Switching vets??

[GaleriaGila]

We are fortunate to have two famous avian vets in our area. Dr. Jamie Lindstrom (he used to be all over the pages of Bird Talk, was an early practitioner of avian medicine. Dr. Steven Shaw was consulting bird-doc of Sea World before opening his clinic here. Both docs have excellent reputations as far as I know. Both are Board Certigied DVM for avian medicine. I have taken the Rb to Dr. Lindstrom, as well as another avian vet. Lindstrom is an hour away from me. Shaw is 15 minutes. I'm considering changing since the distance is much less (in the event of regular check-ups and/or emergencies). Both clinics appear large, clean, well-staffed and so on. Lindstrom is the ONLY avian vet at the place he works. Shaw is one of two avian vets at this place.
Could I please have your thoughts on this?

 

[plumsmum2005]

My take is if you are happy with current and RB takes the travel OK then stick and keep the other in reserve in case it is needed.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Since you asked for advice, I would advise to switch.

All the vets are qualified, eminently qualified, so that's sort of a wash.

But Shaw's clinic is much closer. If the RB has a chronic issue or needs a regular checkup, the distance isn't a problem. If it's an emergency - if he's bleeding or breaks something - being 45 minutes closer could make a huge difference in the outcome.

And that's in good weather, right? If RB has an emergency in the middle of a snowpocalypse, you might be able to get him to the closer vet in an hour, but the distant one could be impossible.

Plus there are two vets at the closer clinic. Docs have to go on vacation sometimes, get the flu, break an arm....better chance of having a vet available when you need one in an emergency.

So on one hand you have a clinic which is closer and has 100% more avian vets, and on the other hand you have a probably more experienced avian vet. What is the chance that RB will come down with something exotic, that the more experienced vet will recognize, vs the chance that the RB will have an accident or acute problem that needs prompt treatment? Since RB is old, I am guessing he isn't going to develop any weird health conditions out of the blue, so he's more likely to hurt his beak by biting the Rival on some less tender part, or bump his head flying out of your shirt after chewing up your undergarments.

 

[Scott]

I assume you have not yet been to Shaw's clinic? If not, a well-check will serve as an interview and allow you to contrast him with Lindstrom.

If you are happy with Lindstrom, might be better to stay with an established relationship. In the event of an emergency, nothing will bar you from zipping over to Shaw's practice. The benefit of a two-exotic doc practice is the ability to confer with unusual cases.

In any case, you are fortunate to have the option of choosing among apparently world-class avian vets!

 

[GaleriaGila]

You're all three right! Either is fine, and good to have both in the loop. So go see Shaw and THEN make up my mind or NOT (and use both)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SailBoat]

We are fortunate to have two famous avian vets in our area. Dr. Jamie Lindstrom (he used to be all over the pages of Bird Talk, was an early practitioner of avian medicine. Dr. Steven Shaw was consulting bird-doc of Sea World before opening his clinic here. Both docs have excellent reputations as far as I know. Both are Board Certigied DVM for avian medicine. I have taken the Rb to Dr. Lindstrom, as well as another avian vet. Lindstrom is an hour away from me. Shaw is 15 minutes. I'm considering changing since the distance is much less (in the event of regular check-ups and/or emergencies). Both clinics appear large, clean, well-staffed and so on. Lindstrom is the ONLY avian vet at the place he works. Shaw is one of two avian vets at this place.
Could I please have your thoughts on this?

As you know, I live fully in the 'When' World and as a result, select based on how long it takes to physically get to the clinic and the number of functional alternatives (driving routes) when things (like the weather) go haywire. The second definer is the number of Avian Vets available. And third what are their off-hours support and availabilities.

Point 1: At present, I am going to the furthest clinic away us with a high-speed early morning travel time of eighteen minutes and a rush hour nightmare at just about fifty minutes.

Point 2: Why! This Clinic has one Certified Avian Vet and one Avian Qualified Vet on staff. The Clinic is physically open 24 / 7 / 365. I have been provided off-hour, on-site Tech Staff call-in number for us to call as we are making that very early hour call as we are in route. There are a minimum of three Tech Staff on duty around the clock: One Avian, One Small Animal and one General. The same supporting (On-Call) Vets are available if needed. The Clinic has all support equipment on-site and also full blood screening on-site.

Point 3: The costs! Yup, they are at least 10 to 15% more money, per visit! But, when we had been chasing across town last October, at 2:00 am, I have no memory of asking what it was going to cost. Plus when we pulled-up to that back door and it opened as we got out of the car, I cannot tell you what comfort that was to us!

Please read the Segment in the I Love Amazons - ... Thread that covers Preparing for a Sick Bird Vet Visit! By being prepared, we had communicated what our DYH Amazon was presenting and the Avian Tech had already call our AV, who arrived just minutes after us! Being Prepared Buys You Time!!!

Point 4: Documentation! At the completion of each visit, we get a detailed report on the findings, recommendations, etc... Without even having to ask or beg!


The nearest Clinic no longer has an Avian Qualified Vet, but the guy is making an effort and learning.


Once again, I live fully in the 'When' World! We average at least one emergency visit per year and are currently visiting our AV every 60 days (that five times per year). Our average year Vet Care runs just over 1000 USD. Our Amazons come to us with poor health, diet and life styles. We work hard at buying additional hours with each of them.

I'm not the person you want to talk to about whether someone should be visiting their AV's on a yearly 'Well Bird' visit or just save the money to spend on something else. THAT does not apply to RickeyBird's Mom!!! - she gets it!!!

 

[GaleriaGila]

I love you guys!
I always get the best reassurance and advice. Sometimes I just don't think outside the box... cage...
Thank you all so much.
I am feeling prepared to analyze all this and to go to see Shaw for data collection purposes!
X0xoX0

PS
Yes, Mr. Boat, I'm getting to know you pretty well!

 

[plumsmum2005]

I assume you have not yet been to Shaw's clinic? If not, a well-check will serve as an interview and allow you to contrast him with Lindstrom.

If you are happy with Lindstrom, might be better to stay with an established relationship. In the event of an emergency, nothing will bar you from zipping over to Shaw's practice. The benefit of a two-exotic doc practice is the ability to confer with unusual cases.

In any case, you are fortunate to have the option of choosing among apparently world-class avian vets!

Nailed it Scott!

All the qualifications in the world are a waste of time if the relationship between you and the AV is rubbish, it is important that you can talk well to each other IMO.

 

[Scott]

I assume you have not yet been to Shaw's clinic? If not, a well-check will serve as an interview and allow you to contrast him with Lindstrom.

If you are happy with Lindstrom, might be better to stay with an established relationship. In the event of an emergency, nothing will bar you from zipping over to Shaw's practice. The benefit of a two-exotic doc practice is the ability to confer with unusual cases.

In any case, you are fortunate to have the option of choosing among apparently world-class avian vets!

Nailed it Scott!

All the qualifications in the world are a waste of time if the relationship between you and the AV is rubbish, it is important that you can talk well to each other IMO.

Thanks, K! Communication AND a genuine concern for your pet. I stayed with a particular practice for about 25 years and should have noticed the erosion of care and communication. It grew from a single vet operation to a taj mahal sort of facility with 2 avian and a few other general vets. Finally summoned the courage to switch to another clinic with one board certified and a second newer but excellent avian vet. Could not be more pleased with the genuine compassion and superb communication.

 

[Kyoto]

This might sound crazy, but I have a relationship built with every vet in our area that even sees birds, in the case that an emergency happens and there's nowhere else to take Kyo. And boy am I glad I do!

When I took in the budgie with a broken leg, the one vet (5 mins from me) who is actually on the association of avian veterinarians, wasn't taking any birds because the clinic doesn't have a tech that can handle them right now. I would have been skrewed if I hadn't already built a relationship with the vet that took the budgie.

He might not be board certified, but he has birds as pets and always consults with other avian vets when he is uncertain about something. He truly cares about them and loves birds. He is working on certification, but owning the clinic and being such a popular vet (he is almost always completely booked up) its a work in progress. I have no doubt that in the next few years he will have it done. He is wonderful.

Anyways, I think that even if you don't switch, building a relationship with as many vets as possible is never a bad thing. It certainly was a good thing for us with the little budgie.

There are 2 other clinics who see birds in my city, but I only use them as a last resource... and again, still glad to know they are there if I ever couldn't get in to the other ones.

I really hope that our certified avian vet gets a tech soon!

 

[SailBoat]

This might sound crazy, but I have a relationship built with every vet in our area that even sees birds, in the case that an emergency happens and there's nowhere else to take Kyo. And boy am I glad I do!

When I took in the budgie with a broken leg, the one vet (5 mins from me) who is actually on the association of avian veterinarians, wasn't taking any birds because the clinic doesn't have a tech that can handle them right now. I would have been skrewed if I hadn't already built a relationship with the vet that took the budgie.

He might not be board certified, but he has birds as pets and always consults with other avian vets when he is uncertain about something. He truly cares about them and loves birds. He is working on certification, but owning the clinic and being such a popular vet (he is almost always completely booked up) its a work in progress. I have no doubt that in the next few years he will have it done. He is wonderful.

Anyways, I think that even if you don't switch, building a relationship with as many vets as possible is never a bad thing. It certainly was a good thing for us with the little budgie.

There are 2 other clinics who see birds in my city, but I only use them as a last resource... and again, still glad to know they are there if I ever couldn't get in to the other ones.

I really hope that our certified avian vet gets a tech soon!

Thank-you, for bring this point to the surface!!!

Our local Bird Club provides a yearly update of the Vet's in our area that include Parrots as part of their practice.

I keep a copy of that list with the copies of all our AV visits in our emergency medical kit, which sits on top of the Travel Carrier.

Again, Thanks!!!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Great advice. I am so grateful. This will be my project for the New Year... getting acquainted with all local vets who handle birds, and having an emergeny list at the ready.
I feel good!

 

[Nicky76]

Our nearest avian vet is 50 minutes away but our relationship with them is brilliant. They only have one full time vet (Richard) but another exotics specialist vet (Emily) does one day a week and holidays. They're both great and I wouldn't trust our birds with anyone else.

They run a 24hour service for all clients and we can call or email anytime and get advice.

I think trust is a big thing when it comes to vets and our fids [emoji3]


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[GaleriaGila]

Welllllllllllll, I'm taking all the good advice I got here. Specifically, getting acquainted with vets and services of all local avian clinics, etc.
Tomorrow we will be driving an hour anda quarter to see Dr. Jamie Lindstrom, noted Avian DVM. He used to be all over the pages of BIRD TALK! We saw him once when we first moved to Ohio from New Mexico, but then saw closer AVs. The hospital is huge, employs about 15 vets in various specialties, and is the ONLY 24-hour emergency place that can ALWAYS receive birds.
It's gonna be ugly, though. The Rb knows allllllllllll about vets and will fight the whole thing. They'll have to wrestle him, but they reassured me they do it all the time and not to worry. Gah.
Thanks for all the support. I do at last feel that I have stopped worrying and started acting... to provide all possible alternatives for care and services as my darling approaches the ripe old age of 33!