Yearly or Bi-Yearly Well Birdie Visits?

[Amanda_Bennett]

Zilla is 30 this year and has been super happy & healthy for over a year now (since her last vet visit Jan. 2015) I really have no pressing reason for taking her into the vet. Other than needing a pedicure, which I can get done much closer to home and without all the stress of a vet visit (not to mention soooo much cheaper) Do I really need to take her in?

I hear people say they should go every year, and others say every other year? Which is it?

Should I take her just because she was so ill 17 months ago when I got her? Even if she has been fine since being pronounced "well & healthy" 12 months ago?

 

[JerseyWendy]

That's a tough question, Amanda. IMHO I don't see a valid reason for vetting her extensively this year.

And boy, peoples' opinions on this really varies greatly. http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/40097-how-often-do-you-vet-your-fid-s.html

 

[riddick07]

I agree it is definitely tough! It might not be a bad idea to get blood work done to see where she is at once again. If she looks good you could always do twice a year from then on.

I personally tend to vary with my guys sometimes its once a year sometimes it gets stretched to every 2 years. I'm getting bloodwork done on Kelly again soon just to see how he is doing, plus he is the spoiled favorite child, but I'll probably go to every 2 years for bloodwork after this one. I tend to do a fecal for everyone once a year with the cockatiels at every two years.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Thanks Wendy! I just want to make sure since she is and has been healthy that I do the right things. She still eats a pretty good diet, though she would prefer a few more carbs and baked items to be on the menu daily!

I have noticed under her beak she is getting a super bright splotch of turquoise! I've tried to get pictures, but of course she is just too interested in the camera to keep her chin up for pictures.

 

[Birdman666]

My vet wants every other year for well birdies. He says as long as he's got an accurate baseline, and we know that the bird is healthy, it isn't necessary to do more than that.

THAT WAY in the event of an emergency, he can compare the blood work, see everything that changes, and it can help him make an accurate diagnosis faster.

 

[OOwl]

The only one of my bird's I take every year is one that has an old major injury that needs evaluation every year (but he's usually there several times a year anyway for other concerns; he's just that kind of bird). I think yearly well visits are nice but probably not that necessary for well, young parrots with no known issues. However, since your bird is older, I think I might be more inclined to get a vet's opinion yearly.

That said, I so wish avian vets would employ the use of a well-room used JUST for birds that are in for checkups or grooming well birds. I just hate taking my birds to the vet and looking around the exam room wondering and hoping the room and tools there were completely sterilized from avian pathogens that have obviously been right there. All it would take is ONE employee shirking duty or one missed swipe with rag or mop to create a new patient with a new set of issues. . . all born of trying to do the right thing and get that yearly health check. When I go to my vet, I'm hyper vigilant and I take my own towel for the vet. I shudder when they weigh my birds on the scale with the WOODEN perch because . . . how do you even sterilize that?

 

[SailBoat]

What happens when you and your parrot leaves the exam room has everything to do with the Clinic Owner's approach to medical care. Old School is a quick, spot clean, and on to the next. New School is very near or the same as when you leave the exam room after your personal yearly check-up - a detailed clean of all contact surfaces and equipment.

Well Bird Exam Room. All Vet's that are using current approaches to facility cleaning will have a Well Bird Exam Room(s) and separately a Sick Bird Exam Room(s). If the Well Bird Exam Room is contaminated, its use stops until it is fully disinfected.

The reason it cost more at some Vets (mine for sure) is that they are 100% new school and frankly, its just costs more to bring that level of care to your parrot.

A wood stand for obtaining your parrots weight 'may' indicate that the medical services are not 100% up to current standards.

We visit quarterly, but our past and current Amazons more closely meet the term: Last Chance, End of Life. So illness is common and high-end Vet Care is very important.