"Avian" Vet vs Certified Avian Vet?

[MonicaMc]

There are vets who practice avian medicine and then there are certified avian vets. Certified avian vets are vets who have taken additional training on top of training to become a vet (D.V.M.'s). Becoming certified requires a rigorous series of criteria, which includes years of specialty training (at least 3-4 years), potentially having to publish 2 or more papers/clinical articles and passing a difficult exam.

The following two pages go a little more in-depth into what is required to become an ABVP vet (aka Certification)

https://drmarcucci.com/2014/03/21/veterinary-credentials-what-do-all-those-letters-mean-anyway/
http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/benefits-becoming-diplomate


As such *ONLY* Certified Avian Vets can be found on the following website.

https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/



Any vets listed on the next website are not guaranteed certified. At minimum, they are DVM's that practice avian medicine.

https://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803



My vet is listed on AAV website, however she is not listed on ABVP because she is not a certified avian vet. Of the D.V.M.'s in my area that practice avian medicine, she is thus far the only vet that I trust with my birds! I'll only go to the other vets if she is unavailable and I can't wait to get an animal (not just birds!) into her. She charges more than the other vets as well, but to me, it's worth it. I asked her recently why she isn't certified, and her reason? Well, she studied under two CAV's and they basically told her that if she valued her relationship with her husband, don't do it! It's not worth the hassle to become certified. That said, she still keeps up with the latest avian medicine as much as possible to expand her own knowledge on the subject.


Just because a vet isn't avian certified does not mean that they can't be trusted as much as a certified avian vet. That doesn't mean that all vets that practice avian medicine can be trusted - there's at least two in my area that I don't care for or trust and use them as a last resort. Both will prescribe medications before tests are done, even though they have the means to do the tests to find out what is wrong. One has even given me incorrect information after doing blood work.


On the other hand, just because a vet is avian certified does not mean that they are good with birds. Some people have had bad experiences going to a CAV.


If you have a CAV that's great with birds near you, then great! If you don't, then find the best vet that you can in your area that works with birds!

 

[Scott]

A great topic and post, Monica!

I'm wondering about ABVP Diplomate status; there are currently only 14 in California. Two vets I am acquainted with (one I currently use) used to have status but no longer. Wonder if maintaining is problematic?

 

[SassiBird]

Thanks Monica. And not everyone even has the option to go to a CAV, even in the USA. Minnesota has zero CAV's. Neither does Iowa, Wisconsin or the Dakotas. If I need a CAV the closest one is south of Chicago or in Michigan. I'll do it if I need to, but thankfully we have a several good DVM's in Minneapolis/St. Paul. I was on the new client waiting list a year for the DVM most recommended and never did get in. I'm happy with the vet we have and they happen to be the 24/7 avian emergency vet for the area. It's an hour drive from my house - not great in an emergency, but it's what we have.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I did not know all that. THANK YOU!
Much good stuff to save...

 

[SailBoat]

Great Thread Monica!!!

As noted above, we have two CAV's in Michigan, one in SE Michigan and the other in Western Michigan. With very good luck, the one in Western Michigan is a short 20 minutes in good weather and moderate traffic and is our primary care Avian Vet.

The term used for those who have chosen not to become certified is 'Qualified' as in Avian Qualified Vet. Their training and knowledge base varies widely, but most are very knowledgeable and keep-up with the science.

I am not sure of the additional requires that a CAV must meet to maintain their certificate, but I believe that it involves contributing to the science, which involves providing /presenting studies to the AAV.

As Stated Above, Great Topic Monica.

 

[Teddscau]

Great thread! My go to vet is Dr. Morris who's prices are dirt cheap and he's literally 10 minutes from me. I don't think he's a CAV, but he's very experienced when it comes to pretty much every creature known to man (okay, maybe not hippos and elephants). He actually has a doctorate or whatever in aquatic invertebrate biology (which is great since I keep fish), and he treats fish, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, mustelids, birds (poultry, passerine, parrots), pigs, cats, dogs, etc. Basically, if the critter has a face (heck, maybe even those who don't), he'll examine them. I mean, it's great if a vet is "certified" for certain aspects of health (cardiologist, oncologist, etc.) or certain kinds of animals, but that can really limit their field of expertise and experience. I've seen several CAVs (three or four), and the only one I'd trust is Dr. Yee. For avian care, he's a close second to Dr. Yee. She's in Toronto now though .

But yeah, just because somebody's a CAV or a cardiologist, it doesn't necessarily mean they're the most qualified one for the job. Well, maybe on paper, but not necessarily in practice.

 

[MonicaMc]

Scott, looks like it needs to be renewed every 10 years for ABVP. Perhpas it was just too much of a hassle getting the status of ABVP that it wasn't worth it to renew it?


Sassibird That's me! There are no CAV's in my entire freakin state! I live in Nevada... it is the 7th largest state (although anyone who does not live in Nevada somehow think it's a tiny state... like it takes 2-4 hours to drive between Las Vegas and Reno-Sparks-Tahoe... no, it's about 9 hours! One way! Even people in freakin California somehow think it's a short drive!) I would have to drive to California to go to a CAV and it's from my understanding that the first two closest CAV's are retiring... which means if there are 14 in the state of California, as Scott mentioned, then there will be 12.... that is, if they haven't retired already. (I see at least one still mentioned on the ABVP website!) Sucks that you didn't get in to see the most recommended DVM, but as long as you have a good vet, that's all that matters! I hate to say it, but it took me a while to see my vet because the first impression of the office she used to work in was not a good one! But after I made the switch? So totally worth it! The first vet I went to was a freakin pain! And it saddens me that people still go to him. One person even mentioned that she has to tell him how to do his job. This person refuses to see the vet I go to... but for whatever reason, I've met two people now who refuse to see a *FEMALE* vet! What makes it even more odd is that these people aren't men! They are women! I don't get it...


GaleriaGila you're welcome! I didn't know this previously either and it confused me at first.


Sailboat good to know! "AQV"


Teddscau you're right, I don't see a "Morris" listed... there's a Beaufrere in Guelph, a Bergmann in Toronto and a Roscoe in Nepean. This from the ABVP website. I don't see a "Morris" on AAV either. As long as he's a great vet that's knowledgeable, I don't see that as any issue! I've taken my birds and previous cats and dog to my current vet since I trust her. She's also treated small animals such as guinea pigs. I don't think she treats fish though! And I'm not sure about reptiles! LOL