Do you take your birds to a Avian Vet

[DEEJAY7950]

I'm just curious how many people here take their birds to an Avian Vet?

[DEEJAY7950]

Well that didn't work, I was trying to set up a poll just to see how many people take birds to the vet but no poll option showed up?

[DEEJAY7950]

I have a feeling it is very few indeed due to the cost involved! Any way we tend to take care of things with-in the pigeon community!

[Lovebirds]

I've never taken one of my birds to an avian vet. Never needed to (knock on wood) and if I did think they needed a vet........I'd just give Pidgey a call.
We don't even have an avian vet around here that I know of. My vet that sees my dogs had a white pigeon dropped off one day and called us. She told my husband it was a banded bird and was in fine shape. He went and picked it up and it was a bag o' bones.........barely alive. So, none of MY birds will go to see her.
I don't think that most fanciers take their birds to a vet unless it's a REAL emergency.
I've had two birds die in my loft in the past 7 years. Neither of which I realized anything was wrong. One hen I noticed looking "off" somehow. I picked her up off of the perch to check her out and in about 30 seconds she was dead. I have no earthly idea what was wrong with her. The other went on a 40 mile training toss and died that night.

[learning]

To quite honest, it is extremely difficult to find a qualified avian vet. I guess the money isn't in it. Dogs and cats give them a much bigger market.

Now, get this, I am in Atlanta which is just down the road from Athens. You know...the "Go Dawgs" Athens. This is home to one of the largest and finest veterinary schools in the country, but can you find an avian vet anywhere in the state? Good luck.

Very high on my "to do" list is to invest in a microscope and learn how to use it. At least I would be able to do my own fecals and crop flushes. So, I guess to answer your question...no, I do not take my birds to an avian vet, at least I haven't yet.

Dan

[maryjane]

I had to find an avian vet in the town I used to live in, and it was a nightmare. Especially trying to find someone who treated pigeons...the reactions I got! This was back in the beginning of my pigeon years when I had Pierre who was covered in oil. I'm so sorry I didn't know about this site then!!!!!!!!! Of course we ended up learning how to wash the oil out and get the strings off her toes and she turned out fine.

So when I moved to this town I asked a lot of people about avian vets, and though most of them treat mostly parrots and such, there is one I stumbled across by accident. I was calling around to find a vet who would humanely put my very ill (she had cancer) rat to sleep, and with rats there is a special way to do it where they don't feel pain, involving anesthetic gas first (putting one to sleep with an injection causes a lot of pain, which I never knew before). There were NO vets who would do the gas first followed by injection. Until one vet tech recommended a different vet and I called there and they not only did that method, but knew why it was important to do it that way. They were kind and thoughtful, receptionists included, and treated my little rat the same as a cat or dog. There were bird posters all over the place and I asked if he treats birds, and he does, and had a nice reaction to my having pigeons (and knows about pigeons). So while I've never had to take one there yet, at least I know I have one. It's important to find a vet before you need one!

[kippermom]

Here's my vote...

I DO take my sick birds to an avian vet...if the diagnosis is not crystal clear to me with the help of this site so I know how to treat it, or if the problem, though obvious, is beyond my ability to treat...they go to the vet.
One was a dog bite rescue from the shelter that needed stitches added then removed...
One needed surgery to correct a badly splayed leg, which did not respond to all the suggestions here...
And one is under treatment now with vague symptoms being discussed under another thread. (I lost one two weeks ago with the same symptoms so clearly my supportive care, heat and observation did not do the trick!)

[Charis]

There are several in Portland but only one I will take my birds to.
It's a good idea to do investigation and find out who is in your area that is willing to run a fecal or throat swab and is available if you have an emergency.
It's also critical to have an emergency kit ready because something always happens and if you need to scramble to find what you need or wait for meds from one of the pigeon supply places, it could put the life of your bird/birds at risk.

[Pigeonpal2002]

I think most of us here have taken their pigeons to a vet at some point or will in the future.

It is EXTREMELY difficult to find a qualified, savvy, knowledgeable and caring avian vet who knows anything about pigeons in most places and those people who have, are very, VERY lucky.

I've been through approximately 4 vets over the years and my current vet is the best I'm going to find around here and that isn't saying much.

[mr squeaks]

I can say that Squeaks is VERY fortunate to have a first rate Avian Vet, who also has pigeons of his own.

There is another Avian Vet closer than Dr. Burke that I can use in an emergency. Cindy found him. I did meet him but haven't taken any birds to him yet.

Our area is fortunate to have Avian Vets in various parts of the Valley. I have names, but no info on how good they are...

Shi

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by learning

To quite honest, it is extremely difficult to find a qualified avian vet. I guess the money isn't in it. Dogs and cats give them a much bigger market.

Dan

Here's where to find an avian vet: http://www.aav.org/vet-lookup/

Here in So Cal, a "real" avian vet doesn't really care to treat pigeons, doves, chickens, ducks, geese and other "lowly" avian species. Around here the avian vets are pretty much parrot vets and just to walk in their door is $300-500. Everything else is extra, and you would be lucky to get out for about $1,500.00 if any tests were done. Heaven help you if your bird was really actually sick, injured, or required surgery .. time for a second mortgage on your home .. I'm not kidding. You would be looking at a MULTI thousand dollar vet bill here in So Cal.

Here in my area, the ONLY avian certified vet that I know of that treats the "lowly" birds like pigeons, doves, chickens, ducks, geese and such is Dr. Bart Huber in Corona. How he can be avian certified just like the "in town" guys and charge so much less is a wonder .. but it's also a blessing!

Terry

[John_D]

Originally Posted by TAWhatley

Here's where to find an avian vet: http://www.aav.org/vet-lookup/

Thanks for the link, Terry. I expect you've posted it before, but I just noticed it is an international list and includes one only about 25 miles from my home town.

We may take one of the aviary pigeons, or a new rescue, to a vet if it needs treatment for injury outside our ability or knowledge, or for diagnosis and meds if a problem is not identifiable.

The one Cynthia generally goes to is not an avian specialist, but does deal with pigeons and other birds and makes the effort to find out about pigeons. He is honest about what he does and doesn't know. He doesn't charge a consultation fee for our new rescues. Occasionally, Cynthia takes in a pigeon or dove who has been found and brought to the vet practice, for ongoing care. So it kinda works both ways.

There is also a practice, where they have at least one 'real' avian vet who deals with local fanciers' birds, a good few miles away. We have taken birds to them a few times - they would be my choice for anything requiring surgery. Fortunately, they don't charge anything like the prices Terry mentioned!

John

[Feefo]

I once made an appointment to see the "avian specialist" at the surgery that John mentioned. They told me that the initial consultation was around £60 as I was bringing in an "exotic" and would need a triple consultation period.

The next time I had to go there (at the sick pigeon's rescuer's request) I just asked for an appointment to see "Louise"...the same person, but that cost just under £20.

My own vet may not be an avian specialist, but I prefer to see him as he never tries to bluff me .

Cynthia

[Reti]

There is one avian clinic here in Miami and there used to be two vets working there. The one I was going to was great as he didn't charge an arm and a leg, I could go in at any time if I had an emergency even after hours, always returned my calls and emails. It helped that I also worked for him for more than a year and I learned a lot from him. Unfortunately he left so I have to use the other vet in the clinic now, which is a great avian vet, one of the best in the country but he charges, oh boy. Not as bad as Terry mentioned but very close. So, I take only the birds that don't respond to my initial treatment.


Reti

[Trees Gray]

I take my birds to my local licensed rehabber who has the experience of dealing with alot of pigeons as well as all Florida birds (land and and sea), should I be unable to figure out the issue. She does the exams and mends broken bones and pretty much can figure out what is going on if I can't.

If it requires an X ray or a fecal I take them down to a local vet recommended to me by the rehabber, which I have not needed. Avian vets around here also do not know much about pigeons at all, and most tests they send out to labs to have done and are expensive.