Pet Care
While TLC Pet Hospital does not currently see avian patients for examinations and care, we do offer a wing trim and nail trim service. The information below is provided for informational use only.
To help you locate an avian veterinarian in your area, please click here to visit the Association of Avian Veterinarians website.
Veterinary Visits
Veterinary visits are a must with pet birds. Most people will take their pet dog or cat in to the veterinarian for their annual vaccinations, exams, etc. But many people don’t think about it with their pet bird. Birds also need this type of care just as much as the family dog or cat. It is essential to have a bird checked out eat least annually, if not biannually, by an avian veterinarian whether it is a tiny budgie or a large macaw! One advantage to doing so will set up that veterinarian/client/patient relationship that is required by law to have medications prescribed for your pet should it become ill. Emergencies are more easily handled as well, when your vet is familiar with you and your pet. Routine vet visits should include the physical exam and lab work. Different vets recommend different routines for running labs so find out what is recommended for your pet. Any new pet bird should be thoroughly tested for various ailments prior to bringing it into a home with resident birds.
If your bird ever shows any sign of illness, it is important to call the vet right away. There should be no delay! Birds that are kept as pets are creatures of prey in the wild. They can and will hide all signs of illness until they are no longer able to. In the wild, if they were to show that they were ill, they would either get left behind by the flock or fall victim to a predator. By the time a sign of illness is visible to you, your bird has more than likely been harboring the illness for some time. It’s important to have the bird checked out as soon as possible if any sign is noticed. They may show the most subtle sign; check their droppings every day for changes, be aware of sudden behavior changes, be sure the bird’s appetite is consistent and sufficient, watch for any other signs of illness such as nasal or ocular discharge, excessive sneezing, involuntary spasms or twitches, or behavior such as sitting on the bottom of the cage, sitting fluffed up and unresponsive.
When you are at the vet’s office, don’t be afraid to ask lots and lots of questions. Ask them anything that may be on your mind. That is what they are there for. They got into this business to help animals. The most effective way to help animals is through prevention, by educating the owner.
One more tidbit: just because a bird may be small or “cheap” doesn’t mean it’s not entitled to the quality of care that a bigger or more expensive bird may get. Every bird deserves the best care possible. It’s not the bird’s fault if he was $8 instead of $1500.
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