Merlin's Excellent Adventure

[roxynoodle]

Ok, it probably wasn't all excellent I had to go to my pain management doctor, to get my prescription and I got a cortisone shot in my hip. Well, the bird vet is only about 10 minutes from there so I asked if someone there would help me do the sinus flush today. I managed one last week, but it was really hard, and my neighbors are all quite leery about helping with that. They said, yes, just bring her in and someone will help. So we did that, and I chatted with the vet a bit. She lost her mother suddenly on Friday from a stroke :-(

Then Merlin went to my doctor's appointment with me. They were all very nice to her there, and didn't mind that she came along. I think actually she was more upset about that big needle going into my hip than I was, bless her.

From there she went with me to the drug store to drop off my prescription and to get some eye drops. She was quite a hit there as well

She's a bit worn out now, lol! But, her sinuses feel better and my hip kind of does already, too. It's sore and burning but that's better than that horrible stabbing. I bet by tomorrow I'm back on my feet again.

 

[suebee]

awww bet merlin loved it!! would love to get nut harnest trained so i can take her out

 

[roxynoodle]

I actually took her in her carrier. With her vision issues things going by the car windows are freaky to her. At the doctor's when I walked in and asked if it was ok that my bird was with me, they just asked (before they could see her), "Is she going to fly all over?" I said no, she doesn't fly and she's in a carrier. And the answer was sure, bring her in!

 

[mnkeastman]

Aw sounds like it was a great day out for her! I am glad that you both are feeling better. I think it is wonderful that they were so cool about her coming in.

 

[Mayden]

Sounds like a fun day out, asides from the jabs and flushes

Glad Merlin enjoyed it and glad you're hip is feeling a bit better! I always love peoples reactions when I have my Merlin with me, it's not too often people get to see a parrot so I'm sure they enjoyed seeing Merlin as much as she enjoyed being out and about!

 

[roxynoodle]

Oh, I just remembered when Pete started laughing that Merlin laughed today for the first time. I was talking to the vet and she was on my shoulder and we started laughing and I heard her give a little chuckle. We both stopped talking and I asked, "Did she just laugh?" The vet said she thought she heard it, too. We went back to talking and laughed again about something and Merlin did it again

 

[Wulfgeist]

I bet she'll be sleeping good. That is pretty awesome that you were even allowed to take her in to those places, especially at the dr. No wonder you need a birdie-backpack

 

[roxynoodle]

I bet she'll be sleeping good. That is pretty awesome that you were even allowed to take her in to those places, especially at the dr. No wonder you need a birdie-backpack

I do, don't I?

Yes, the vet asked if I wanted to leave Merlin there while I went to the doctor and I said, I actually don't think they will care! I said usually there is only like one other patient whenever I'm there, and one of the ladies who works there has a Grey. Thankfully they were awesome about it. She gets frightened if I have to leave her in the truck, like if I have to stop for gas. I'm quite sure though I'd have gotten a different reception at one of the offices with several doctors and a ton of patients sitting in the waiting room. At this point I know the staff of the pain doctor best as I see them every single month. They can't by law give refills on those types of pain medications. Nor can they be called into a pharmacy. So every month I have to go there even if it's just to pick up a paper script.

That doctor is normally rather humorless, but he was actually smiling ear to ear about seeing her, so I guess she is welcome from now on.

 

[BillsBirds]

How cool is all of that? What a great day. Glad you're both better. I used to get cortisone shots. I love when birds imitate laughter.

 

[Rio Mom]

Sounds like Merlin had a fun day! (besides the flush). Pepper laughs a lot, and it's amazing how it will be at appropriate times too. (something funny is done or said, etc.) Now her interpretation of funny isn't always very nice. Today one of my cats threw up a little..... Pepper laughed!

 

[themacinjosh]

I'm actually very interested in getting Lily (my lovebird) out and about from time to time. She's still pretty young (I guess I should start giving age in months instead of weeks now, haha...she's about 2 and a half months old) so when do you think a good age is to have them go places with me? I'm thinking maybe a park or just taking a walk by the house. I live in the San Francisco Bay area, so it can get well into the 60's some days...I wouldn't take her out if it was too cold or raining of course.

This post also got me thinking it would be neat to bring her along on errands too...I know a guy who's a regular at the place we got her at actually takes his birds grocery shopping with him! He's a bit extreme, but still, I do want my bird to be well behaved on outings! Any feedback would be much appreciated.

***oh, and I almost forgot, I think I'm going to get a little bird harness for her for when I take her on walks outside or to a park. I have a travel cage for in the car, and I found they do make little harnesses for birds this small so that would be neat too.

 

[wenz2712]

Sounds like Merlin had a great adventure Glad your both feeling better though

 

[roxynoodle]

I'm actually very interested in getting Lily (my lovebird) out and about from time to time. She's still pretty young (I guess I should start giving age in months instead of weeks now, haha...she's about 2 and a half months old) so when do you think a good age is to have them go places with me? I'm thinking maybe a park or just taking a walk by the house. I live in the San Francisco Bay area, so it can get well into the 60's some days...I wouldn't take her out if it was too cold or raining of course.

This post also got me thinking it would be neat to bring her along on errands too...I know a guy who's a regular at the place we got her at actually takes his birds grocery shopping with him! He's a bit extreme, but still, I do want my bird to be well behaved on outings! Any feedback would be much appreciated.

***oh, and I almost forgot, I think I'm going to get a little bird harness for her for when I take her on walks outside or to a park. I have a travel cage for in the car, and I found they do make little harnesses for birds this small so that would be neat too.

I don't see any reason why you can't start taking her out right now as long as she's secure and won't be able to fly away. The sooner they are exposed to new people and things the better. It can also help to keep them from becoming one person birds who don't want anyone else around.

I have a feeling if I tried the grocery shopping though I'd get kicked out of the store.

 

[roxynoodle]

Sounds like Merlin had a fun day! (besides the flush). Pepper laughs a lot, and it's amazing how it will be at appropriate times too. (something funny is done or said, etc.) Now her interpretation of funny isn't always very nice. Today one of my cats threw up a little..... Pepper laughed!

No, sometimes they laugh over things that aren't funny to us! Pete laughs when he watches Criminal Minds when people on the show die!

They aren't laughing over poor, sick kitty who will probably need to see the vet herself today, but Merlin is now imitating her throwing up

 

[themacinjosh]

So when your birds laugh, are they just mimicking our laughter & doing that from time to time or is it something else? That's really funny how they will do it at certain things but I'm just wondering if it's actually a laugh or just a noise they mimic.

 

[roxynoodle]

Well, sometimes they laugh when they hear people laughing, but sometimes they laugh at things they like, too, so I think some of each.