B&G Rescue

[ElPolloGuapo]

We got a 4 yr old rescue B&G Macaw about a week ago. He is great! Loving & funny. We took him to the vet yesterday to get a work up, trim his overgrown scissor beak, & much overgrown nails. It was traumatic. They were barely able to trim either bc he bled. The vet said his nails have been too long for so long that the beds are extended? She said to come back in 6 weeks bc the beds will recess now that they had been trimmed a bit. Does this sound right? She also recommended having him anesthetized so she can do more work on his beak. What are your thoughts?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hello there, and welcome to the forum.

Many congrats on your new family member.

Yes, if the nails were allowed to be severely overgrown, it's impossible to cut them all back to the desired length in one sitting because the "quick" grew along with the nails. The "quick" is the blood vessel in the nails.

In proper hands/care a macaw should not need to be anesthetized for routine maintenance such as this. A skilled technician would know how to properly hold your bird, while the vet performs the tasks.

 

[MangieSun]

In my registered vet tech days, there was a few occasions where anesthesia was necessary for beak trims. It was only with extreme cases though. Most of the time I, or one of the other technicians would hold while the vet trimmed and shaped the beak.

 

[Terry57]

Hello and welcome! I am so happy you rescued your B&G! What is his name? do you have any pictures?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

How severe is the beak? Do you have a photo?

My vet wouldn't use anesthesia unless it was absolutist necessary. I go to a bird only clinic. She and her team are highly educated, and extremely skilled when it comes to all types of birds. If you're seeing a avian vet who doesn't see birds on a daily, or even weekly basis, they will be more likely to jump to anesthesia for lack of experience.

 

[ElPolloGuapo]

She is experienced. He was very well behaved but did not like his beak handled & it was pretty upsetting for him. I think her reasoning is the trauma for him. I'll attach some photos. He is very loving but he is a rescue. He is afraid of sticks, towels, new toys & foreign objects. He adjusts quickly and wants love but being trimmed is upsetting & he doesn't want to do it. His name is El Pollo Guapo which is Spanish for the handsome chicken. Since he over preened he is naked on his chest, looking like a chicken

 

[ElPolloGuapo]

Pic of his "topside". The pic qualities aren't great but he really is beautiful.