NightProwess
New member
So today River had an appointment at the Vet's office. She did very well on the car ride down to Chattanooga, (about 50 mins from my house) and chattered the whole way there while in her small carry crate.
We get to the office. She's still chattering away, awing every one there. We waited in the waiting room for about 10 or 15 minutes before being taken back. I had to use the restroom, so I left the room, River didn't like it when I left the room and began chattering VERY loudly. She wasn't squawking, just mumbling/talking to me very loudly.
I came back in and she got very happy and was bouncing in her cage. My mom, who had come with me because she needed to do some shopping while I was in town, was waiting with her in the room. She asked if I heard her, I told her, "oh yes, I heard her calling". I think River is trying to say my name, but it isn't clear yet. But she says it whenever she first sees me in the morning.
I took her out of the cage and got her settled on my lap as we waited in the room waiting for the vet. Not long afterwards, the vet who I had my appointment with, Dr Woods, came in and began talking with us, introducing himself in person. We had communicated via email and telephone already.
Not long afterwards, the other Vet, who I wont name in the forum, came in as well.
She asked to see River, I asked River to step up but she wasn't too sure about this lady. Well, the female vet grabs River by her foot and pulls her off my arm. River settles down after a minute or so. Then the lady attempts to pet River. River isn't too keen on being yanked off my arm and squawks (doesn't attempt to bite or even nip) at the lady when she reachers for her head in attempts to pet her.
Before I know it, She grabs River by the throat and River lets out a bloody scream.
Now you all, I'm 23 and do not have any kids of my own, but pray for me the day I do give birth.
I about slugged the vet. My feathered baby is screaming bloody murder and looking at me for help, and the female vet is holding her by the neck.
My face must have given my thoughts and soon to be actions away. She lady "assured" me that she wasn't hurting her and that it was for both their protection and left the room.
I was LIVID
Dr Woods gave me an apology before leaving the room to follow River to where they would have blood work drawn.
As soon as they left the room and closed the door I lost it. I was a wreck. I know I"m 23, but I'm glad my mom was there with me. I was bawling. The way she screamed out in fear, which I had never heard from her, and the way she looked over at me, eyes pleading for help, it broke my heart and sent me into fighting mode. I came so close to knocking that lady out. But after they had left, I broke down. I couldn't stop crying. My mom held her "big baby" in that small office until Dr Woods came back with River. He immediately apologized again but stated that River did great while they drew her labs.
If the other vet had warned me that she was going to have to restrain her, the maybe I would have been a little prepared for what she was going to do, but it completely took me off guard. But she did NOT inform me of what she was going to do, nor did she wait to grab River's neck once she had left the room, she chose to do so in front of me. Traumatizing us both. River had not acted aggressive towards her, she simply did not want a stranger to pet her on the head and squawked at her.
In my opinion, there was no need to grab her like that , especially not in front of me without warning. The lady came VERY close to having her nose broke, if not worse, EXCEPT the fact that she did have my baby by the neck and left he room shortly thereafter.
(as yall can tell I'm STILL very upset about this whole ordeal)
When Dr Woods came back, she was calm and stepped up on me immediately and hid her head underneath my hair. I petting on her and Dr Woods explained that the reason he wanted to have the labs drawn first was so that she could relax while in the room as he talked to me. Get the stressful part of the exam over with in the beginning so she could calm down again before getting in the car to leave.
the lady Vet came in after not only 5 mins and asked if he was finished yet, that she needed this room for a different patient. We were moved to a different room and Dr Woods took his time explaining to me the importance of the labs and how he was glad we chose to have the chem panel done and of his experience with exotics and avians. He answered each and every question I asked as well as my mom. He spent more than an hour in there talking with us.
River had calmed down at this point and was sitting on my shoulder preening herself.
He said that she looked to be in great health, maybe a little underweight, but not too bad. She was .95kg. (has lost some since her previous visit when I first got her, she was 1.1kg) They said it was normal for a baby to lose a little while after no longer being offered hand feedings. She was freshly weaned when I got her.
I also told him I was in teh process of changing her food from Zupreem to Roudybush. He said that might be contributing to her lower weight a little as well.
I asked about her feathers, which if yall saw my post awhile ago worried about plucking, he said that she was moulting and not to worry about the plucking. He saw no evidence of destruction to her feathers, just normal pin feathers land loss of old feathers. (that was a huge relief) he asked about the rest of her diet, I told him and he was impressed.
He said that River was the calmest bird, aside from one other macaw, that he has seen the entire time of his practice. (big compliment for River. she was very well behaved)
Most birds that he sees I guess have an attitude, but she did great.
He said to continue to take her places and get her used to as much as possible while she was young so she wouldn't have as hard a time adjusting to change in the future.
I also got a dna sexing test done on her.
While in correspondence with the vet, he told me that I could get a dna sexing card from a local pet store and avoid paing the $50 feather dna test and $70 blood sample test that way. Well, monday I called around asking the petsotres if they carried the dna sexing cards. NO ONE CARRIED THEM ANYMORE.
SO I started looking online. I found a place that offered the test at $12 for a current special. I called their number asking how long it would take to get a kit in, they said about a week. Well, I didnt' have a week. They told me I could pt a sample on a coffee filter and send it in, or ask the vet ot place a couple drops in a green top or purple top vile and send it in that way.
Well, Dr Woods said that was no problem and since we were drawing labs anyways, he wouldn't charge me for getting the droplets and I could send the sample in myself and avoid their collection fee and other charge for the dna test.
The Lady dr came in as we were leaving and grabbed the sample, saying he would put htis in her lab.
I politely (you have NO idea how hard it was for me to be polite) stated that I was sending in through a service. She "informed" me that they had a dna testing lab as well. I stated that yes, I was aware they did, but also that it was 50-70 depending on which kind of test they did, and that sending it through this other company was only $12. My blood panel and office visit I ordered was already going to be close to $350 (ended up being $319, so I was happy it was a little less than expected)
She just handing me my vile back and left eh room without another word.
I really hope Dr Woods doesn't get in trouble for that, but I appreciate him trying to save me some money, especially since I'm a college student working part time.
I really appreciated him taking his time with me and talking about everything that was done in the office and what to look out for in the future. He went over trimming her nails, if I decided to do it on my own, but said he was more than willing to do it for me if I wished.
I needed to vent, I'm sorry if this angered or upseted anyone, but that lady vet really bothered me. I work in the medical field, and one of the msot important things is patient education and informing the patient of what you are doing. Granted, RIVER was the patient, but she should have let me know waht it was that she was going to do BEFORE she did it so I would have at least been prepared, or wait to grab her once she had already left.
The rest of the afternoon went great. We were at the office for 1 and a half hours then left. River was fine by the time we had gone.
I have reptiles as well, so we went to the pet store so I could pick up a feeder mouse for my cornsnake. I took River in with me. We put her flight suit on in the car (she wasn't very happy about it at first but then settled down) and went in. She did GREAT!
She allowed people to pet her and didn't offer to bite or anything. I had mom drive on the way home and held her in my lap. She sat there contently and preened herself.
I was very surprised. I had expected her to act differently I guess, or scared/nervous. But she seemed fine. She chattered and mumbled the whole way home. Content as could be.
When we finally made it home, She went into her cage with no problems. She was a little thirsty and hungry (she ate her roudybush without any complains aka tossing it out the cage)
I also gave her some birdie break and some of her sunshine factor.
We get to the office. She's still chattering away, awing every one there. We waited in the waiting room for about 10 or 15 minutes before being taken back. I had to use the restroom, so I left the room, River didn't like it when I left the room and began chattering VERY loudly. She wasn't squawking, just mumbling/talking to me very loudly.
I came back in and she got very happy and was bouncing in her cage. My mom, who had come with me because she needed to do some shopping while I was in town, was waiting with her in the room. She asked if I heard her, I told her, "oh yes, I heard her calling". I think River is trying to say my name, but it isn't clear yet. But she says it whenever she first sees me in the morning.
I took her out of the cage and got her settled on my lap as we waited in the room waiting for the vet. Not long afterwards, the vet who I had my appointment with, Dr Woods, came in and began talking with us, introducing himself in person. We had communicated via email and telephone already.
Not long afterwards, the other Vet, who I wont name in the forum, came in as well.
She asked to see River, I asked River to step up but she wasn't too sure about this lady. Well, the female vet grabs River by her foot and pulls her off my arm. River settles down after a minute or so. Then the lady attempts to pet River. River isn't too keen on being yanked off my arm and squawks (doesn't attempt to bite or even nip) at the lady when she reachers for her head in attempts to pet her.
Before I know it, She grabs River by the throat and River lets out a bloody scream.
Now you all, I'm 23 and do not have any kids of my own, but pray for me the day I do give birth.
I about slugged the vet. My feathered baby is screaming bloody murder and looking at me for help, and the female vet is holding her by the neck.
My face must have given my thoughts and soon to be actions away. She lady "assured" me that she wasn't hurting her and that it was for both their protection and left the room.
I was LIVID
Dr Woods gave me an apology before leaving the room to follow River to where they would have blood work drawn.
As soon as they left the room and closed the door I lost it. I was a wreck. I know I"m 23, but I'm glad my mom was there with me. I was bawling. The way she screamed out in fear, which I had never heard from her, and the way she looked over at me, eyes pleading for help, it broke my heart and sent me into fighting mode. I came so close to knocking that lady out. But after they had left, I broke down. I couldn't stop crying. My mom held her "big baby" in that small office until Dr Woods came back with River. He immediately apologized again but stated that River did great while they drew her labs.
If the other vet had warned me that she was going to have to restrain her, the maybe I would have been a little prepared for what she was going to do, but it completely took me off guard. But she did NOT inform me of what she was going to do, nor did she wait to grab River's neck once she had left the room, she chose to do so in front of me. Traumatizing us both. River had not acted aggressive towards her, she simply did not want a stranger to pet her on the head and squawked at her.
In my opinion, there was no need to grab her like that , especially not in front of me without warning. The lady came VERY close to having her nose broke, if not worse, EXCEPT the fact that she did have my baby by the neck and left he room shortly thereafter.
(as yall can tell I'm STILL very upset about this whole ordeal)
When Dr Woods came back, she was calm and stepped up on me immediately and hid her head underneath my hair. I petting on her and Dr Woods explained that the reason he wanted to have the labs drawn first was so that she could relax while in the room as he talked to me. Get the stressful part of the exam over with in the beginning so she could calm down again before getting in the car to leave.
the lady Vet came in after not only 5 mins and asked if he was finished yet, that she needed this room for a different patient. We were moved to a different room and Dr Woods took his time explaining to me the importance of the labs and how he was glad we chose to have the chem panel done and of his experience with exotics and avians. He answered each and every question I asked as well as my mom. He spent more than an hour in there talking with us.
River had calmed down at this point and was sitting on my shoulder preening herself.
He said that she looked to be in great health, maybe a little underweight, but not too bad. She was .95kg. (has lost some since her previous visit when I first got her, she was 1.1kg) They said it was normal for a baby to lose a little while after no longer being offered hand feedings. She was freshly weaned when I got her.
I also told him I was in teh process of changing her food from Zupreem to Roudybush. He said that might be contributing to her lower weight a little as well.
I asked about her feathers, which if yall saw my post awhile ago worried about plucking, he said that she was moulting and not to worry about the plucking. He saw no evidence of destruction to her feathers, just normal pin feathers land loss of old feathers. (that was a huge relief) he asked about the rest of her diet, I told him and he was impressed.
He said that River was the calmest bird, aside from one other macaw, that he has seen the entire time of his practice. (big compliment for River. she was very well behaved)
Most birds that he sees I guess have an attitude, but she did great.
He said to continue to take her places and get her used to as much as possible while she was young so she wouldn't have as hard a time adjusting to change in the future.
I also got a dna sexing test done on her.
While in correspondence with the vet, he told me that I could get a dna sexing card from a local pet store and avoid paing the $50 feather dna test and $70 blood sample test that way. Well, monday I called around asking the petsotres if they carried the dna sexing cards. NO ONE CARRIED THEM ANYMORE.
SO I started looking online. I found a place that offered the test at $12 for a current special. I called their number asking how long it would take to get a kit in, they said about a week. Well, I didnt' have a week. They told me I could pt a sample on a coffee filter and send it in, or ask the vet ot place a couple drops in a green top or purple top vile and send it in that way.
Well, Dr Woods said that was no problem and since we were drawing labs anyways, he wouldn't charge me for getting the droplets and I could send the sample in myself and avoid their collection fee and other charge for the dna test.
The Lady dr came in as we were leaving and grabbed the sample, saying he would put htis in her lab.
I politely (you have NO idea how hard it was for me to be polite) stated that I was sending in through a service. She "informed" me that they had a dna testing lab as well. I stated that yes, I was aware they did, but also that it was 50-70 depending on which kind of test they did, and that sending it through this other company was only $12. My blood panel and office visit I ordered was already going to be close to $350 (ended up being $319, so I was happy it was a little less than expected)
She just handing me my vile back and left eh room without another word.
I really hope Dr Woods doesn't get in trouble for that, but I appreciate him trying to save me some money, especially since I'm a college student working part time.
I really appreciated him taking his time with me and talking about everything that was done in the office and what to look out for in the future. He went over trimming her nails, if I decided to do it on my own, but said he was more than willing to do it for me if I wished.
I needed to vent, I'm sorry if this angered or upseted anyone, but that lady vet really bothered me. I work in the medical field, and one of the msot important things is patient education and informing the patient of what you are doing. Granted, RIVER was the patient, but she should have let me know waht it was that she was going to do BEFORE she did it so I would have at least been prepared, or wait to grab her once she had already left.
The rest of the afternoon went great. We were at the office for 1 and a half hours then left. River was fine by the time we had gone.
I have reptiles as well, so we went to the pet store so I could pick up a feeder mouse for my cornsnake. I took River in with me. We put her flight suit on in the car (she wasn't very happy about it at first but then settled down) and went in. She did GREAT!
She allowed people to pet her and didn't offer to bite or anything. I had mom drive on the way home and held her in my lap. She sat there contently and preened herself.
I was very surprised. I had expected her to act differently I guess, or scared/nervous. But she seemed fine. She chattered and mumbled the whole way home. Content as could be.
When we finally made it home, She went into her cage with no problems. She was a little thirsty and hungry (she ate her roudybush without any complains aka tossing it out the cage)
I also gave her some birdie break and some of her sunshine factor.
She looks so happy and excited in the car!
