First Vet Visit

[jaimmorr]

Wellll, as most of you know, I'm FINALLY bringing home my parrot! Ricco, Goffin's Cockatoo, comes home June 30th!

Now, I am 100% sure I want to take him to the vet as soon as I get him. But: We have a 2.5 hour drive to pick him up, a 2.5 hour drive back home. If I were to take him straight to the avian vet, it would be another hour North and an hour back home.

So, I guess I have a couple options:

Option 1: Wake up early. Drive 2.5 hours South. Pick up Ricco. Drive 3.5 hours to the vet (in air conditioned car and him in the travel cage, obviously). Get vet visit over with. Drive 1 more hour back home and get him settled in.

Option 2: Drive 2.5 hours South. Pick up Ricco. Drive 2.5 hours back home. Get him settled in. Then take him back out on Monday and drive 1 hour to the vet and 1 hour back home.

Which is going to stress him out the least?

 

[KatherineI]

Hmm. That's a good question. Honestly? I'd see if you could get it all done at once. That way, once he settles in, he doesn't have to be "disturbed" for a while. It may be worse to drive all that way, only to take him back out 2 days later for another long drive.

So, my vote is, get it done in one day! It'll be long, it might be a bit stressful, but then you don't have to worry about it for a while.

 

[luvmytooo]

I agree . See how he handles the ride , if he seems fine , head to the vet
If not , then you have to take him another day. Just remember , he will be handled in the vet , toweled , etc.... So , if he is concerned at all in the carrier , he will definitely get more stressed once in the vet. If he breathing heavy from being stressed , the vet will most likely have you come back another day...just something to think about :/
Good luck with Ricco

 

[mtdoramike]

First off, congrats. Secondly, is your bird coming from a breeder? If so, then you most likely have like a 48hour to 72hour window in most mosts to take your newly aquired bird to a vet for a complete checkup. This is to insure that there aren't any problems with the bird that the breeder new about before you got him.

If you got him from a rescue or from a private individual, then I would wait a few days and let him settle in. Then I would take him to the vet.

 

[oled]

I any case I would do the vet check diretly, that way he can come home and settle. But for sure bouth way will work

 

[jaimmorr]

Thanks, guys!

Nope, he's not from a breeder. He's a rehome, 8 years old. I think I'll call the vet clinic today and see what they say.

 

[artemis]

Congratulations on your new bird! As for the timing of the vet visit, I'd say do whatever's easiest for you and for the vet clinic (although I'd be tempted to get it all done in one day if possible). As far as Ricco's concerned, it's not going to make much difference either way.

 

[jaimmorr]

Good news, everyone!

I found a certified Avian vet that is on the way home! So I scheduled an appointment. Bad news? They're only open from 8am to 12pm, so I had to schedule one for 10:40am. That means we'll have to wake up and be on the road by 6am, pick him up by 8:45, get to the vet at 10:40, and then head all the way home. LOL it's going to be a long Saturday!

 

[KatherineI]

But then you have "forever" afterwards to enjoy Ricco

 

[artemis]

LOL it's going to be a long Saturday!

True, but look at the bright side. You're going to have no trouble getting up at 6 AM, because you're going to be so excited bout getting your new bird that you probably won't be able to sleep anyway!