Vet Exam Expectations

I really wanted to get some feedback on my IRN's, Mango, thinning head feathers (I think it's molting) so I booked an exam with a local vet. They said their exam includes a nail trim, but I did not inquire much about what an exam will include. I have time to do that, but I do not know what questions I should ask or expect from the exam, so that is my question.

I acquired an Indian Ring Neck and Cockatiel about 3 months ago as mature birds, but I have not been around birds much. There are probably many things that I am not aware of or of what to ask a vet, so hoping to get some insight here before that visit. It is 5 days from now.

Thanks all...

The first step is to make sure you have a qualified veterinarian...
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.
Good for you for looking into this!
And good luck.

A well bird examination should require a full hands on physical examination (think of your own physical examination).

Take a look in the Amazon Forum and at the top of that Forum is a sticky Thread that is titled: I Love Amazons ..., This huge Thread provides information that in near all cases can be applied to Parrots in general. The last third of it that huge Thread looks at reasons for regular Avian Vet visits and what one should think about and target regarding those visits.

Likely, that your Parrot is molting, but one should always obtain a new Parrot physical examination that should also include a full spectrum blood test, etc...

This is an avian vet DVM and member of AAV. I'll go peruse the Amazon forum. Thanks

So it's been a little hard to update the post. There was a long hands-on exam of both birds. What struck me the most was the vets initial response at the pairing of birds. She suggested to separate them as the IRN, being younger in relative age, may have an unfortunate (for the cockatiel) change of behavior. Young male and old female, but they are expected to be the same age in physical years.

The vet suspected the IRN crashed about 4 weeks ago that caused loss of many tail feathers, time determined by length of new feather growth. That would have been while I was on vacation, and I could not recall such an incident otherwise. A few tail feathers were lost about 6-8 weeks ago over perhaps a couple of weeks. She identified some old scars but only said the general feather thinning could be molting or might be diet related. I may have made a mistake about opting for a vitamin shot instead of a blood test - it seemed the test was only going to determine if there were any vitamin deficiencies. I also bought some kind of seed/pellet cake that is only available to vets. Stool and mouth swab were clear, but noted the top palette mostly void of netting (I don't recall the terms she used now). And vents and ears partially obstructed, so she suggested more spraying with saline solution.

The cockatiel is mostly the same story, but is not having feather thinning. She noted the feet look different, but I could not tell. I did notice one foot had a couple small red sores. She also mentioned there was something different about the knee and that might have contributed to the foot.

For a couple months I've had home made pine dowels in the cage and they had become chewed and splintered, so I replaced them with PVC a couple of weeks ago that I had heated and made lumpy. She is not in favor of PVC perches. She does not recommend trimming or polishing beaks. She lightly clipped toenails, but said all of that is only necessary if there is reason such as medical, deformity, etc.

There is probably more details I'm forgetting and I don't have my notes - I should have taken them during the exam. We were in the exam room for more than an hour, close to two.

I also should have talked to my boss because I was not aware that an exam is simply a hands-on look-see, and as she put it, everything at the vet is a-la-cart!

The good news is that Mango's feathers seem to be filling in some, and I have a lot more information.

This pic is from a couple of weeks ago.

Looks like quite a few pin feathers coming in on Mango's head..and some "balding" on his face. Are you finding "fluffy" downish type of feathers in and around Mango's house?


Jim

I read recently that pvc , actually isn't as safe as we thought..... It off gasses , and is harmful as that builds up...I hope you can find some safe wood for perches , or get some online if you are able. I use crepe myrtle, I remove all twigs and leaves, and clean them.

There has been down feathers around, what I would expect during molting, but no experience with that yet and it seems to have tapered off - for two birds I see about half a dozen small down feathers and a few that are ~1/2 - 3/4 inch long, over the past 3 days.

I had bamboo in there and the pvc was "my" idea, but sealed when I saw it at petco.
We have lime, lemon, and apple here; and I've read that oak and redwood are suspicious, but could trim them to the core via lathe. I am worried about mites or other unknowns with that, not that pvc is any better...

Can anyone tell me about blood tests?

Well, Mango is looking a lot better. Just a few pin feathers around the eyes and beak. Next year I'll know what to expect.