First trip to the avian vet

[Zoom]

I've made an appointment for next Tuesday for Simon and Kazoo to visit the vet for a checkup. I'm not sure what to expect, other than a physical exam, weight check and stool inspection.

 

What else will they want to do?

 

I wish money were no object, but it is. I'm currently unemployed, so I don't want to get talked into anything unnecessary and expensive. Any suggestions for tests I can safely say no to? Are there some I should definitely have done?

 

I'm about to spend a thousand dollars worth on dental surgery for my cat - the vet says my cat is in pain. She also just diagnosed him with kidney disease, and is going to be recommending a prescription diet. $$$. My boyfriend just spent a thousand dollars at his vet's for an x-ray of his dog's spine (they had to anaesthetize him for it). We're both up to our eyeballs in vet bills right now.

[Vamppire]

I can only chime in with my one vet experience the day after I received Spencer, but they gave Spencer what you listed plus a blood test and they filed his nails down too, and gave me some "new bird owner" advice sheets and suggested various training methods and food tips and so on. It was a pretty quick visit (the nails probably took the longest), I waited about 10 minutes for the test results. She is the only true avian vet in Indiana as far as I know, and the bill came out to only about $130, cheaper than I thought, though others have reported more pricey bills in their area.

 

Being a newbie, I went along with what she wanted. I admit I'm not entirely sure exactly what problems she was looking for when testing.. I wasn't even a parront for 24 hours at that point! I'm sure the experienced folks here have better information on what should be done. Though I wouldn't be afraid to ask the vet for details on what they are doing and the cost beforehand. Vets have a way of guilting us into doing things that may be unnecessary. At the very least, they should be willing to take the time to explain what they want to do, and why.

 

Good luck!

[ZivaDiva]

When I take my birds in, they always do bloodwork. Just looking at the birds and noting their weight might not really show anything. I can't remember exactly what labwork was last done on Z but it was the basic stuff and it was just under $300 for the labs alone. I think the visit was $90. But, this is Los Angeles where prices are always high. Hopefully you're prices will be a lot cheaper.

 

The new baby I'm getting will already have labs done for several things. The bird store I go to will clip a nail, take the blood, send it in and get the results all for what the lab charges, which is $55.00. They will do it on any bird you bring in as it's required for boarding your bird there. So, at least the baby will have the basic stuff done ahead of time. Vet bills are a killer!