First vet visit today? What did you have done on your first vet visit?

KalieLovesBirds · Aug 8, 2016

Hey all,

My yet to be sexed and named Catalina is going to his first vet appointment with me today for a check up exam and possible blood work to ensure good health. My question is what did you have done with your bird on his/her first vet visit? Is doing blood work necessary on this first visit and if so what would you recommend as being priority things to test for? I don't want to do more than what is necessary as I don't want to stress him out anymore than he is due to a new environment but at the same time I do want my baby to be healthy and happy.

I'm also wondering how much blood works typically runs so I have an idea

SailBoat · Aug 8, 2016

Assuming you are visiting an Avian Certified or at least an Avian Qualified Vet, they will have a New Parrot base examination.

NOTE: Owning large Parrots is expensive and part of the cost is getting great Vet Care! Your Vet having a solid Avian History on your Parrot will go a very long way in assure that WHEN not if, you show-up with a very sick Parrot, your Vet has a history that will quickly support their efforts.

Long story short! Spend the money on a Full Spectrum Blood Testing, Gram Stain, and full Well Bird Examination! Since your Vet is drawing Blood, get it DNA Sex tested at the same time. Note, different areas have specific illness that are common and your Vet will advise you on which should be tested for.

Consider having your Parrot Micro Chipped on your next visit. Not this visit!

KalieLovesBirds · Aug 8, 2016

He/she will also be getting sexed today. I forgot to mention that in my original post. The money is not an issue. I knew going into getting a macaw that the life span was long, the commitment was timely, and the expenses were going to be high... but the rewards of having one also outweigh all of that. I just want to do whatever is needed.

SirEdwin89 · Aug 8, 2016

As far as price, I can't say anything definitive, but in my area at least on a full work-up on a large parrot you are looking at the 200-300$ ballpark. 40-75$ for fecal, 100-150$ for bloodwork, 60-100$ for the base physical examination. That's out of Virginia so your results may vary obviously, but hopefully that at least gives you some kind of estimate.

BeatriceC · Aug 8, 2016

I'm trying to remember how much we paid for just Charlotte's stuff, as we brought in other birds on her follow up visit, so the total for everything over both visits was around $850, but some of that was for the other three birds. The exam itself was $65, then I think in the neighborhood of $300 for blood work. We didn't get her microchipped at this time, because with one wing, she's not going anywhere. We will get her chipped, but we needed to cut costs somewhere and that was what got cut. Also my vet gave us some discounts. He did nail and beak grooming at no charge, didn't charge an office visit fee for the follow up, since we brought in the rest of the flock for that one, and reduced the office visit fees for the others. He called it his "you have my four favorite species discount". It was kind of mass chaos, but everybody got what they needed.

GaleriaGila · Aug 8, 2016

For the first few years, the big work-up (plus blood) is necessary annually... after a certain age, some avian vets will ease up a bit if a bird has a healthy history. I am scheduled to take the Rickeybird in annually, but bloodwork will only be needed every five years unless he shows signs/symptoms of something. I weigh him every month or so at home. I'm so relieved to reduce blood tests. Over the years he has learned that yelling my name gets him pretty much whatever he wants (he imitates my ol' man!), and I would hear him screaming for me from the back room during the blood-draw. It was awful for him, I'm sure, and it frayed my nerves for days!
I really sympathize with your worries. Good luck!

StephenAndKyleigh · Aug 8, 2016

Pretty much spot on with everyone else. We did a fecal, and a full CBC. If you're needing to fulfill the needs of a breeder health guarantee, then you'll want to test for specific diseases.

KalieLovesBirds · Aug 8, 2016

Thank you all! The vet visit went SO much better than l expected. He gladly took to getting toweled, getting the exam, having his beak opened, being flipped upside down, and had no problem having blood drawn. He Went right back into the carrier and was like ok what's next? He rides so good too. He's been in the car several times now. Granted I've only had him a day but I'm hoping this is behavior that will continue as he gets older.

GaleriaGila · Aug 8, 2016

WOW!
A Stepford Bird!
Congratulations!
Thanks for the happy update.
Whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!

BeatriceC · Aug 8, 2016

Glad it went well!

Word of warning: Some birds are calmer and more docile when they're in strange environments and cling to the people they know, even they don't like them at home. Goofy, who barely tolerates me (we have a truce pact signed...in blood...mine), was all loving and snuggly with me when we were last at the vet. Charlotte, who hates her carrier goes in willingly at the vet's office. When everything else is unfamiliar and scary, things that are familiar, even if it's something they don't normally like, is suddenly okay. Not all birds are like that, but I have two (of four) that are. Leo is just easy no matter where he is, so he doesn't count, and Cookie is so old that he's just all "meh, this again, lets just get it over with".

KalieLovesBirds · Aug 8, 2016

He's like that no matter who he is with. He will walk over to them and wait to be pet and will fall asleep in their lap or arms. I really hope he stays that way

GaleriaGila · Aug 9, 2016

You are so right, Beatrice!
The Rickeybird readily seeks out his rival's touch or help at the vet's!

Shocked us both the first time it happened! Maybe shocked the THREE of us.

Mariar · Aug 9, 2016

This thread is good becuz I have owned sissy for a year and I really want to take her in...just in case. You can never be to careful with our babies.

First vet visit today? What did you have done on your first vet visit?

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My Big Macs and I :)))

I'm a tiny desk-top bird too!

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