Vet visit. Your opinions?

[Newbsi]

I took gollum to the vet for his first check up today. She checked him over completely and they did a fecal test for parasites.
Fecal test was negative and she said he looked great. Very curious, no fear and active!
I asked about vaccines and blood tests. She said there is a full panel work up that checks for everything. That was $615. I did not get those done. The vet visit with fecal test was $111.
If your bird seems healthy and happy, do you still get those tests? I am just curious what other opinions are.
Now granted, I do not have any other birds in my home to catch anything from Gollum. But if I got another bird and had both birds tested that's over 1200, not counting the vet visit.

 

[jasper19]

Seems to me at that price its a waste to get a full blood work up. If the bird is healthy why get the panel? If something went wrong, and they didn't know what....then sure maybe get the blood work to help diagnose.

Just my opinion.

 

[Mariar]

In my opinion yes..birds hide their illnesses very well, but sometimes a panel will show up negative until there is something wrong. My YNA was really sick..I didn't know it. He was always so lively and upbeat. He passed away on mothers day this year. I paid for all the tests and the vet visit, but it was to late for him. Apply for care credit, it's what I did. I'll be paying off a vet bill of 2500 for awhile and I wouldn't have it any other way. With my new bird I'm much more aware and have already done blood work to check for diseases. Good luck in your decision.

 

[SoCalWendy]

I think you did the right thing, and going atleast once a year for a check up, getting a couple test done is also a good thing. Sometimes you go and they do no blood work.

 

[Dopey]

My vet doesn't do the blood work if the fecal, gram, and exam look good.
I guess I could request it but I haven't.

 

[Newbsi]

What about the avain biotec testing. You can get the DNA with like four other things for 85. Is that place reputable?

 

[JerseyWendy]

What about the avain biotec testing. You can get the DNA with like four other things for 85. Is that place reputable?

Yes, it's very reputable!

 

[Newbsi]

Sweet. I just ordered the kits for that.

 

[Mariar]

I ordered the kit..took about five days to get back to me...so easy too. And it's exciting to find out dna info...well it was for me lol

 

[jasper19]

In my opinion yes..birds hide their illnesses very well, but sometimes a panel will show up negative until there is something wrong. My YNA was really sick..I didn't know it. He was always so lively and upbeat. He passed away on mothers day this year. I paid for all the tests and the vet visit, but it was to late for him. Apply for care credit, it's what I did. I'll be paying off a vet bill of 2500 for awhile and I wouldn't have it any other way. With my new bird I'm much more aware and have already done blood work to check for diseases. Good luck in your decision.

Hi mariar, i am very sorry to hear about your birds passing.

For future pets, i highly recommend looking into health insurance for them. It is relatively cheap, and would cover a huge portion of vet bills in the future for something like this.

 

[RavensGryf]

Birds can look gorgeous on the outside and act normal, and still be harboring a deadly (and contagious) virus. Unless they are coming from what they call a 'closed aviary' that lets no visitors in, and the facility has been tested negative, I never 'assume' any bird is well.

You might actually be shocked at the number of us here on this forum who did have a beautiful looking bird die of an awful contagious disease. Many birds contracted these diseases from the breeder, a broker, a bird store. If my birds are not from a well known closed aviary with a stellar track record, they will get tested $$$. Quarantine is not enough. Many times you will have the disease come out many months or a couple years later...

Many people think this is not necessary, and they've been fortunate. I just thought I'd mention in case you haven't heard of this stuff before... It's definitely out there (and with beautiful birds and "cleaner" places than you'd ever suspect).

 

[Newbsi]

Okay, this might be a stupid question... here goes anyway....
They send you the viles for taking blood, they have a needle right? BUT for someone who has no medical training, how would I get blood from this bird?

 

[Scott]

I am a believer in diagnostic blood panels for newly acquired parrots or in conjunction with the need to diagnose significant symptoms of illness. Less focused on routine testing for parrots in a "closed" environment.

The costs you posted seem rather elevated, and I live in a region associated with high service costs. Might want to check around, though vets in a given area seem to somehow charge similarly!!

 

[Mariar]

I didn't do viles..I mean I ordered them along with the slides.its a cardboard square that you put blood on...from cutting the nail til it bleeds. Sounds cruel but even sissy did really well with it and she was never handled before I got her and I did it right away. Sissy forgave me right away and she was never stressed or in pain.

 

[Newbsi]

from cutting the nail til it bleeds. Sounds cruel but even sissy did really well with it and she was never handled before I got her and I did it right away.

:52:
:11:

 

[Kyoto]

from cutting the nail til it bleeds. Sounds cruel but even sissy did really well with it and she was never handled before I got her and I did it right away.

:52:
:11:

I know right?! I've had Kyo's DNA kit since I got her... just haven't had the courage to do it

 

[JerseyWendy]

It really IS easy, and your Gollum (and Kyo, too) will forgive you, I promise. Some people use cornstarch after collecting the blood to stop the bleeding, but I've never even found that necessary as my fids stop bleeding rather very quickly all on their own.

And I'd like to add again that Julie (RavensGryf) has most EXCELLENT points. If only more parronts would take that to heart. I'm sure many heartaches would/could possibly be avoided then.

 

[SilverSage]

What I do is:
Fecal, gram stain (throat and vent)
All the normal well birdy stuff including weight (Always record a healthy weight for your bird, weight loss is sometimes the ONLY clue you have that something is wrong)
quarantine, stare at poop
And every 6 months I test my flock for Polyoma, PBFD, and Psittacosis, JUST IN CASE I brought it home, because it can be ANYWHERE.

I do not do a full blood panel, but Im not against it if you have the money.

Also, please wash all cages with an oxidizing cleaner (like bleach or F10), AND vinegar. I recently almost lost two birds to heavy metal toxicity from a new cage, even though I have bought many cages from that store in the past.

 

[smartiecoco]

In my opinion at least a CBC is warranted. I recently brought my two baby BHC home and did both CBC and stool grain stain. Turns out one had a positive fecal test where as the other one had a really high white cell count with no bacteria in the stool and he looked on physical exam completely fine!!!

Birds do hide infections/illnesses well. At first I cringed at the price tag of the blood test even though it was only a CBC but am so glad I did it because of what it picked up.

I don't think it's necessary to do the FULL panel of blood work testing for every infection/viruses under the sun but at least a CBC!!

 

[Newbsi]

Okay.... So today I noticed Gollums nails felt sharp. Soooooooo I prepared for a nail trim. I got out the Avianbiotech stuff (just in case I had a accidental bleed, I could catch the blood). Filled everything out, got a light color towel, watched the video on how to wrap your bird and trim the nails. Wrapped Gollum up and then realized I cannot hold squirm worm AND cut her nails at the same time. So... I have to wait for hubby help. This is NOT going to help with their relationship! Progress? Baby steps? Does INTENT count?