Wow!!! 522.oo at vet for check-up !!!!!

[Karcar]

I am in the wrong business I just took my 3 Grey's in for a check- up and FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO dollars later I could kick myself in the rear, There goes my Christmas out the window, the birds would have lived until the first of the year I am sure. Some people just don't have enough brains to be out in this world operating on their own I guess...GRRRRRRR:eek:

[Barbara2]

I feel your pain. I had a bill like that once and I fired that vet. It wasn't so much the money because I wouldn't care if it was worth it. This particular vet insisted on sedating the birds for a check up (which added to the bill). He insisted that it was less stressful to sedate them. I disagreed and never went back.

[Karcar]

Yea, this one smeared poop on three little glass slides and that was it!!

[Barbara2]

I had one great avian vet who moved an hour away. Since then I have tried a few others. I fired two. The one for insisting on sedating the birds and the other for being a total (I AM GOD!) jerk! I am currently deciding on one of two. I need a good avian vet but I also need someone that I can be honest with and they can be honest with me.

[Karcar]

Yea and one that doesn't want an arm and a leg for payment.

[Codys Mom]

omg now I'am scared , Cody has a vet appointment this wednesday and the vet will be takeing a poop test , Cody has been haveing some stinky poop in the mornings so I want to get him checked out incase it's a bacteria infection or something ,I'am going to try and collect a poop sample to bring him to him maybe that will cut the bill down , I hope it's not near as high as yours but that was a outrageous bill you had there

[Birdnut]

Wow! That bill does sound really steep, if that's all the vet did. Our vet is much more reasonable for similar services.

[Luvparrots]

My grey's annual check up is $199. For three greys you got a bargain perhaps!!!!!

[Dave007]

Many people going to an avian vet don't know that it costs much more than a non avian vet yet people see the word vet and assume that a vet is a vet is a vet no matter what type he or she is. Many people who are new to owning parrots read lots of material that say a parrot should be checked out at least once a year to see if there's any problems. The bird is acting completely normal, eating great, playing great, flying great, being a pain in the ass constantly, is constantly acting out the typical personality of that particular type of parrot so, lets go to the vet. A parrot is a very protected animal when living in a house, much more so than cats and dogs who live in the same house. Parrots probably get much more attention than the dogs and cats in the house.

Many times, there's legitimate problems to go to an avian vet so this post is aimed at people who go unnecessaily and pay lots of money for nothing.

It's also necessary to know how a vet will deal with a customer that comes in for basic services. 95% of the birds that are being brought in for beak filing don't need that beak filing but the vet is still gonna go through the motions of filing down that beak and the customer will pay for something unnecessary. Many people will go to a vet because a few feathers are out of place and the vet will go through the motions of putting feathers in line but will tell a customer that if it shortly happens again within a few days, it's normal because the feathers were out of place for a longer time than they should have been before coming to the vet. People will go to a vet because a bird is molting heavily and has a few bare spots combined with the fact that the bird is generally in a very lousy mood when molting which is totally normal. The vet will give a spray that won't really do anything because no matter what a bird is given, molting will continue until it finishes the process.

Vets will push certain foods that the bird should eat. 80% of the time, when looking around the office a person will see that exact food sitting on a shelf and the price is exorbitant but it's * finest*. The same thing holds true for non avian vets. Look around and you'll see dog and cat foods a person won't recognize. That food will also be extremely high but it's the *finest*. When a person can't find the product in a store, they wind up going to the vet to purchase it simply because the vet said it was the best. The reason that it's not cut in stone is because a person can go to another avian vet and see something totally different on the shelf that the vet will say it's the *finest*. So, who's right? The same applies to non avian vets and the unknown brands of foods on the shelf.

It's known that people who are going to see avian vet A, has examined a bird checked for general health 6 mts ago, which come back negative and then eventually going to avian vet B just to have the bird sexed, it's not unusual that avian vet B will do everything he or she can to get those tests repeated for *safety sake* As a matter of fact, many of the secretaries at the front desk are actually trained to coax a person into getting unnessary testing. Many people will fall for that.

Another thing is that many people here and other boards ask about many minor problems, are given loads of basic info, solutions based on personal experiences from loads of people yet they decide to go to a vet anyway. Of course it's their choice to go to the vet anyway.

So, my point is

1---don't be so shocked by prices and

2---always remember that some of those costs can be avoided by listening to personal advice from people who've gone through the same exact problems and have come across solutions.

The last time I was to an avian vet was 5 yrs ago. It concerned one of my greys that I adopted who was totally bald except for it's head. Not one feather was there. The bird was totally featherless down to the skin. Pictures of that bird are on this site. The only reason I went was to find out how many of the root follicles were permanently destroyed and to find out if any surface skin was seriously damaged or thinned from the years of plucking. If this bird didn't have any neck or head feathers, it would have been impossible to know that it was a grey.

 

Does this happen to humans?

I have periodic bouts of acid reflux. I went to the Gastro specialist, was diagnosed even though it was obvious what was going on. I was given a certain medication to deal with it. Afterward, he said that it would be a wise thing to go and have a very painful heart stress test which had absolutely nothing to do with acid reflux. Luckily, my primary MD not only said it was unnessary but also questioned why such a thing was recommended in the first place.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Dave007

[Elvenking]

The bird is acting completely normal, eating great, playing great, flying great, being a pain in the ass constantly, is constantly acting out the typical personality of that particular type of parrot so, lets go to the vet.

 

Loved that part.

[Birdnut]

Well, I have to pretty much go along with Dave007 on this one. I have never hesitated to rush one of our birds into the vet if I think something seems to be wrong. But our vet does not recommend regular checkups. He says, "You know your bird better than anyone. You will sense if there's something wrong."

 

Now, if I had a bird with a chronic condition or deficiency that needed to be monitored, you bet I would have it in regularly for checks. I also do take a new bird in for an initial visit for a checkup and to get a chart established at the clinic.

 

I am blessed to have a vet who does not push unnecessary services or special foods.

[judygram]

I am blessed to have a vet who does not push unnecessary services or special foods.

 

Exactly for there are so many out there that push unnecessary tests to pad the bill but Dave is right, an avian vet is a specialist that is going to cost more than the average vet who sees your typical domesticated animals. I am glad to hear that it has been suggested by an avian vet that a bird does not need an annual visit as I have been pondering this myself so mine may only go when there is an obvious problem for we know our birds better than anyone else.

[Karcar]

I wanted to find out if there was a reason medically for her feather plucking. And there were a few other reasons that had me concerned Sadie was a recent recue and a check up is in my opinion a good thing to do with a bird you don't have any history on, I still don't have to like the the prices that are charged.

[Talon]

Dave has given great advice as always...

 

I took my 3 birds to my avian vet for check-ups in October of this year. They hadn't been in 2 years.

 

2 african greys

1 amazon

 

3 exams, 3 gram tests, 1 band removal, 3 nail trims.......$360.10

 

I don't take my birds in regularly, But every couple of years, as I want to keep an eye on their gram stain tests, have my vet check them for health, etc. And more than anything, establish a relationship with him in the event of an emergency, he will know me and my birds, and hopefully go out of his way to help me. Plus, my birds get used to him and his staff and office.

[Billy]

YIKES. I just read this after my last post. So I shouldn't go to a vet just to tell me that my birds are fine? I'll give my birds whatever they need regarding care, but unnecessary vet visits? There would be no need for me to take my new Grey other than the health guarantee from the store and returning him if there was a problem...and that expired after 10 days anyway. The scenarios you posed Dave are exactly what I was afraid of happening to me. That's why I asked about anyone here having any questions or knowledge of things to avoid. I can't believe the timing of this post. This particular vet is known to be extremely expensive. If not necessary, then I'm going to cancel the appointment. The only other reason I thought I might need to take the birds in was to get them established so that in the event that something went wrong, they would be familiar with them and their stats. I'm thinking that my bill would exceed $500 quite easily. Unfortunately (and also strangely fortunately) the part of Connecticut I live in is ridiculously overpriced for absolutely everything so the high vet bill would be a sure bet. My birds to the best of my knowledge look and act perfectly healthy. I know this is a personal decision and wouldn't put anyone in the position of telling me to do this or not do this. I'd just like to learn from other people's experiences and certainly not make expensive and mistakes. Bill

[Dave007]

The above thread that I posted for you

doesn't apply to you right now!! This is your first time and you'll will go along with the vet. That's important. The thread I gave you is for the future. Read what I said there. Read what others have sauid concerning what they started doing as time went on. Your guarantee expired so there's nothing you can do. The seller should have told you that you have X amont of days to have the bird checked out. Stop thinking about the past. You can't change that. Think ahead, learn about growing old with your bird. There's quite a few sections here that cover just about anything you could think of. You've already taken the first good step by now posting in another section which applies. Getting everything you want to know about doesn't happen as well as visiting other places. Where you first posted was only a Welcome room. You're on your way to many different experiences.

On a sour note, I'm still pissed off at what you were originally told.

[Billy]

I'm pissed off as well at what I was originally told. At least I found this site and didn't keep reperching him ad infinitum. I"ll keep the vet appointment. I'm not exactly feeling too smart.

[Azzie]

Bill, don't fret about not feeling too smart. We have all made mistakes and done things we shouldn't have. Long term bird owners have put their birds on top of the door, forgot the bird was there and closed the door on the bird's feet. My CAG loves pickles, and I was giving her pieces until someone pointed out the amount of salt used in the pickling process was enormous. Others have not read or mis-read a bird's body language and ended up paying the price for it with a big wound.

 

It happens. We learn from it. That's why this is such a great forum. People share their experiences and offer sound advice. I can't begin to explain how much it's helped me with my Cleo.

[Billy]

Thank you Azzie and everyone else. The thing is, I have read so much research about Greys and put everything into place that I thought was correct, only to find out that I read some totally bogus information that could have had some serious negative repercussions. I'm fully capable of making my own mistakes and I don't need anyone else to help me do that! All that reading and still doing something wrong as a result of it has me really angry. Bill

[Cheshire Cat]

I took Tui to two vets when she started plucking and the first place was our normal vets where we take the dog and our other animals. Sadly, they couldn't do much and recommended another vet to us. Personally, I thought the price was ridiculous for how he handled her. Tui had a basic check up and it was a lot more expensive than at the other vets we'd originally taken her too and he didn't do much more...apart from give me a pot of special vitamins. I know I won't take her back there again as I was disgusted by the way he treated her. The vet asked me if I could handle her so I said yes, so what does he do? Gets a towel and literally drags her out of the cage with her screaming away! I could have gladly strangled the guy!!! I don't think what I paid was worth it by the way he treated her and the way he was in general. Our usual vets are a lot more understanding, approachable and comforting to the animals.

 

No way am I taking her back there! I'm going to look around for a decent vet who also deals with avian cases, too.

[Vamppire]

I must have lucked out... I was pleasantly surprised when I got the total for Spencer's initial avian vet checkup! Cheaper than my cat's typical vet visit. But then, I also just moved to Indiana and my previous vet experiences were in NYC... It was around $125 (give or take...don't remember exactly) for blood..poop...physical checkup...nail filing...and a visit with the office degu when he took off and crashed in the degu's tank... (who keeps an animal in a tank with no cover inside an exam room for flighted birds? lol...)

[dw310]

My brother has had his CAG for 18 years, and he's been to a vet once. Even then, my brother didn't think he needed to go, but his wife insisted. ;-)

 

I want to emphasize the point that the avian vet not only has additional expertise, but must have additional equipment/medications/supplies in the office to do his/her job. While it's not right to pad the bill, the avian vet needs to be able to stay in practice. I bet a "regular" vet sees 20+ dogs a day. How many birds does an avian vet see daily? Fewer, I bet, which increases the avian vets' overall cost per patient.

[Dave007]

**How many birds does an avian vet see daily? Fewer, I bet, which increases the avian vets' overall cost per patient.**

 

He/ she sees enough birds that tell the secretary on the phone to tell the customer that he/she has to wait and make an appointment 1 week in advance. Either he's overloaded with birds or he's simply on vacation for a week in the Bahamas. And then, he makes loads of money simply because you have a wild animal.

 

******While it's not right to pad the bill, the avian vet needs to be able to stay in practice. ******

 

Rarely are there avian vets that establish practices near each other so there's plenty of money to go around and heaven forbid, one isn't as good as the next one. Another 50 mile drive is ahead.

The main thing here is about unnessary tests that are performed on wild birds and most unknowing customers are at the vet's mercy. The vet says it has to be done, the person does it. Avian vets deal with wild animals. Parrots are wild animals. Regular vets deal with domestic animals. I've seen that happen quite often and other experienced people who've dealt with many types parrots for many years will often say the same thing.

Edited December 14, 2010 by Dave007

[hammco]

this may not relate but i took my tiel in once and the av.vet showed me how to pluck a blood feather and have cornstarch handy (just in case) and said if it happens again just handle it and save money. ive pulled blood feathers in my keets and tiels and NEVER had a prob. i clip my birds wings and cut nails as well and my vet said only bring them in if i "really think somethings wrong"....but he knows ive been around parrots and kinda know what to look for.

[Dave007]

That's nice to hear. I'll tell ya, you're saving a bundle of cash. A gold star for your vet is in order.