I Was A Mess At The Vets!!

I know it was silly, because they were not being harmed, and it was necessary in order to check them, but today at Loki & Wingnuts first vet appointment, I CRIED when the tech restrained them.

To see my babies be grabbed and held by the neck filled me with such 'unrest', that I had to stop myself from reacting. They were fine up until that point. We never have grabbed them that way, and it terrified them.

I guess we should get them used to it.....I know it is necessary for them to be handled this way during medical procedures, and I am thankful that there are people who know how to do it without hurting them..... I just dont know if I ever want to touch them that way....in such a severe manner.

OMG, I know exactly what you mean! When I took my baby to the vet, I had the same reactionm when he unceremoniously yanked my Percy from his carrier by the neck!! I almost slapped the man until I remember reading that this is the way to restrain a bird from biting. Knowing it is necessary does NOT make it easier to watch. I'm torn between not being present during these exams and wanting to be present to make sure no one hurts my birdy

As a veterinary technician, I would have been fired for grabbing a bird by the neck and yanking it from the carrier by neck. Licensed and trained veterinary technicians are thoroughly educated on animal restraint, and have an understanding of the litigation involved in mishandling a patient (and client).

No doubt about it, veterinary visits are an emotional time for the client and patient. Veterinary staff need to understand the human emotion involved in patient care, and learn to respect the owner's feeling. Veterinary technician schools are now teaching the art of client care, and how to create a dialog during emotional times.

I recommend you contact the office manager, and if there is no office manager, talk to the veterinarian who managed your case. Ask about the certification of those who care of your pets, and discuss how you felt during the visit. Remember, you are spending your hard-earned money and deserve an explanation. While your visit may be emotional, you should never leave the office feeling abused or neglected.

I'll tell you a story about in a clinic I worked in. While this story does not involve a bird, you might still find this entertaining. However, I learned a valuable lesson.

I entered the room to get samples and a history for a routine exam. Getting samples involved getting a fecal and a blood sample. The owner was a buffed out EMT whose bulging muscles had my eyelids fluttering like a fool. The patient was a sweet boxer dog who licked my face in the manner only a boxer dog could do.

Once I was thoroughly saturated by dog saliva I proceeded to get the samples. The owner wanted to hold the dog, which in this clinic was tolerated for anxious patients. Although the dog was well mannered, I allowed him to 'hug' the dog while the assistant blocked off the vein.

"Don't faint," I joked.

Flexing those mighty muscles, he chuckled. "I'm a EMT," he proudly announced. "I've seen much worse than this."

So, I prepared the syringe, and inserted the needle in the vein. The owner promptly fainted. I mean dropped like a shot duck. He fell back and crushed the wall behind him. I capped the needle and knelt beside Mr. Muscles while the assistant distracted the dog with a treat. A few seconds later Mr. EMT opened his eyes.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You fainted," I replied.

"Oh my," he muttered. "I've never done that before."

"Well, don't feel bad. I've had a heart surgeon leave the room before I drew blood on his dog."

Chuckling in embarrassment he rose to his feet. I made him sit in the chair, and allowed his dog to lick his face.

Nobody was hurt except the wall, and I learned a valuable lesson: People do have deep emotions when it comes to their pets. I learned to watch the body language of not only the patient, but the client, too.



If at any time you feel your pet is being mishandled, stand up and tell the offender to stop. While bad things have to happen like getting nails trimmed, wings clipped and blood drawing, at no time should the pet be abused. People who demand the most create change, and change leads to improvement. Don't be afraid to stand up for you pet. That's your job.

Tessie, what a hilarious, WELL TOLD story!!! WHAT a visual I have now!!!

I must say, none of my fids were ever yanked by the head when visiting the Avian vet. They are carefully, gently AND quickly toweled first, and yes, then the neck/head is held to avoid bites.

I know the feeling, I have it each time the bird groomer comes by to do the birds.

Thanks for that, Tessie!

Ugh I know how you feel! When they did a yearly check up with Lilo, they had to hold her with a towel and she was screaming like I have never herd! It was horrible! I could not watch! But when it was done, Lilo came and hid in my hair! But yes it is hirable to go through that!

Tessie, awesome story! Years ago I worked in a vets office. I also have a story, about a boxer, and fainting. There was a very nice, very soft spoken delicate man who came in, and his boxer was coming home, with an elizabethan collar, to prevent her from tearing out stitches. He was so thankful to have her back. He loved her so much. He hated the collar, and wanted to remove it. He thought it was making the dog uncomfortable Apparently, he disregarded the Doctors instructions, and removed the collar once he got in the car. Somewhere along the way home, he turned to see his dog in the back seat, bleeding profusely from where she had gnawed at her incision, and he promptly passed out. He hit a light pole, and damaged his car, but neither he, nor the dog were injured.

Regarding yesterday, I do not feel that my birds were handled callously. They were pet, and spoken softly to during the first part of the exam. It was only when the exam got more thorough that they were held by the neck. I did not mean to give the impression that they were treated with anything less than extreme professionalism. I just don't handle them forcefully at all. That is why it was difficult for me. We were very happy with this Veterinarian, and will be bringing our third bird there, when the time comes.

a lot of bird books, and even vets recommend you play with towels with the babies so theyr'e not scared of being restrained. i've never done this, has anyone else? it makes sense to me it'd be good to do and when i get a new bird i always think "yeah i'll train this one to not be scared of towels" but never actually do it. and then i get to the vet and they're trying to escape the vet and i start thinking "thats right, i meant to train you not to be scared..."

some funny fainting stories

Regarding yesterday, I do not feel that my birds were handled callously. They were pet, and spoken softly to during the first part of the exam. It was only when the exam got more thorough that they were held by the neck. I did not mean to give the impression that they were treated with anything less than extreme professionalism. I just don't handle them forcefully at all. That is why it was difficult for me. We were very happy with this Veterinarian, and will be bringing our third bird there, when the time comes.

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That's good to hear. I always get my dander up when I hear of someone't pet getting handled roughly at a veterinary clinic. As much money as people spend at at veterinary office, they should never leave unhappy.

Even though I worked 26 years as a technician, I still had to have my hubby haul my horse to UGA for bladder stone removal. I was too upset to drive. Although I was teary eyed when I left my horse, I knew he would be treated with care. We both survived the ordeal, but I never forgot how I felt.

It's easy to lose control of a frightened bird at the vets. The neck of a bird is anatomically designed to protect the windpipe. I hold Hahnzel that way when I have to immobilize him.

It's actually best to hold them gently by the neck just under the jaw than to restrain their chest, where if held to tight could compromise their breathing.

I find that my birds feel better (are more relaxed) when I am the one doing the restraint.I try to hold and touch them in this manner as often as I can so that it's easier for them at the vet. I usually don't use a towel as I can feel their body better without it and adjust my grip accordingly.

Tessie,

You had me cracking up here with your story....I couldn't stop laughing when you say Mr. Muscles....lol.....My ex mate whom I lived with before was a fire fighter and a EMT. He can watch surgery and such while I go hide cause it makes me ill watching it. One day I went into the walk in aviary to find one of my budgies acting strange so I had to capture her to check her out. Her foot had died caused by the leg band so the leg deteriorated and started falling off when I touched it. I called him to come help me and I told him to grab his EMT gere and get into the bird room. I told him to snip the left over tissue that the dead left was hanging off of. I said do it now, he was getting ill.....He went to throw up....I was fine cause I knew what I needed to do. I said you deal with bodies all the time and you let this snipping bother you??? He said it made him sick and he was about to faint....lol

About the budgie, she recovered and learned to get around with just one foot.