ultrasound

[moon1964]

Has anyone here did an ultrasound on your parrot?, and if so how much was the cost? Mine needs one and just need to know what to expect

 

[HeatherG]

I was offered an ultrasound of my Lucy’s head and eye (she had a punctured deflated eye and it got infected when she was old). I was surprised they said the ultrasound would only be $50, but that was a vet teaching hospital.

I think they do anaesthetize a bird beforehand.

I don’t know if they would have to pluck the feathers (from the area to be scanned) or just put ultrasound gel on the feathers.

I voted “no” because Lucy was very old and I couldn’t believe there could be a cancer causing her eye infection when I SAW HER rubbing her eye on the perch. I didn’t think she’d benefit much and felt that would be putting her at risk.

But I would totally do it for liver or heart concerns, lung issues, etc. imaging so much better than X-ray.

 

[SailBoat]

Ultrasound is relatively new in Avian Medical care and if it was offered, they should have provided you a cost and what the procedure involved. IMHO ,the gel needs to be water based, which I believe it is as that is what used on Humans is a water based. My Vet does not have ultrasound.

 

[moon1964]

mine doesn't either they would refer me. I've changed her diet and giving her exercise. If its something that bad wouldn't of showed up in the blood test?

 

[HeatherG]

It depends what they wanted to ultrasound. If they wanted to look at her liver an ultrasound would tell how much fat and scarring there is as well as perhaps a look at some nearby organs.

You would get some unique information you couldn’t get from a blood test. I would wonder what it is the vet was concerned about/ looking for.