after he sleeps, but I am really unhappy that they didn't do what I asked and the actual vet never even came out to talk to me. I was so relieved when they said he was fine, but this procedure has obviously shaken and exhausted him. I just hope he is not in any pain now. If he is not back to normal tomorrow, I am going to call them and ask for more details about it--like whether they gave him anything for pain. I will not be returning to this vet. Maybe the first one put in the wrong chip but at least she cared about whether or not my bird would be in pain and actually spoke to me herself instead of through her vet techs.

That's horrible. I would complain to the people who certified him and or whoever oversees vets. I hope hr is better soon.

I sorry for your experience. Please share I what city the vets you have used are in......I have two leads on avian vets but I would like to know if
the ones in your experience are local to Arlington or what...

Please PM me to give me the names of the vets that you aren't thrilled with in NTX.

The vet I like in Arlington is named Dr. Lindsay Robinson and she works at the I-20 Animal Medical Center. I will PM you the name of the vet I am less than thrilled with. Don't want to give anyone bad press, as I am sure there are many people who have had much better experiences considering how long he has been practicing.

How's Sammy?