My vet confessed!

Mare Miller

Banned
Banned
May 14, 2011
1,260
Media
2
3
sierra foothills of central California
Parrots
13yr. old male umbrella cockatoo,
we call him Amigo!

7yr. old Goffin cockatoo, she IS Sassy!!
I ran into my avian vet, at the mall, the other day and we got to talking. I like her a lot, she's been in the biz for many years. She cut it loose to me that she knows birds but is mostly acquainted with African Greys only because that's what she has personally owned for years and years.

When it comes to medicine, she is very confident in her abilities, when it comes to handling birds, no problem. She said that when it comes to their psyche, she is still learning and has no problem with asking the owner questions pertaining to that breed of bird.

I found this refreshing, wouldn't it be nice if most vets didn't think they knew it all and kept an open mind!
 
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MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
My vet whom I used to go see at a different clinic because my vet clinic's avian vet left them so I only bring in my dogs and cats. She now joined as part of the team at my regular vet clinic. She knows more with african grey cause that's what she owns as well. But she had no trouble handling my bird what so ever.
 

roxynoodle

New member
Dec 1, 2011
4,499
2
I think it's refreshing she is open minded. Not only are there differences in species, but each bird is unique as well. Mine listens as well when I tell her something about one of my birds. On Saturday I told her it would be best to get Merlin into the towel if I sit down with her in my lap so she doesn't run away and fall on the floor. She said, "Yes, I think you're right." She has also asked if it's ok for her to come up to me, knowing some birds will bite their owner over perceived danger. You have a good vet it sounds like!
 

FutureDVM

New member
Jan 20, 2012
373
1
Colorado
Parrots
Crimson Bellied Conure (Penny), Maximillian Pionus (Piper), Lovebird (Poco)
That is exactly the kind of vet I want to be! I have to say that the vets I work with have set a wonderful example for me and I'm really grateful to work with such wonderful, caring people.
 

Pedro

New member
Dec 15, 2010
1,583
3
Australia
Parrots
2 Budgies, 3 Cockatiels, 6 GCC'S, 2 Crimson Bellie Conures, 9 Sun Conures, 2 Major Mitchells, 12 Eclectus parrots of various ages, 2 BF Amazons, 2 Hahn's Macaw's, 1 Red Tail Black Too
My Vet often will phone me asking for advice, non medical of course. The thing is you have to live with parrots to be able to understand them. Most Avian Vets don't even have a parrot so they don't have a clue how to deal with behaviour issues.

We don't have a lot of Avian Vets in Australia yet. But things are getting better, they are just a phone call away.
 

Joeyx

New member
Mar 15, 2012
354
0
Parrots
Birdie (BFA), Cloud (Lovebird)
my vet is similar too. i remember when i took topie my yellow collared macaw.. she was
very interested coz she'd never seen one before. spent some time with him and took photos.
 

BillsBirds

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2012
1,371
40
Largo, Florida
Parrots
Timneh African Grey (Bailey), Lovebird (Elvis)
I have worked with several vets in my day, and most of them are very caring people. That's why they became vets.Like any crosscut of society, you find good folks, and you find (to be polite) not so good folks. A good, caring vet, like a good doctor, has their patients' best interests in mind.
 

KellyH

New member
Feb 14, 2012
108
0
Alberta, Canada
Parrots
Currently bird less.
I live in a small town so our local vet usually deals with cows, horses, cats and dogs. The other day, a neighbor asked me if I knew how to trim nails. She bought a cockatiel a month ago and said his nails are getting really sharp. She asked the vet what he would charge and he said it depended if he had to put the bird to sleep or not???? Yikes!

Needless to say I came over and we had it done in like about 1 min. flat. She said wow, he was going to charge me $70 if they didn't have to put him to sleep. I wonder what it would have cost if they did have to put him to sleep?

And that's why people should find a good "Avian" vet. lol
 

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