Vet visit for new family member, and a quesiton

[osnyder]

Hi there. So, I want to be a good parront and hanging out here made me realize I needed to locate a vet and get an initial well visit. It turns out the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital has an exotics department and will see birds! It's $119 plus blood work and any other thing that is needed; I put a call in and they're calling me back with the exact info. This seems fair, yes? Every routine cat visit costs around $200 so seems comparable.

My question is: do any of you carry insurance for your birds?

thanks,
O.

 

[oled]

Yes the price is quite ok i think. I will pay $110 this week for for a normal consultation ond dna just

 

[IcyWolf]

The University of PA has an amazing veterinary program, albeit quite expensive. Our dog had a week long stay there after a very bad accident. Over $10,000 later, she is now 15 years old and still doing good(pretty amazing for a siberian husky). They do have some great Drs there though!

 

[osnyder]

Icy-- they called me back, it will be closer to $350 with routine blood work. Hrm.

But, as you said, they're some of the best vets out there, and I wouldn't bring him anywhere else without a first-hand recommendation. Around here everyone seems to go to New Jersey, which I'd rather avoid, :/

cheers,
o.

 

[IcyWolf]

I think that the UPA vets are great for a really complex or emergency case, and they were always extremely caring and friendly to us, and they saw A LOT of us during that weeks time. BUT... I don't know that I would personally spend that much money just to get a well check up done unless it was the only avian vet around. I would recommend them 100% if there was something wrong with your bird because I'm sure they would probably catch it quicker than anyone, but since you are just having a normal checkup and blood work, you would honestly probably end up with the same results for less money if you go to a normal vet.

 

[Remy]

Puck's first vet visit was about $350. It included the initial consult, beak and claw grooming, and a blood panel.

 

[Molcan2]

You can't really go wrong going to a University. They will have a lot more experience than vets in private practices. The price seems fair, Rome's visit runs just over $300 (Blood Work included).

 

[osnyder]

I just got a referral from my normal (furry animal) vet for a local doctor that specializes partly in birds & exotics, and yes-- the initial whole deal will still be about $300. The vet's name is Sheldon Gerstenfeld and it appears he has written many books, and is a UofPV graduate. I think I'll take him there

here's the link

http://www.chestnuthillvet.com/ourdoctorsstaff.html

 

[Molcan2]

I'm sure hes qualified. The only thing that I am picky about is that I wont take any of my animals to a vet that isn't board certified, but that is just me (I'm like that with human Dr.s as well).

 

[Atwee921]

I paid $78 for a check up. I think $119 is an okay price for a check up & blood work.