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)

 

[Guest41995]

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.

 

[osklvste64]

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.

 

[Guest41995]

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).

 

[osklvste64]

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.

 

[Guest41995]

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.

 

[osklvste64]

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.

 

[Guest41995]

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.

 

[osklvste64]

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

 

[Guest41995]

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

View attachment 85119
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.

 

[osklvste64]

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.

 

[HarleY 0655]

for KME3388 and anybody else interested - there is an small book "a guide to ... basic health &disease in birds, first published 1996. ISBN 0 9577024 5 0 - revised edition 2002
A whole lot of advice, covering alot of situations and The knowledge therein priceless!

 

[AMD107]

About 15 years or so ago, we had rescued/fostered a B&G who needed a vet asap for his eye. At the time a did not know of any avian vets nor could I find one. We went to the local vet. One of the Dr's told me at that time, that in vet school they do go over basic's for birds,snakes,turtles the list goes on. BUT he said that it does have to do with location and the need for being specialized. The further south you go in the US the more avian vets you can find. Again the need, since alot of parrot breeders are in the south. For years we just relied on a breeder in the area to do nails, beaks and over all body exam. Then about 4 years ago we lucked up and found an Avian vet.

 

[HarleY 0655]

Same here in Australia - The Avian Vets are where the exotic and all parrots/parrotlets etcetre are found, This insures an income, to them, befitting of the specialised education they have had to acquire in order to have certification. Minus points, in this continent, is that if you are a parrot owner . . .you pay the piper!!
Hence, the VALUE of being a member . . . whereby you can ascertain by the advice you receive, just how relevant your concerns are,, and whereever you are you may be keeping your money in your own pocket. for a more important instance.'Plus any literature, including printed forum postings can become invaluable insofar that you can control your concerns -when the need occurs