Seek a new avian vet

[OrrinocosMom]

Hello Friends!

I am looking for a good avain vet near either Cornwall or Perth Ontario. (I live in Cornwall, visit Perth regularly, so either area would work).
Thanks for any info! (Yes, I am googling for info but we would love to hear a parrot owner's experience!)

Thanks and Love,
Maya (& Noco)

 

[kme3388]

Hi there, I’m a Mac daddy owner too! It’s very rare that I get to meet others with the mac daddy’s. How has your experience been? How long have you had your macaw? They are so incredibly smart. I have to spend every morning creating “puzzles” for my macaw so he doesn’t get bored, and do things I’d prefer he didn’t. Like chewing on cords, outlets, curtains and such.

I’m very unfamiliar with vet services in England. Do you guys have real avian vets over there? Here in the United States there are very few and far between. Sometimes even if a vet office does except parrots they do until they hear the word macaw. Mines a bit of a thug so I can see why.

 

[osklvste60]

Too bad you're not here in San Antonio Tx. My vet sees Macaws! I knew avian vets were scarce on the ground. I didn't know that they were picky.

 

[kme3388]

Too bad you're not here in San Antonio Tx. My vet sees Macaws! I knew avian vets were scarce on the ground. I didn't know that they were picky.

I don’t have an avian vet in my entire state.

I have one vet in the town directly where I live do nail & beak trims for Blue but for parrot illnesses she said she lacks the experience, and she would prefer if I could find a vet that has experience in that area. She retired this month.

Blue found a small companion mammal vet that hasn’t bailed on him yet. 1 bailed. A few told me they are exotic vets but only see reptiles, or aquatics. One told me they will see the smaller parrots but do not mess with the cockatoos and macaws. Most decline to see parrots period. One referred Blue to the small companion mammal vet (bornavirus runs in my flock and it’s highly suspected that my jenday died from it).

 

[osklvste60]

You don't have a zoo or something similar that has someone who can help. I honestly didn't realize how scarce they were. Parrots and exotics are a growing trend. Evidently I haven't been really rural.

 

[kme3388]

You don't have a zoo or something similar that has someone who can help. I honestly didn't realize how scarce they were. Parrots and exotics are a growing trend. Evidently I haven't been really rural.

How many specialized vets do you have there? I’ve always been mentally curious on how appointments differ with an avian vet.

 

[osklvste60]

I didn't want to upset you. We have several that even specialize in exotic chickens. There are around 9-10. Some specialize in really weird things. Things I didn't know were pets. I sat in office with a man holding some kind of really long boa constrictor. I was nervous considering Nameliss was on the top 10 food list.

 

[kme3388]

when I brought Nico to Mesa, AZ with me and he started feather destructive behaviors that were more severe I know they had more specialized vets. I only came across 1 avian vet who was booked out for appointments and we would be home by then. I’ll have to ask one of my parrots current vets why avian vets aren’t as prevalent. I have speculation that there is no money in it, it’s a lot of schooling with little payout, there probably is not as many consistent clients but that’s just my assumption.

 

[osklvste60]

That's got to be frustrating. Is it because exotic and parrots are not common in your state? Along with population?

 

[kme3388]

That's got to be frustrating. Is it because exotic and parrots are not common in your state? Along with population?

It’s more of an issue in our country. Yes some places are better than others. This is the information I find online. I myself just ask the doctors themselves for confirmation. It is frustrating, and when you’re in a pickle especially in rural areas you can feel very alone in trying to manage care. For an example my direct doctors for me asked me to confine my hands for 6 weeks with a brace. I can’t due to Blue’s reactivity to any change. I highlighted my hair. He didn’t come out of his cage, and screamed at me. I tinted my eye brows the outcome was similar. I’d have to board Blue. Finding people with extensive experience with macaws who can be dangerous is a challenge in this situation. I can’t just have family members care for him as some of them have offered.

 

[osklvste60]

People don't understand. Dogs try to please. Cats try to manipulate. Parrots try to control. It upsets me to see those altered pics for bird cages and carriers with those tame looking tiny Macs.