What To Get Done At The Vets?

Raixalotto

New member
Nov 21, 2015
115
1
Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Jasper - Indian Ringneck Parrot |

Apple & Cinnamon - Black Capped Conures |

Crimson & Ruby - Crimson Bellied Conures |

Silver & Brown - King Quails
Hello everyone,
I will be taking Jasper to the vets either next week or the week after. I was wondering what I should get the vet to actually do. I've never taken a healthy bird to the vet before, and what I should get done (and make them do - as in tests, ect). He'll be getting a microchip and general wellness check/examination, I don't know what else should be done.
(The exception being the Conures I got not too long ago, as I'd let the vet know a while before, and their situation, so he did everything just incase)
Thanks :D
 

plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
How are Jasper's nails? Would a nail trim be in order? Good luck hope all goes well.
 
OP
Raixalotto

Raixalotto

New member
Nov 21, 2015
115
1
Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Jasper - Indian Ringneck Parrot |

Apple & Cinnamon - Black Capped Conures |

Crimson & Ruby - Crimson Bellied Conures |

Silver & Brown - King Quails
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Possibly, however I was told to only get them done if they lift the toe off the ground/floor? I will ask the vet though (someone told me at work, not sure how right that is though...)
 

Notdumasilook

New member
Jul 28, 2015
539
6
Charlotte, NC
Parrots
Blue Fronted Amazon, Cookie..Sun Conure..lil Booger (RIP) Have owned Parakeets, lovebirds, cockatiels, cockatoos, pocket parrot, and quakers.
IF you have a decent vet they will know what to do. With a healthy critter just a good once over. I keep my conures nails trimmed myself. When they get long and needle sharp they seem to hang in my shirts, back of couch, etc. When they get hung of course they struggle and potentially can hurt themselves. Pretty sure you vet will look at his nails but you might mention it to him/her while you have the lil birdie there. Hope all goes well at the vet.
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,646
10,008
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
As stated above, a good Avian Vet will know what to test for with a New Parrot. But, it is a good idea to know what should be looked at as a way of being an informed Parrot owner.

First, STOP reading this and make the appointment NOW. In the USA, this is a very busy week based on back to school, end of most peoples Summer travels and, lots of Vets take this as a Vacation Week. Add to that, next week is a short week and with a three day weekend, they will be stacked solid with emergencies. So if you plan on see a Vet this or next week you better get going.

Completions of New Client Documents - the Paper Work!
Introductions and Verbal Interview
Complete 'hands-on' examination
Scale weight of Parrot
Full Spectrum Blood Test
DNA Sex Text - Not required, but recommended
Gram Stain Test
Specific tests bases on History of Parrot, findings, and/or local requirements or outbreaks.
At Clients request: Nail trimming

NOTE: A quality Avian Vet will include a Visit Report, which lists all tests, findings and recommended follow-up(s).

NOTE: Depending on the findings and level of Stress that your Parrot is experiencing, the Avian Vet may recommend that the Micro Chip be placed at a later date.
 
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Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
IF you have a decent vet they will know what to do. With a healthy critter just a good once over. I keep my conures nails trimmed myself. When they get long and needle sharp they seem to hang in my shirts, back of couch, etc. When they get hung of course they struggle and potentially can hurt themselves. Pretty sure you vet will look at his nails but you might mention it to him/her while you have the lil birdie there. Hope all goes well at the vet.

As stated above, a good Avian Vet will know what to test for with a New Parrot. But, it is a good idea to know what should be looked at as a way of being an informed Parrot owner.

First, STOP reading this and make the appointment NOW. In the USA, this is a very busy week based on back to school, end of most peoples Summer travels and, lots of Vets take this as a Vacation Week. Add to that, next week is a short week and with a three day weekend, they will be stacked solid with emergencies. So if you plan on see a Vet this or next week you better get going.

Completions of New Client Documents - the Paper Work!
Introductions and Verbal Interview
Complete 'hands-on' examination
Scale weight of Parrot
Full Spectrum Blood Test
DNA Sex Text - Not required, but recommended
Gram Stain Test
Specific tests bases on History of Parrot, findings, and/or local requirements or outbreaks.
At Clients request: Nail trimming

NOTE: A quality Avian Vet will include a Visit Report, which lists all tests, findings and recommended follow-up(s).

NOTE: Depending on the findings and level of Stress that your Parrot is experiencing, the Avian Vet may recommend that the Micro Chip be placed at a later date.

It is not easy to find a highly skilled and ethical vet that respects your finances! I've found two types - the rigidly $cience based practitioner$ who $eek to employ every te$t to confirm a diagnosis, and those with years of experience who know precisely how and when to test. After years of parrot companionship I finally found the latter!
 
OP
Raixalotto

Raixalotto

New member
Nov 21, 2015
115
1
Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Jasper - Indian Ringneck Parrot |

Apple & Cinnamon - Black Capped Conures |

Crimson & Ruby - Crimson Bellied Conures |

Silver & Brown - King Quails
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Thank you for all the information :)
The vet clinic I'm going to is a bird only one (specialise in birds, don't treat any other animals), also I've heard and been told really good things about the place as well. By the DNA test, do you mean surgical sexing, or the other DNA test (where blood or feathers are sent off)? I've had Jasper DNA tested already, would that mean the vet would still need to do it though?
I also live in Australia and the vacation period isn't usually until the 17th of September... :)
Thanks :D
 
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Aquila

New member
Nov 19, 2012
1,225
1
Philadelphia
Parrots
Sydney - Blue Front Amazon
Gonzo - Congo African Grey
Willow - Cockatiel
RIP:
Snowy, Ivy, Kiwi, Ghost - Parakeets
Berry - Cinnamon GCC
One thing I really like about my vet (even though he isn't avian specific, he handles exotics and is a bird owner/rescuer himself) is that I can bring in "samples" for gram stains whenever I want, without needing a vet visit, so that definitely saves me in the long run. He's also incredibly thorough and is more than happy to talk to me over the phone about my concerns. I don't know if it's because I'm the crazy bird lady or what! (They even have my number posted in the office in case of surrendered birds.)

But I think as all this is important to have in a good vet, for any animal, in addition to performing the necessary tests and not in excess. I agree with the above, weight, physical, bloodwork and gram stain are standard for a wellness check and depending on the results of those, then further testing as required. if you were a little bit farther north I'd definitely recommend him to you!
 

jenphilly

Active member
Oct 15, 2013
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Lehigh Valley, PA
Parrots
BE2 (Ivory), B&G Macaw (Max), Budgie Group,
Granbirds- tiels; GCC (Monkey & Monster); Sun Conure (Loki); Bare Eyed Too (Folger); Evil Green Monster YNA (Kelly); B&G (Titan)
If you have had your bird DNA sexed, then no need to do it again :)

What tests to have done depends on the history of Jasper... has Jasper always been with you? Always been on a healthy well balanced diet with lots of fresh foods? How old is Jasper?

If Jasper is young and has been with you for most of his life, then start with a simple checkup (visual once over) and the ever important gram stain. The basic gram stain, an avian vet will usually do on the spot, if you have any worries about any issues with poop not always looking healthy, then ask for a full fecal run. But if you've never had any worries and Jasper is young (under 5), and the gram stain comes up entirely clean, not urgent for anything else to be done. If the gram stain has anything worrisome (blood or epithelial cells; any indication of infection), then your vet will surely want to run a full CBC and likely a liver function panel.

If Jasper is over 5 and has never had any bloodwork done, then even with a healthy gram, its time for the 'baseline' testing if money allows. Bloodwork is not necessary every year for a healthy bird, but you do want to have baseline CBC and liver panel done when the bird is still healthy so that much like humans, there is something to compare to.

I'm an advocate of disease testing (well obviously for what I'm involved with its a requirement), but look into seeing if you have a lab available to mail off poop samples, its usually a fraction of the cost of having your vet run the test. Here in the States, Avian Biotech is one of the leading test and research labs, they offer what they call an environmental sample which is their 'poop' sample. They mail you out a free test collection kit, you swab up a fresh sample of poop, mail it back and for $40 for a two panel test can have results for the two biggest worries (at least in our rescue world) psittacosis and PBFD. But, if Jasper is from a breeder or rescue where the testing was done before, as long as not in any situations of potential exposure, no need for that either.

That's the long answer..... short answer - a good, honest avian vet will do a health checkup (visual, weight, etc) and a gram stain. That's the standard yearly health screening / checkup. If anything is seen or worrisome, then you go into further diagnostic testing.

So happy to hear you are taking your guy in for routine health screenings. So often we hear people who don't believe in taking their bird for checkups... after all, they look healthy and seem fine, they don't need to go. Love seeing parrot families who understand that health screenings for their birds is as important as it for women to go for that mammogram and yearly checkup we dread, guys to go in and have their stuff checked out or even routine bloodwork for cholesterol, sugars, etc.... Anyway, I'm off on a tangent... routine health screenings is something that always lands me on the soapbox... sorry to be preaching!!!!

Again, huge supporter for your choice to take Jasper in!! Hope Jasper breezes thru everything - no worries!!
 
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Raixalotto

Raixalotto

New member
Nov 21, 2015
115
1
Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Jasper - Indian Ringneck Parrot |

Apple & Cinnamon - Black Capped Conures |

Crimson & Ruby - Crimson Bellied Conures |

Silver & Brown - King Quails
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Jasper has been with me his entire life and before (I had his parents). He eats a variety of fruit and veg everyday along with pellets (he refuses to eat seeds that aren't sprouted). He will be one on the 28th of October :)
I know there's a place that does disease testing, but its with a blood sample (don't know of any others). Thank you :D
 

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