New vet needed

[Auggie's Dad]

Apparently there aren't many choices for vets in this area. The closest one has not received very great reviews, one a bit further away has great reviews, but they aren't accepting new clients!

I just took Auggie in for a check up and nail trim ... I was charged $140. It would have been almost $300 if I let them do the recommended blood work.

For all that money they should have been a bit nicer!


I miss my last vet. She was great with Auggie, he even LIKED going there, and a check up, nail trim, beak 'trim' and pretty much anything else he needed was always between $30-50.

It's almost worth moving back across the country to go back there.

 

[antoinette]

OMG

$140 If I have converted it correctly it's R1120.00 in rands here in South Africa.
I travel 30 kilometers to Mishka's avian vet, the best in South Africa and I only paid R180.00, if converted that one correctly as well it would be $22.50. That is a total rip off.

There Mishka was thoroughly examined, head to toe, wings clipped and nails trimmed. Mishka was totally relaxed, when being examined etc.

AND a bonus I was given a kg of Maintenance feed FOR FREE.

Another bonus, we spend over 1 1/2 hours chatting to Brett.

 

[wildheart]

That is a real bummer, I am sorry to hear. There should be laws that control how much they are allowed to charge - it is daylight robbery.

How far away did you move from the previous vet? I can imagine your worry if something goes wrong and there is nobody qualified that can help.

 

[Ecclipse]

I spent over R4000 on vet bills with hugo only to have them shake thier shoulders at me. Its so frustrating - I have only now found a vet that has a good way with Rosie and is reasonably priced. I get so angry when I hear how vets can be. Sorry to hear about that AD!!!

 

[Spiritbird]

Sorry AD. Sometimes we are at the mercy of the avain vet charges. Has your bird every had blood work. done? I take Rosie for her annual in a couple weeks and wonder if I should get it done this time. I know the cost for an exam is about $80 with a groom included. Blood work will for sure raise the cost. Vets cannot tell if a bird has a clean bill of health without making some diagnostic evaluations such as blood word. What to do??

 

[Bobby34231]

Hey AD, heres a link to a site that you can find ABVP Board Certified Avian Vets in MA., not sure if any are near enough to you but its worth a shot, for those in the U.S. you can also use the site to find one in your state as well, the criteria to become board certified is pretty intense so its not just like paying a fee and getting a certificate, both of my vets are ABVP avian certified

ABVP - find diplomate, certification, species, credentialing, veterinary clinical practice, vet

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Thanks Bobby, I'll check that out.

Auggie did have a complete blood work done just over two years ago - yes I know, in a perfect world that would be done every year, but he has been perfectly happy and healthy and has not been exposed to other birds, and hardly even other people.

Today we did a physical check up and a fecal Gram stain.

 

[Ecclipse]

I have learnt something new - I didnt know that you must do a Gram Stain or blood tests yearly. Ummmm.... I only thought you did those if your bird was showing signs of being sick. Will get in touch with my vet and get Rosie tested. Thanks for the thread AD

 

[sprice37]

Just the charges to the vet for the bloodwork are almost 100 dollars and then they will of course mark it up. I think it is well worth it for the pease of mind of knowing my burds are healthy. I also have a good caring vet that takes her time and loves birds so that is a bonus. Unfortunately I have another blood panel on the 7th for socrates. Darn bile acids

 

[Auggie's Dad]

I have learnt something new - I didnt know that you must do a Gram Stain or blood tests yearly. Ummmm.... I only thought you did those if your bird was showing signs of being sick. Will get in touch with my vet and get Rosie tested. Thanks for the thread AD

I don't know about "must". I think its more like how we must get a dental check up every 6 months (or is it 3) than it is like how you must change your oil every 3000 or so miles in a vehicle.

I have not had blood work done for over 2 years with Auggie, and I still will not unless I have reason to (reason could be symptoms, or just if he is exposed to other birds, etc). Also I have not had a Gram stain done in a couple years either. I figured there's no harm in that: he readily gave his sample while they were weighing him, so no extra work needed.

Seeing as I've had a good year financially and I was thinking about buying myself something nice it'd be a good time to get Auggie a good check up first. As most of us know birds only get sick when we can't afford it! So when you are able it is worth getting some tests for a clean bill of health.