After Anesthesia

[JenStarlynn]

Hello,

My 3 year old Goffin went under anesthesia yesterday for wing clip, nail clip and beak polish. She is usually a happy girl and had never been gassed before. I didn't know that as previous owner didn't mention it. She threw up twice after and made the saddest cry. Today she does not want to come out of her cage at all and she bit my son and drew blood. Way out of character for her. She's been sleepy all day. Vet said wait another day bring her in if she's still like that. I'm so sad and feel horrible for doing what vet recommend. She's a great bird and now I feel like I broke her. Advice? Anyone have this happen after anesthesia with their baby?

 

[condobirds]

I never heard of anethesia for gooming. Too risky. I have had 4 vets over the years and never gassed for grooming. I have had a lovebird and a GCC gassed for medical procedures but they came out of it quickly with no ill effects.
I would look for another vet. And I would be very concerned about your bird's reaction to the anesthesia. I don't think you broke her, she sounds like she doesn't feel well and has had a reaction to the anesthesia.

 

[texsize]

I know anesthesia can cause humans nausea so I would not be surprised that it would do the same to a bird.

I second condorbirds comments. Most vets are very reluctant to put a bird under anesthesia because it is so risky.

Only thing I can say in the vets defense is that having the beak worked on can be extremely stressful for a bird. perhaps that's why he chose to put your bird under. the other procedures should not call for it.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I also have never heard of a birdie getting gassed for a "birdicure". My Amy was gassed once,many years ago,but that was because his doctor had to put five stitches in his TONGUE after Smokey bit it .

However,I tend to agree with Wes, (texsize) that perhaps because of the beakie groom that's why it was done,but then again,my grey has had her beakie "trimmed" a few times and was never gassed.



Jim

 

[condobirds]

Normal beaks do not need much grooming if any. It is mostly cosmetic with a little buffing along the edges. You can use a human nail buffer, or a light drummel along the sides, depends on the size of the bird. I never do the tip. Playing/chewing toys, opening nuts in the shell and other beak activities should keep the beak from getting overgrown, unless there is disease. I do my own grooming so I know anesthesia is not necessary. It only takes a few minutes. Bird stores in my area do grooming for free and they of course don't use gas.

 

[JenStarlynn]

Thank you for the responses. I am watching her close. At the moment she is just preening and sleeping a ton. We won't be gassing again and she will be going to another vet. Such a lack of concern on their part that I don't want to go back. I need a vet that cares about my concerns and my bird. I had no clue that this was not the norm. This is my first parrot and I'm already in love with everything about her.

 

[SailBoat]

It is very important to understand that Birds can become very stressed as a result of handling, especially the longer they are held. Anesthesia has become far more common of late as Vets have on-going success when used.

We are very active clients and are always in the room with our Amazon. Active to a point, that I assist when adjustment to the upper bill is being made. Because he is a plucker and very specific to his cause, we keep the point slightly rounded. That requires minor rounding every 30 to 60 days. With this schedule his becoming stress is very high.

You have learned something very important about your Parrot that was unknown by both you and your Vet! It is likely the first your Vet has experienced a problem with the Parrots they see in their clinic.

Now, we see a Certified Avian Vet and I also maintain active relationships with an Avian Qualified Vet and also Vets that see Avians as part of their practice. I also spend time at the different Clients when they get a new Vet. My goal is to get as many Vets as possible in my area comfortable and knowledgeable in working with Avians. Our DYH Amazon is a big strong guy, but he is fairly kind to individuals that handle him correctly.

It is easy to say; I'm never taking my Parrot to see That Vet Again. Until its an emergency and your preferred CAV is on vacation, sick or traveling! Now what do you do? The Medical World is a partnership! Being an active partner just may save your Bird's life.

 

[Scott]

I also agree these behaviors are more a result of handling than the anesthesia gas. Assuming the vet used either Isoflurand or Sevoflurane; fast acting gasses that rarely leave lingering behavioral problems.

Give her extra TLC, some beloved treats, and chances are high she'll bounce back. In any case, I'd be looking for a new vet.

 

[condobirds]

I have seen people grooming birds that take so much time that the bird is hugely stressed. Groomers that are experienced and know what they are doing, are done in a few minutes. The less time, the less stress. Some people think that the bird will "hate' you if you do the grooming. Not so. My husband helps me so it is quick. He holds the bird still ( and you can towel them if necessary) and i do the clipping of wings and nails. Takes 2 minutes. Except my Senegal who clamps his feet so tight that I have to pry his toes open. LOL. Just learn the correct way to do the nails and wings. Have Quick Stop handy just in case of a nail cut too short. It happens more sometimes with a bird that has dark nails, you cannot see the quick as easily. Also know what to look for in blood feathers so you don't clip those.

 

[Kiwibird]

Anesthesia for grooming? Beak 'polishing'? I bet this venture wasn't cheap and I'd bet good money this vet spotted a wide eyed new owner who didn't know better, hence why they did not one but 2 wholly unnecessary things to your bird to achieve the goal of a bigger bill to present you with. DEFINITELY find a new vet, a certified avian vet who only treats birds would be best. Grooming should never necessitate putting a bird under and speaks volumes about the lack of skill of the 'vet' who can't even properly restrain a conscious bird. In general, anesthesia is very dangerous for parrots and should only be done as a last resort for procedures that absolutely cannot be done with the bird awake. Any groomer with an ounce of competence should easily be able to safely and securely restrain a little 200-something gram goffins in a towel and be done with nails and wings in a few minutes max.

In fact, in my experience healthy cockatoos aren't particularly prone to overgrown nails or beaks in the first place like some other species, unless they have other medical problems. My dads goffins is in his 40's and has never required nail trims, much less 'beak polishing'. He is wayyyyyyyyy too active for his nails or beak to ever get overgrown. Healthy parrots shouldn't need anything done to their beaks if they are being provided with adequate amounts of wood toys to chew up. Chewing wood is how a parrot keeps it's beak trim naturally, so be sure your G2 has lots of wood toys to chew. We groom our amazon at home, and I never touch his beak, just wings and nails. The beak never *needs* anything done, though it can occasionally get a bit flaky as it grows out, but this is 100% normal and fine and there is no need to 'do' anything to 'fix' it, it will fix itself as the bird chews more wood. It's the natural growth cycle of the beak and requires no intervention on a healthy, active bird. Also, consider adding one cement 'pedicure' perch in a well traveled area of the cage so your bird steps on it frequently (he may also rub his beak on it, which is ok too). This will help keep the nails in check. Also to note, parrot nails should be left on the longer side. Think raptor talons- a nice healthy curve to them but not curling under is ideal length. Short nails makes it very difficult for them to climb, yet many overzealous groomers seem to love clipping them way too short. Snipping just the sharp tip off is ideal. Our bird gets a couple millimeters off his nails, only as they become sharp (we groom at home), but otherwise remain fairly long and allows him to climb with ease. As for wing clipping, that should be done by a professional until you have enough confidence to try yourself (or you may wish to just keep letting a pro handle it). Make sure whoever clips your bird does a light clip (only clips about 5-6 feathers) and does it equally on both wings. A competent vet should never butcher a birds wings by cutting the whole bottom off nor would a competent vet ever clip just one wing. Just so you have an idea of what to ask/expect/demand of your vet.

I hope your bird is feeling better now!

 

[Siobhan]

I think you're right to change vets. That doesn't sound right to me at all. Give her another day or so. Like people, birds react differently to different drugs. I know when I have anesthesia, I'm sick (throwing up, dizzy, like the worst flu you ever had) for at least a couple of days afterward. Your baby might be extra sensitive to it. Don't bother her. Let her sleep and just check on her and talk to her periodically so she knows you're near. And next time a vet wants to put her under for something simple (and nail trims ARE if the vet is competent) ask a ton of questions. WHY is this necessary? Why can't you just towel her (which is what they should have done).

 

[EllenD]

This is absolutely awful, and i'm so sorry that a vet did this to you and your bird...I don't know of any experienced Avian Vet who would put a bird under anesthesia for any type of grooming, and they shouldn't ever need their beaks done like this vet did to your bird. I don't say this to scare you, but many birds have died simply from having the beak "polish" done. And as far as putting a bird under to clip it's wings and trim it's toenails? That's just cruel and extremely irresponsible and dangerous...Most people clip their bird's wings and toenails themselves; obviously anesthesia is not at all needed...

Please find a different vet, a Certified Avian Vet or at the very least a very experienced Avian Specialist Vet, no "exotics" vets. And please don't ever let them polish/grind her beak ever again, as it's unnecessary and can be extremely dangerous. I remember a member on here who had this done to their completely healthy and happy, 4 year old Eclectus, that was it, and on the way home their bird started seizing, they turned around to take him right back to the vet, but he was dead when they pulled into the parking lot.

****I would be extremely concerned about the condition of your bird right now, vomiting even once can be traumatic and dangerous for a bird, let alone multiple times, and this combined with her erratic and aggressive behavior is more than enough for me to be finding a 24/7 Animal or Exotics Hospital and getting her there ASAP if her behavior and the vomiting continues through tonight. There's a fine-line between getting her help and stressing her out any more than she already is, but if she needs oxygen, pain meds, etc., you have to do what you have to do...

Did he just "polish" the beak, or did he actually grind anything off of the beak? Was their any bleeding? I'm asking because the beak is loaded with nerve-endings, and if this vet doesn't know what they're doing, which they obviously don't, then he may have hurt her beak and she may be in pain, which would explain her behavior.

 

[lplummer52]

Yeah, shouldn't have to anesthetize a bird for nails or beak. My vet does nails in two seconds for $10. Worth the stress of a vet visit. I don't trust myself to do it, but know it needs to be done when those nails are like razor blades. He's dremmeled the beak once in four years. His call. I trust my vet A LOT! I always see a lot of birds in there for treatment. You have to shop around for a vet. Try different ones until you find one you like. My vet is a half hour away. There are lots of vets a lot closer, but I feel comfortable with him and his assistant. They know birds and I've started taking the dogs there two.

 

[condobirds]

Hello,

My 3 year old Goffin went under anesthesia yesterday for wing clip, nail clip and beak polish. She is usually a happy girl and had never been gassed before. I didn't know that as previous owner didn't mention it. She threw up twice after and made the saddest cry. Today she does not want to come out of her cage at all and she bit my son and drew blood. Way out of character for her. She's been sleepy all day. Vet said wait another day bring her in if she's still like that. I'm so sad and feel horrible for doing what vet recommend. She's a great bird and now I feel like I broke her. Advice? Anyone have this happen after anesthesia with their baby?

Just a question that occured to me. Could your vet have clipped the nails too short and your bird is having problems perching and not feeling well because of painful feet. Years ago, a vet tech at the avian vet i was going to groomed my lovebird. He seemed rather stressed after the vet visit was done, which was unusual. When I got him home, he was very lethargic and wouldn't perch and hung out at the bottom of the cage. I looked him over and found that the tech had trimmed his nails so short that his poor feet were painful. It took 2 weeks before he was back to normal. I immediately called the vet and gave her the "what for'. I loved this vet but never let her people groom my birds again.

 

[Scott]

Any updates? Hopefully she has completely recovered.