First vet visit

[Anita1250]

Great! At least you know he will be safe from the dangers of sedation. Also, I do not allow a vet to take the bird to another room unless I am also there. I will always be in the room when the bird is examined. It makes for a calmer bird and less risk for him.

 

[Scott]

Right now George appears in good health...outside of some long nails. My main concern is though what if he does get sick? What if hes at the bottom of his cage struggling to breath? I do what? Just sit and watch...

This is why a baseline check is crucial, to detect potential chronic illnesses. Parrots by nature hide symptoms until the illness or process is advanced.

Having an established relationship with trusted vet makes your latter comments less of a panic situation.

Advice for basic first aid: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/34397-first-aid-kit.html

 

[EllenD]

I'll second the RUN AWAY as far as sedation/anesthesia for Blood Work, Nail Trim, Fecal, etc. The ONLY things that a Vet should EVER have to sedate or put a bird under anesthesia for are #1) X-Rays or other imaging tests like an Ultrasound, CT Scan, MRI, etc. where the bird has to hold completely still for it to be successful, and #2) Surgical procedures, including even Stitches/Sutures or anything that would be painful...Drawing blood from a bird should be a very simple, quick process that requires NO sedation/anesthesia at all, and it's a very serious risk that they are putting your bird in for no reason at all, except maybe an incompetent Exotics or General Vet...I am not a Veterinarian, but rather a Medical Liaison for an Avian/Reptile Rescue with a Master's in Animal Health Science, and I worked for an Avian Influenza/Animal Diagnostics Lab at Penn State University under the supervision of multiple Veterinarians of various specialties, and as such I've done hundreds of blood-draws on Parrots, Game Birds, Poultry Birds, etc., and I've NEVER sedated a bird for a simple Blood Draw UNLESS I WAS ALSO HAVING AN X-RAY TAKEN AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S DIFFERENT!!! If they are planning on also taking an X-Ray of George as a part of his Wellness-Exam, then yes, they will have to put him under anesthesia for the X-Ray, so typically they will do the general physical/visual exam of the bird, and THEN they will put the bird under sedation USING EITHER A VERY SHORT-ACTING SEDATION, EITHER #1) ISOFLURENE GAS, OR #2) LIQUID NASAL SEDATION (LIQUID BENZO'S THAT ARE FLUSHED INTO THE NOSTRILS USING A SYRINGE WITHOUT A NEEDLE), BOTH OF WHICH WEAR-OFF QUICKLY AND TOTALLY LEAVE THEIR BLOOD-STREAM IN A MATTER OF MINUTES AFTER THE BIRD WAKES-UP, SO THAT THERE IS NO TRACE OF EITHER IN THEIR BODIES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES AFTER THE X-RAY IS TAKEN...What they'll do is after the visual/physical exam (usually they will simply "Towel" the bird for this), they will sedate the bird with either the Isoflurene Gas or the Nasal Sedation, then they'll very quickly take the X-Ray because that is the only test that requires the bird be sedated, then they'll very quickly do the blood-draw from one of the bird's 2 Jugular Veins in it's neck, which should take only a minute or less from start to finish, and usually the bird is just waking-up after they finish the blood-draw. And then they should do anything else like a Toenail-Trim,, Wing-Clipping, Beak-Filing (with ONLY a hand-file) AFTER the bird has woken-up, they'll simply "Towel" the bird to do these things, unless the bird happens to still be under the Gas/Nasal Sedation...THEY SHOULD NOT EVER, EVER, EVER USE ANY TYPE OF "GENERAL ANESTHESIA" AT ALL TO DO AN X-RAY, ULTRASOUND, OR CT SCAN EITHER, THEY SHOULD USE ONLY THE ISOFLURENE GAS OR THE LIQUID NASAL SEDATION BECAUSE NONE OF THESE IMAGING TESTS REQUIRE A LONG SEDATION...ONLY AN MRI IMAGING TEST REQUIRES A "GENERAL ANESTHESIA BECAUSE AN MRI TYPICALLY TAKES UP TO AN HOUR OR LONGER TO COMPLETE.

****So, if this Vet is planning on doing an X-Ray as a part of George's full "Wellness Exam", then YES, THEY WILL NEED TO SEDATE HIM, BUT NOT WITH ANY TYPE OF "GENERAL" ANESTHESIA, BUT RATHER ONLY WITH EITHER #1) ISOFLURENE GAS OR #2) LIQUID NASAL SEDATION AND THAT'S IT...

****However, if this Vet is only doing a Blood-Draw to run routine, "Baseline" Blood-Work, along with a full Visual/Physical Exam, a Fecal Smear/Culture/Gram-Stain, and IS NOT ALSO DOING AN X-RAY, THEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON AT ALL TO RISK PUTTING GEORGE UNDER ANY TYPE OF SEDATION, AND IT'S A SIGN THAT THIS VET IS NOT AN AVIAN VET AND IS NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL WORKING WITH PARROTS, AND YOU NEED TO CANCEL THE APPOINTMENT AND FIND ANOTHER CERTIFIED AVIAN VET OR AVIAN SPECIALIST VET!!! (A Fecal Culture that is sent-out to a Laboratory to be grown-out, along with them preparing a Fecal-Smear on a Slide and looking at it under their own Microscope right there on the spot in their own office should always be done, and should include #1) Scanning the non-Stained Slide to look to see if there is the presence of any Yeast/Fungi, Protozoa (such as Giardia), Worms, or any other Parasites, and then also scanning the Non-Stained Slide to make sure the bird has enough "Beneficial Bacteria" present throughout their GI Tract, which is extremely important to make sure that they do, because if the bird does not have enough Beneficial-Bacteria/Normal, Healthy Flora throughout their GI Tract, they will develop chronic Fungal/Yeast Infections throughout their lives, and suffer from chronic GI-Upsets, as well as eventually develop systemic Yeast/Fungal Infections, which eventually spread externally to becoming widespread, topical Yeast/Fungal Infections all over their Skin and inside of their Feather-Follicles, which is one of the most-common causes of the start of Plucking and other Feather-Destructive Behaviors in pet/captive Parrots, and then #2) Staining the Fecal Slide to check for the presence of any Harmful-Bacteria/Bacterial Infections (Gram-Stain)...This should absolutely be a part of any Avian yearly Wellness-Exam, but can be done on a fresh Fecal-Sample you bring in from either that morning of the appointment or from up to 24-hours prior if you put it in the Fridge as soon as you collect it; if you don't bring in a Fecal-Sample to the appointment with you they will have to take a Fecal-Sample by inserting a Swab into George's Vent/Cloaca very quickly and collect a very small sample, which DOES NOT REQUIRE SEDATION OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT PAINFUL AND ONLY REQUIRES "TOWELING" THE BIRD)

We can help you find the closest Certified Avian Vets and/or Avian Specialist Vets to you, there is a really good search-tool for this here on the forum...It sounds to me like this Vet you're planning on taking him to is either a General Vet (dog and cat Vet), or an Exotics Vet (a dog and cat Vet who is simply "willing to see" other species of pets/animals, yet in the US has no extra education/training in any particular species of animals/birds at all....**Avian Medicine (along with Reptile/Amphibian Medicine) is extremely specialized, and is NOTHING AT ALL like Mammalian Medicine. So while a General or Exotics Vet does in-fact have quite a bit of education/knowledge in dogs, cats, rodents, primates, and other mammals, this has nothing at all to do with them knowing diddly-squat about Avian or Reptile/Amphibian Medicine, nether of which are anything like Mammalian Medicine at all, not in Anatomy, Physiology, and especially not in the way they handle drugs/sedation/anesthesia (And that also includes them not knowing much at all about "Large-Animal" Medicine, meaning "Livestock-Medicine", because even though most Livestock/Large-Animals are also Mammals, that type of Medicine is every bit as specialized and unique as Avian and Reptilian Medicine is...I give all the credit in the world to Livestock/Farm Vets, I worked with quite a few Vets who specialized in and only dealt with Livestock/Large-Animals, and it is not an easy type of Medicine to practice AT ALL!!! I wouldn't take-on Livestock/Large-Animal Medicine for anything in the world!!! You've not seen anything until you've seen a 5'3, 100 lb. woman attach chains and a pulley-crank to the feet of a calf sticking out of the anus of it's mother-cow, and then seen that little tiny woman heave and pull on those chains and that pulley until her clothes are completely soaked-through, their hands are both blistered and bleeding, and they refuse to stop until that entire 500 lb. calf is completely out of that mother-cow (who is usually kicking and screaming at her the entire time) and that calf is breathing and up on it's feet!!! And the only thing scarier than putting a bird under sedation and waiting for them to come out of it (most bird deaths from sedation/anesthesia happen while they are waking-up from it) is putting a Reptile under sedation or anesthesia and waiting for them to wake-up from it, because their metabolisms are soooooooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwww that even the quick-acting Isofluene Gas takes hours and hours to leave their systems/blood-stream, so imagine how long it takes for General-Anesthesia to leave their systems!!! It's absolutely the most frustrating waiting-process in any Exotic Medicine. It will drive you insane...However, Reptiles and Amphibians don't typically die from sedation or anesthesia like birds do...

****You always need to ask lots and lots and lots of questions when you first make an appointment to see any new Vet you're going to take your bird/parrot to BEFORE you make the appointment and take them, and if you don't get the correct answers to any of your questions, or they ever refuse to give you a direct answer to any of your questions, then you just cannot risk taking your bird to that particular Vet, simply because of how many birds die due to uneducated, inexperienced, untrained, and simply irresponsible Exotics Vet...There are a lot of really good, experienced "Exotics" Vets who have been seeing, diagnosing, and treating birds/parrots for decades and who know their stuff...But unfortunately these Exotics Vets make up about 5% of all Exotics Vets in the US, simply because in the US you don't have to have anything but a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and then pass your Board-Test for whatever state you want to practice Veterinary Medicine in, and that's literally all you need in the US to call yourself an "Exotics" Vet...Well, that and the want to see as many patients as possible so you can make as much money as possible...I have the utmost-respect for all "General Vets" in the US who only see Dogs and Cats and refuse to see any other types/species of animals/pets, because they know that Dogs and Cats are the only pets/animals that they have any business seeing/treating because that's basically all you learn about with authority in any 4-year Veterinary Medical School in the US.

 

[Birdmom12]

I'll second the RUN AWAY as far as sedation/anesthesia for Blood Work, Nail Trim, Fecal, etc. The ONLY things that a Vet should EVER have to sedate or put a bird under anesthesia for are #1) X-Rays or other imaging tests like an Ultrasound, CT Scan, MRI, etc. where the bird has to hold completely still for it to be successful, and #2) Surgical procedures, including even Stitches/Sutures or anything that would be painful...Drawing blood from a bird should be a very simple, quick process that requires NO sedation/anesthesia at all, and it's a very serious risk that they are putting your bird in for no reason at all, except maybe an incompetent Exotics or General Vet...I am not a Veterinarian, but rather a Medical Liaison for an Avian/Reptile Rescue with a Master's in Animal Health Science, and I worked for an Avian Influenza/Animal Diagnostics Lab at Penn State University under the supervision of multiple Veterinarians of various specialties, and as such I've done hundreds of blood-draws on Parrots, Game Birds, Poultry Birds, etc., and I've NEVER sedated a bird for a simple Blood Draw UNLESS I WAS ALSO HAVING AN X-RAY TAKEN AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S DIFFERENT!!! If they are planning on also taking an X-Ray of George as a part of his Wellness-Exam, then yes, they will have to put him under anesthesia for the X-Ray, so typically they will do the general physical/visual exam of the bird, and THEN they will put the bird under sedation USING EITHER A VERY SHORT-ACTING SEDATION, EITHER #1) ISOFLURENE GAS, OR #2) LIQUID NASAL SEDATION (LIQUID BENZO'S THAT ARE FLUSHED INTO THE NOSTRILS USING A SYRINGE WITHOUT A NEEDLE), BOTH OF WHICH WEAR-OFF QUICKLY AND TOTALLY LEAVE THEIR BLOOD-STREAM IN A MATTER OF MINUTES AFTER THE BIRD WAKES-UP, SO THAT THERE IS NO TRACE OF EITHER IN THEIR BODIES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES AFTER THE X-RAY IS TAKEN...What they'll do is after the visual/physical exam (usually they will simply "Towel" the bird for this), they will sedate the bird with either the Isoflurene Gas or the Nasal Sedation, then they'll very quickly take the X-Ray because that is the only test that requires the bird be sedated, then they'll very quickly do the blood-draw from one of the bird's 2 Jugular Veins in it's neck, which should take only a minute or less from start to finish, and usually the bird is just waking-up after they finish the blood-draw. And then they should do anything else like a Toenail-Trim,, Wing-Clipping, Beak-Filing (with ONLY a hand-file) AFTER the bird has woken-up, they'll simply "Towel" the bird to do these things, unless the bird happens to still be under the Gas/Nasal Sedation...THEY SHOULD NOT EVER, EVER, EVER USE ANY TYPE OF "GENERAL ANESTHESIA" AT ALL TO DO AN X-RAY, ULTRASOUND, OR CT SCAN EITHER, THEY SHOULD USE ONLY THE ISOFLURENE GAS OR THE LIQUID NASAL SEDATION BECAUSE NONE OF THESE IMAGING TESTS REQUIRE A LONG SEDATION...ONLY AN MRI IMAGING TEST REQUIRES A "GENERAL ANESTHESIA BECAUSE AN MRI TYPICALLY TAKES UP TO AN HOUR OR LONGER TO COMPLETE.

****So, if this Vet is planning on doing an X-Ray as a part of George's full "Wellness Exam", then YES, THEY WILL NEED TO SEDATE HIM, BUT NOT WITH ANY TYPE OF "GENERAL" ANESTHESIA, BUT RATHER ONLY WITH EITHER #1) ISOFLURENE GAS OR #2) LIQUID NASAL SEDATION AND THAT'S IT...

****However, if this Vet is only doing a Blood-Draw to run routine, "Baseline" Blood-Work, along with a full Visual/Physical Exam, a Fecal Smear/Culture/Gram-Stain, and IS NOT ALSO DOING AN X-RAY, THEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON AT ALL TO RISK PUTTING GEORGE UNDER ANY TYPE OF SEDATION, AND IT'S A SIGN THAT THIS VET IS NOT AN AVIAN VET AND IS NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL WORKING WITH PARROTS, AND YOU NEED TO CANCEL THE APPOINTMENT AND FIND ANOTHER CERTIFIED AVIAN VET OR AVIAN SPECIALIST VET!!! (A Fecal Culture that is sent-out to a Laboratory to be grown-out, along with them preparing a Fecal-Smear on a Slide and looking at it under their own Microscope right there on the spot in their own office should always be done, and should include #1) Scanning the non-Stained Slide to look to see if there is the presence of any Yeast/Fungi, Protozoa (such as Giardia), Worms, or any other Parasites, and then also scanning the Non-Stained Slide to make sure the bird has enough "Beneficial Bacteria" present throughout their GI Tract, which is extremely important to make sure that they do, because if the bird does not have enough Beneficial-Bacteria/Normal, Healthy Flora throughout their GI Tract, they will develop chronic Fungal/Yeast Infections throughout their lives, and suffer from chronic GI-Upsets, as well as eventually develop systemic Yeast/Fungal Infections, which eventually spread externally to becoming widespread, topical Yeast/Fungal Infections all over their Skin and inside of their Feather-Follicles, which is one of the most-common causes of the start of Plucking and other Feather-Destructive Behaviors in pet/captive Parrots, and then #2) Staining the Fecal Slide to check for the presence of any Harmful-Bacteria/Bacterial Infections (Gram-Stain)...This should absolutely be a part of any Avian yearly Wellness-Exam, but can be done on a fresh Fecal-Sample you bring in from either that morning of the appointment or from up to 24-hours prior if you put it in the Fridge as soon as you collect it; if you don't bring in a Fecal-Sample to the appointment with you they will have to take a Fecal-Sample by inserting a Swab into George's Vent/Cloaca very quickly and collect a very small sample, which DOES NOT REQUIRE SEDATION OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT PAINFUL AND ONLY REQUIRES "TOWELING" THE BIRD)

We can help you find the closest Certified Avian Vets and/or Avian Specialist Vets to you, there is a really good search-tool for this here on the forum...It sounds to me like this Vet you're planning on taking him to is either a General Vet (dog and cat Vet), or an Exotics Vet (a dog and cat Vet who is simply "willing to see" other species of pets/animals, yet in the US has no extra education/training in any particular species of animals/birds at all....**Avian Medicine (along with Reptile/Amphibian Medicine) is extremely specialized, and is NOTHING AT ALL like Mammalian Medicine. So while a General or Exotics Vet does in-fact have quite a bit of education/knowledge in dogs, cats, rodents, primates, and other mammals, this has nothing at all to do with them knowing diddly-squat about Avian or Reptile/Amphibian Medicine, nether of which are anything like Mammalian Medicine at all, not in Anatomy, Physiology, and especially not in the way they handle drugs/sedation/anesthesia...The only thing scarier than putting a bird under sedation and waiting for them to come out of it (most bird deaths from sedation/anesthesia happen while they are waking-up from it) is putting a Reptile under sedation or anesthesia and waiting for them to wake-up from it, because their metabolisms are soooooooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwww that even the quick-acting Isofluene Gas takes hours and hours to leave their systems/blood-stream, so imagine how long it takes for General-Anesthesia to leave their systems!!! It's absolutely the most frustrating waiting-process in any Exotic Medicine. It will drive you insane...However, Reptiles and Amphibians don't typically die from sedation or anesthesia like birds do...

****You always need to ask lots and lots and lots of questions when you first make an appointment to see any new Vet you're going to take your bird/parrot to BEFORE you make the appointment and take them, and if you don't get the correct answers to any of your questions, or they ever refuse to give you a direct answer to any of your questions, then you just cannot risk taking your bird to that particular Vet, simply because of how many birds die due to uneducated, inexperienced, untrained, and simply irresponsible Exotics Vet...There are a lot of really good, experienced "Exotics" Vets who have been seeing, diagnosing, and treating birds/parrots for decades and who know their stuff...But unfortunately these Exotics Vets make up about 5% of all Exotics Vets in the US, simply because in the US you don't have to have anything but a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and then pass your Board-Test for whatever state you want to practice Veterinary Medicine in, and that's literally all you need in the US to call yourself an "Exotics" Vet...Well, that and the want to see as many patients as possible so you can make as much money as possible...I have the utmost-respect for all "General Vets" in the US who only see Dogs and Cats and refuse to see any other types/species of animals/pets, because they know that Dogs and Cats are the only pets/animals that they have any business seeing/treating because that's basically all you learn about with authority in any 4-year Veterinary Medical School in the US.

Thank you for all of that input! I really had no idea what a specialty avian medicine was until I started the search for a vet. Its amazing how many "fakes" that are out there or professionals that claim to be more then they are.
I did find an actual CAV in our state but sadly they are not accepting new clients. They did refer us to the University specialty hospital so I am hopeful. The receptionist that I talked to said "I assume he hasn't seen a vet before? I'm guessing no one else will take you?" Her assumption was sadly accurate to our predicament. We have found many that will take us...but typically its for a nail trim only. Anything more then that they refer you elsewhere.
Even being new to this world I thought withholding food and sedation was odd. I'm glad I asked you all with more experience. I never would have forgave myself had I started my day with the feisty devil George and ended it with him dying.

 

[EllenD]

So had I read the third page of this thread, lol, I would have seen that you've already canceled the appointment with that other Vet and made an appointment for George at the Veterinary Medicine College...That's a really great choice, you really cannot go wrong with taking your Parrot/Bird to any Veterinary Medical College/University, because they ALL have Certified Avian Vets/Avian Specialist Vets on-staff, that's a 100% certainty. So George will be in excellent hands who won't do anything that is unnecessary or even questionable. And they'll be completely comfortable with everything that they're doing, like doing a simply blood-draw from his neck and clipping his toenails...

***As far as clipping George's wings, I don't know if you've made a decision about this yet, but I've always been a believer in that clipping your own parrot's wings is a totally personal decision that has to be made by only you and the others who live in your home with the bird. And while I do fully believe that whenever possible it's best to leave all pet birds fully-flighted, I also believe/know first-hand that there are many situations where it's just not possible in certain homes for one completely legitimate reason or another, such as the owner having a disability that prevents them from being able to get the bird if it gets stuck up somewhere high or in a small, cramped space (which really does happen quite a lot, lol), or they cannot go looking for their bird if it happens to get loose out the door outside, or for any other number of reasons...And this doesn't at all make those people "bad" pet parrot/bird owners at all, some of the people who must keep their bird's wings clipped all the time on a permanent-basis are some of the most loving, caring, most responsible pet parrot/bird homes in the world, and their birds are so much better-off with them than at most other homes that have a pet bird...So it's just an individual decision that shouldn't be taken lightly, and should be considered along with advice and opinions from other bird owners, but ultimately is simply just your decision based on what's right for you and your family/household...

***Keep in-mind that wing-clipping is #1) Completely Temporary, #2) Completely Painless, and #3) When done correctly/conservatively will only last about 2-3 months at a maximum before their wings grow back-in fully and the bird is fully-flighted again. So if you're having a behavioral issue with your bird, especially one where your bird is doing something that could be dangerous or cause injury to people living in your home, or even cause injury to themselves, such as them "dive-bombing" people (especially at/towards their faces/eyes) or constantly flying into things, doing hard, crash-landings, and especially if your bird is currently hormonal and being aggressive/violent with people, other birds in the house, or other pets in the house (especially with young children or any other birds in your home, because they can really do a lot of damage to another bird if they want to, especially an Amazon with an Amazon-sized beak versus a smaller species of Parrot with a smaller beak), a temporary wing-clip can be a solution...

So, my take on using wing-clipping to either #1) Correct a new, negative-behavior or dangerous/aggressive behavior that could harm themselves or someone else or another bird/pet in the household, or #2) To hand-tame a parent-raised, non-tame bird that is new to the house and who you've not yet earned the trust of or bonded with, is As long as you make sure that you have their wings clipped by someone who knows what they're doing and has much experience doing it, and as long as you make sure/request/DEMAND that the person clipping your bird's wings does it in a very Conservative-Clip that will grow back-in fully in about 2 months or so, and MOST-IMPORTANTLY that you take FULL-ADVANTAGE OF EVERY DAY OF THAT 2 MONTHS OR SO THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE THEIR WINGS GROW BACK-IN FULLY TO TRAIN/HAND-TAME/EARN THE TRUST OF/BOND WITH/CORRECT THE BEHAVIOR THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CORRECT, so that the wing-clip is a TEMPORARY SITUATION and you have the plan of correcting the issue you're having with your bird in that 2-month period while they cannot fly so that you can allow them to again be fully-flighted after their wings grow back-in, then having your bird's wings clipped can be a very useful, helpful, and sometimes literally a life-saving TEMPORARY TOOL. I honestly believe that many of the tens of thousands of parrots who are up for re-homing/surrender to Rescues and Shelters, and who are even euthanized due to their behavior in the US alone could actually stay in their homes and with their families if their owners would have a temporary, short-term, conservative wing-clip done and then take full-advantage of every day that their birds cannot fly to use Positive-Reinforcement and other Training-Techniques/Exercises, Hand-Taming Sessions, and just simple old one-on-one, intimate bonding time together to correct behaviors and remedy issues. The problem is that most people who do even clip their bird's wings to correct behavior issues totally fail, and in most cases don't even try...A lot of people think that keeping their bird's wings clipped permanently and fully-grounding them will magically change their behavior and make their relationships with their birds just suddenly wonderful, so they just keep clipping their bird's wings over and over and over, and then do absolutely NOTHING to correct their behaviors, tame them, teach them anything at all, or even bother to spend time bonding with them or even try to earn their trust...And that's not cool at all...

So yes, temporarily clipping your bird's wings in a very conservative clip that will only last about 2 months or so can do wonders to correct their behaviors, teach them/train them/tame them, as well as to strengthen your bond with them and earn their complete trust, but ONLY IF YOU WORK AS HARD AS YOUR BIRD HAS TO WORK!!!

EDIT: I forgot to just mention, if/when you request that the Vet clip George's wings, make sure that you specifically tell the Vet that you Only want the outermost 5-6 Primary Flight-Feathers on BOTH WINGS clipped (NEVER just let them clip only 1 wing, that's very, very bad and unhealthy) If you make sure that you specifically request that they only take that much off (they don't go into the Secondaries) and that they clip BOTH WINGS EQUALLY, not only will George's wings grow back-in within 2 months or so, but he'll also retain full-control when gliding and he'll be able to safely glide to the floor from any height, and even be able to glide a good way across a room in a downward direction so that he doesn't crash into things, and he won't land hard or crash when he lands. He just won't be able to get ANY altitude at all from any position or location, he'll only be able to glide downwards.

 

[Kiwibird]

Just noting, Kiwi received xrays in 2 positions last year for suspected kidney inflammation (which came out so clear even I could see the problem!). His vet didn’t even mention sedation, she just took him back with the assistant and held him down. He vocalized his displeasure, loudly, about that but she got 2 very clear xrays of his internals in probably under a minute? Unless there is an injury preventing physical restraint, I don’t think they need sedation for most X-rays either in the hands of a competent vet nor do they generally do xrays in a routine wellness exam.

It comes as a surprise to most people that regular vets aren’t really good with birds. Avian medicine is a far cry from dogs and cats though as they sure just so anatomically different and small. You aren’t alone in your surprise but I’m sure with some digging you’ll be able to find someone competent enough to take in your new buddy as a patient. Sometimes in the absence of an avian specialist, you can luck out with exotic animal or reptile vets who also see birds so keep calling around and don’t be afraid if it’s a ways away.

Just a few more tips- I always pack treats for the vets office for when the vet lets him out of the towel and offer lots of praise and as many treats as he’ll take when it’s all over. I also NEVER leave my bird alone with the vet in the exam room. Not because I don’t trust his vet, she’s an excellent CAV and I’m certain she is more than competent to do any procedure/test, but I don’t want him to think he’s been abandoned by me. It honestly seems to keep him pretty calm if I’m right there telling him he’s a good boy and it’s going to be ok when he’s restrained/frightened and being examined or poked and prodded by a stranger. When they had to take him to the back for an X-ray in an area where I couldn’t go, I could hear the fear level in his screeching go up 1000%, presumably because I wasn’t there. I know a lot of vets tell you it’s best to leave the room because your bird will “associate you with the bad experience” but they’re a lot like little kids and I remember it being far more terrifying as a kid to be left alone with the doctor than when my mom was there (pediatricians suggest the same thing to parents-abandon your kid so they’re terrified and alone with a stranger instead of slightly mad at you for letting the doctor give them a shot or whatever). I’m sure some will disagree but I’ll take him being a little mad to feeling alone and afraid.

 

[Birdmom12]

First appointment is this week for the guy. He's also gotten increasingly more violent towards me so I'm hoping it goes well. We are considering having him sexed if its an option. This might explain why he prefers men over myself... perhaps hes a she.

I'm hoping its just hormones in full swing and not his true nature coming out. I use to just irritate him if I got to close when he was tense. Now I can hardly wake him up in the morning to put his blanket back, give him his fresh foods, or come say hi with out him attacking the bars at me. Hand feeding him his greens is also no longer an option. He did however surprise me the other night by flying from his chosen person to my arm to perch on my shoulder a while. I'm not fooled though, I know to tread lightly with him.

Needless to say "my bird" has dumped me and strayed elsewhere.

 

[Birdmom12]

Just finished our vet visit. George did great and so far appears healthy. Blood work will be back this afternoon and dna sex test next week. The vet said he’s one of the nicest Amazon’s she’s met. I laughed because of how sweet he isn’t to me ��. Also sadly found out he’s a wild caught amazon from his leg band. This is heart breaking but glad he’s doing so well. She also said his diet and activity is great and she doesn’t recommend any changes as of now. Will announce his sex when it’s known!

 

[Kiwibird]

Glad he checks out as healthy pending bloodwork! If he’s a wild caught, he’s wayyyyyy past puberty so any hormonal behavior is seasonal and temporary. I think wild caught parrots were banned completely by 1992 in the US, I want to say (?). If George is a wild caught he is likely mid-30s or older.

My amazon also tested me right down to my very last thread of patience before he became a big mommy’s boy. He was extremely aggressive towards me (took to my husband, who never wanted a bird/pets but agreed to let me get one, quickly enough). Took about a year and half and numerous unpleasant encounters, some bloody, to start winning him over. Have patience with your Sir George, even if he has yet to realize your a friend not a chew toy.

 

[Birdmom12]

The vet was great and said she would email us contact information for their parrot behaviorist. She said any questions or advice we need to reach out to her.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

just my two cents here on sedation. A couple wellness checks ago Amy had to be x-ray'd to check his heart. After his wellness check/grooming and being stressed from the ordeal,he didn't recover as quickly as the doc would have liked and he collapsed in his carrier couldn't catch his breathe. The X-ray showed a blockage (plaque,like we humans get) in one of his artery's,but she (the doc)didn't sedate Amy for the x-rays.She put him in an inqubator with a bit of heat and oxygen until he calmed down.
The ONLY time Amy has ever been sedated was years ago when he needed 5 stitches in his tongue after Smokey bit it! I'd stay away from someone who wants to sedate my birdie for none-evasive things.


Jim

 

[Scott]

So glad you found a skilled avian vet for George. Anxious to learn the sex!

 

[Birdmom12]

Blood work came back good. They said in a few categories he was low. However that could be his normal. As of now there is nothing of concern. Although his age is unknown she suspects he’s still younger. His eyes are clear of cataract so she’s basing it off of that. We asked her if his flight wings should be clipped( bc of his dive bombs) she said no that was a bad idea. She said he likely lashes out because of pent up energy and frustration. The more he can come out, stretch, and use his flying to relieve it the better. She gave us some tips to try and curve bad behavior. Generally speaking though I think we have a well mannered amazon considering their reputation. We did find out he’s very sexually frustrated though. A move he does that I posted on a while back we are told is him masturbating. Who knew! Glad she told us this so we can work on not encouraging it!

Now we patiently await his gender reveal. I do fee relieved we found this vet she was great! She even let us know the hospital has weekend hours for emergencies. Any time we have questions she said to call her. I wasn’t expecting that type of personal care considering it’s a large university hospital.

 

[Jen5200]

I’m so glad it worked out well, and that your vet sounds amazing!

 

[Birdmom12]

Dna confirmed George is... ... ... Georgia.

 

[Jen5200]

Dna confirmed George is... ... ... Georgia.

Congrats!!

 

[charmedbyekkie]

I've a friend by the name of Georgina who goes by the nickname George - she can keep her name

 

[Scott]

Welcome Georgia!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Dna confirmed George is... ... ... Georgia.

And Amy is really Amos! But he'll forever be Amy to me :07: Congrats on Georgia!



Jim

 

[Birdmom12]

When they said female we kind of already knew. I am the devil in her eyes and the husband is her one true love. Her hatred for me continues but lets hope its largely due to hormones. Who knew I would ever have "competition" in my house.

I have since given up on the fact that she is "my bird" I am more her slave. He gets all the fun adventures with her... I clean the cage and prepare meals.