vet appointment, how concerned should I be?

[bug_n_flock]

So apparently I've never had Alex's blood drawn. Because the vet just called and asked me instead of taking him for a normal appointment, they want me to drop him off in the morning and pick up after. Because apparently they use a bit of anesthetic to draw blood? They started doing it ten years ago when there was an incident with a bird getting hurt during restraint for blood draw. I trust my vet and have been going to him for many years, but this has me scared.

I seriously do trust my vet, all the amazing things he has done over the years for my various critters... he even spayed my moms teeny dog (who as a fat adult weighs 4 lbs) when a puppy and in heat with no problems. Spayed my cat as a tiny kitten before I even adopted her, kept a childhood parakeet I had on tube feeding for a WEEK one time when I was in the hospital and he was like "this bird isn't dying while the kids in the hospital"(she fully recovered and lived for years after). I do trust my vet. Completely. But anesthesia is pecking *scary* stuff, and I am terrified for my buddy.

My vet is phenomenal. Takes care of all kinds of fantastic critters, and genuinely cares for them and their human family members. A few months ago we had to say goodbye to a beagle we had had for 14 years and adopted as an adult. He genuinely was as sad as we were, and did everything he could for us in her last few months and beyond. He even checked up on us a few times after she passed.

He has neutered rats, guinea pigs, rabbits... I think the smallest critter he put under and did surgery on was a freaking gerbil, so I trust he can handle small critters.


Blaaaaaaaah. I dunno. Reassure me that I'm doing the right thing getting the blood draw. It is for diet advice as well as figuring out his weird string feathers. Alex isn't a young animal (turning 16 in like 2/3 months), but thats why I want to double check that his diet is adequate, etc.

Sent from phone

 

[clark_conure]

firstly if I need blood drawn I tell clark he can't have any lasagne noodle to carry up and eat on my shoulder......

OH nvm I mis-read.


here watch this....it's what is going on.....probably.


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24P2vUeLMtU"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24P2vUeLMtU[/ame]

 

[SilverSage]

I would NEVER allow my bird to be put under anesthetic if it was at all avoidable. Sometimes they don’t come out of it.

I would also not let anyone draw blood or do anything else to my bird when I’m not in the room; especially when it’s something like a blood draw which will likely be handled by a tech, not the actual vet.

I’m glad you love your vet, but this would be a hard no for me. Not in a million years. I’ve had too many friends with tragic stories that start “they said I couldn’t be in the room” and end up with a dead bird.


And if birds are being injured during restraint? That’s a huge problem. I get that was 10 years ago but that’s a staff training problem not a “introduce dangerous drugs” problem. I’ve watched a vet tech draw blood from my bird’s neck because I refused to let them do it in the other room.

I hope I’m not sounding too harsh, you do what you feel comfortable with, but in a word, NO I would NOT be ok with this. At all.


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[bug_n_flock]

Honestly my first instinct is also no. And I'm a little confused since I know I had the senior amazon's blood drawn and she was not put under. That was only a handful of years ago, too. Hmm. I think I'll be calling the vet a few more times at the least.

Tho, maybe they didn't put Crayon under since she was so old and skinny. At any rate, I think I have more questions to ask.

From phone

 

[clark_conure]

Ask questions, but you have to ask, does the vet want to anestetise because it's better, safer, less stress. Or because he knows he can get bitten doing a test.

I'd ask, because I'm like older and sometimes I like to see what peoples reaction is more than when I was younger..... "screw it, lets see what he says.....". But I'd tend to trust his answer.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Hahahaha this vet has more scars than I have numbers to count with, and one of my majors in college was mathematics so that is saying something. He fears no bite.

Apparently he had a bird break a wing or something and has had 0 injuries since he started doing it this way. It makes me nerrrrrvous, but I think he thinks it is the safest way to draw blood. It really makes me confused about Crayon tho. And I will call back to ask about that discrepancy. Any other questions you guys can think for me to ask?

Lol, but then... Crayon was an angel and Alex can be a little snot sometimes. Crayon was even an angel in the vets office, only biting one person when she was super scared-me. Lmao. The vet even commented on how awesome of a 'zon she was. <3 miss her.

Will, if I do do this, bring in Mr. Ostrich with Alex. Mr. Ostrich is a cat toy that he absolutely is in love with, a squeaky mini ostrich plush.

From phone

 

[Scott]

I would NEVER allow my bird to be put under anesthetic if it was at all avoidable. Sometimes they don’t come out of it.

I would also not let anyone draw blood or do anything else to my bird when I’m not in the room; especially when it’s something like a blood draw which will likely be handled by a tech, not the actual vet.

I’m glad you love your vet, but this would be a hard no for me. Not in a million years. I’ve had too many friends with tragic stories that start “they said I couldn’t be in the room” and end up with a dead bird.


And if birds are being injured during restraint? That’s a huge problem. I get that was 10 years ago but that’s a staff training problem not a “introduce dangerous drugs” problem. I’ve watched a vet tech draw blood from my bird’s neck because I refused to let them do it in the other room.

I hope I’m not sounding too harsh, you do what you feel comfortable with, but in a word, NO I would NOT be ok with this. At all.


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Excellent points, Dani!

Is Alex's vet avian certified? Many practitioners adopt the moniker of "exotic" and treat all matter of critters, but avians are extraordinarily sensitive.

There are many "reasons" to separate the bird from parront during procedures, and most IMO are inappropriate. The vet and tech may feel empowered to use practices that are less than ideal while incognito, in other cases the parront is perceived as squeamish.

I have not had birds anesthetized for blood draws, though a spastic bird presented for mandatory treatment (suspected illness) may do better considering a risk assessment. The preferred gasses of Isoflurane and Sevoflurane are remarkably "safe" but subjecting Alex to a small albeit irreversible risk is cause for discussion with the vet.

 

[clark_conure]

Are Isoflurane and Sevoflurane available over the counter?.....um no reason.

 

[texsize]

I would NEVER allow my bird to be put under anesthetic if it was at all avoidable. Sometimes they don’t come out of it.

I would also not let anyone draw blood or do anything else to my bird when I’m not in the room; especially when it’s something like a blood draw which will likely be handled by a tech, not the actual vet.

I’m glad you love your vet, but this would be a hard no for me. Not in a million years. I’ve had too many friends with tragic stories that start “they said I couldn’t be in the room” and end up with a dead bird.


And if birds are being injured during restraint? That’s a huge problem. I get that was 10 years ago but that’s a staff training problem not a “introduce dangerous drugs” problem. I’ve watched a vet tech draw blood from my bird’s neck because I refused to let them do it in the other room.

I hope I’m not sounding too harsh, you do what you feel comfortable with, but in a word, NO I would NOT be ok with this. At all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree. That said I have never had to do ablood draw on my Tiels only my larger birds.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Are Isoflurane and Sevoflurane available over the counter?.....um no reason.

Lol. You know you can make chloroform easily at home for completely legitimate purposes...

I believe he is avian certified, but it is worth double checking.

From phone

 

[bug_n_flock]

Re: chloroform I am a scientist and it is a useful solvent for the record. I am not some creepy chloroform criminal or something.

From phone

 

[clark_conure]

It's fine I was joking about my crazy conure......not for me....

 

[Scott]

Are Isoflurane and Sevoflurane available over the counter?.....um no reason.

Don't think so, requires a prescription. Not sure of countries outside the U.S.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I would NEVER allow my bird to be put under anesthetic if it was at all avoidable. Sometimes they don’t come out of it.

I would also not let anyone draw blood or do anything else to my bird when I’m not in the room; especially when it’s something like a blood draw which will likely be handled by a tech, not the actual vet.

I’m glad you love your vet, but this would be a hard no for me. Not in a million years. I’ve had too many friends with tragic stories that start “they said I couldn’t be in the room” and end up with a dead bird.


And if birds are being injured during restraint? That’s a huge problem. I get that was 10 years ago but that’s a staff training problem not a “introduce dangerous drugs” problem. I’ve watched a vet tech draw blood from my bird’s neck because I refused to let them do it in the other room.

I hope I’m not sounding too harsh, you do what you feel comfortable with, but in a word, NO I would NOT be ok with this. At all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Excellent points, Dani!

Is Alex's vet avian certified? Many practitioners adopt the moniker of "exotic" and treat all matter of critters, but avians are extraordinarily sensitive.

There are many "reasons" to separate the bird from parront during procedures, and most IMO are inappropriate. The vet and tech may feel empowered to use practices that are less than ideal while incognito, in other cases the parront is perceived as squeamish.

I have not had birds anesthetized for blood draws, though a spastic bird presented for mandatory treatment (suspected illness) may do better considering a risk assessment. The preferred gasses of Isoflurane and Sevoflurane are remarkably "safe" but subjecting Alex to a small albeit irreversible risk is cause for discussion with the vet.

What Scott and Dani said!

My vet's a Certified Avian Vet, and only sees birds. He is absolutely masterful at handling birds, and does all procedures himself. From the many wonderful things your vet does for such a variety of critters, I get the idea he's a generalist.

I think you're right to be nervous.

Would you consider ensuring that you have a CAV?

 

[SailBoat]

Re: chloroform I am a scientist and it is a useful solvent for the record. I am not some creepy chloroform criminal or something.
From phone

Very happy that you clarified that point!

 

[bug_n_flock]

The practice's website does not say he is board certified, and that seems like the kind of thing that would be mentioned in the individual vet's writeups..

Guess I am in the market for a new bird vet. I'll still go to him for the dog and cat, but I think this is a pretty big strike against him for birds tbh.

Any recommendations? We are currently in the washington dc area.

Sent from phone

Edit for clarity: I'm going to cancel this appointment.

 

[Scott]

Try these links!

https://aav.site-ym.com/?page=basiccare

For ABVP Diplomates: https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/ (you can also specify this with the first link drop-down menu.

 

[SailBoat]

I understand your cancelling the appointment!

But, I would not totally close this door! Our CAV is a solid 30 minutes in good weather and moderate traffic. Well into the hour range and longer if one those those factors are pressing and up to three hours if a traditional Western Michigan snowstorm and during rush hour set in and stops the parade.

Point is, we have a Practiced Vet, (old school) Generalist that is ten minutes door to door unless I'm faced with a blizzard.

So yes, 95+ percent of our Amazon's visits are to our CAV. But, push comes to shove and we are headed just down the road. With a long, open talk, he is comfortable with and understands that completely. I also have my CAV share visit reports with our Generalist!

Never Slam a Good Door Closed!

 

[bug_n_flock]

Not going to slam the door, will still go there for dog cat bunny guinea pig etc medical stuff. I really do think he is fabulous with them, and one of the other vets at his practice is literally the only vet who my rescue dog will let lay hands on him. But the practice really isn't that close to me to be honest. Google says it is 12 minutes away by car, but it is usually more like a 20+ minute drive.

From phone

 

[SilverSage]

Not being an avian vet doesn’t mean he isn’t a great vet for your OTHER pets

And I drive over an hour for the vet; 20 minutes to an avian vet is a luxury!


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