Asharion Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 I've been trying to locate an Avian Veterinarian in Minnesota outside of the Twin Cities, I've been searching with google, and websites such as http://www.aav.org. So far, the only one I managed to find with AAV within an hour's drive of me is listed as retired, the rest are all ranging from an hour and a half to two hours away. When time is of the essence in an emergency and an Avian Doctor is over an hour drive away, is there a better alternative, or is a parrot out of my ability to have due to knowledgable Avian Vets being so far away? I find it hard to believe the only Avian Vets are all clustered close to Minneapolis and St.Paul, but then again, almost all of the parrot stores and breeders are located in the cities. Have I just not been searching well enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 The nearest avain certified vet to me is almost 2 hours away, so it isn't as uncommon as you'd think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brat Birds Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 You might try calling the vets near you and finding out if they have avian experience. Now, this might take some well thought out questions because most will say that they have experience, when in truth, they may have seen one or two birds in 5 years. Some vets, with experience, are wonderful with out babies. Make sure they have a good relationship with an avian vet so they can call him when questions arise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 I am lucky, that if Sophie is ill... she will be seen within 20 minutes of any illness. Whether it be her private doctor,or animal hospital. Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I've been trying to locate an Avian Veterinarian in Minnesota outside of the Twin Cities, I've been searching with google, and websites such as www.aav.org. So far, the only one I managed to find with AAV within an hour's drive of me is listed as retired, the rest are all ranging from an hour and a half to two hours away. When time is of the essence in an emergency and an Avian Doctor is over an hour drive away, is there a better alternative, or is a parrot out of my ability to have due to knowledgable Avian Vets being so far away? I find it hard to believe the only Avian Vets are all clustered close to Minneapolis and St.Paul, but then again, almost all of the parrot stores and breeders are located in the cities. Have I just not been searching well enough? Most parrot people have to travel long distances to get to their AVs. Avian vets are considered to be specialists which they actually are. DVMs can be compared to human MDs who are primary care doctors. For every 150 or more DVMs there's 1 AV. Most AVs are located near busy populated areas like cities or heavy populated counties. You would need to do your own personalized search for an AV. Some AVs in AAV.org have retired or have moved and those facts aren't always updated. Some DVMs may know AVs. As far as I know, long distances from AVs hasn't deterred most people from getting a bird but If distance is really a problem, another option would be to move to Minn or St. Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asharion Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 I will get in touch with the vets near where I live and find out if they know anyone, or if they themselves, have Avian vet care experience. I've already spoken with the vet who looks after our dogs, but she had no idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoow Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 It is definitely worth asking around. The vets where I take my cats (and previously the family dogs) are not avian specialists but they were able to recommend one to me. I used to take Alfie to a more local vet who said he was an avian specialist. However, when he had to gas Alfie just to sort his beak out I never took him back. He didn't do a good job and Alfie was really ill. When I went to the vet who is based further away (only about 45 mins though) he was much better at handling Alfie, never needs to gas him and was absolutely astonished about how Alfie had been treated by the other vet. So for me, the longer trip is more beneficial. If I hadn't asked at the vets practice where I take my cat, I might not have found him though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asharion Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 How awful! D': I'm glad you were able to find someone more capable, I bet Alfie appreciates it, too. For those of you who do live long distance from the Avian specialist, what is your emergency plan if they need medical attention far sooner than you can get to the primary vet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asharion Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 That's my biggest concern, not so much the commute time to do regular checkups, but if ever there's an emergency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 When I first purchased each of my greys, I took each one to an avian vet so that the vet would know what my grey was like when healthy. Now I know that this avian vet has a record of my grey(s) so that if ever one is ill, this avian vet already knows my grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Asharion... I am lucky that I can get to a vet hospital within 20 minutes, or my own vet whom is known as one of the best avian experts in NYS. He has kept his client list that originally started with him. Sophie is on that list. Otherwise... his practice has grown so much as much as his becoming famous. I CAN make an appointment with him... but Sophie goes to the vet once a year for a healthy visit and thats it. Her Trimmer takes care of her. She tends to care for her beak and nails and see's her trimmer once a year. If he has a concern, then Sophie would go to the vet. I am a BIG believer in " preventive care". Always wash your hands before picking up your bird, and after. If you are EVER concerned regarding your bird... get to a vet early! They don't do well when an illness has taken hold! My vet knows I HATE to come in for a vet visit. I'm more concerned they will get sick in the waiting room. I wait outside in my car, tell them to call me when they are ready for me to come in. ( I won't wait in a waiting room!) It may sound like I am being crazy...but my guys have been healthy with this practice. That being said... I would get a grey no matter how far the best Avian expert was! Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 How awful! D': I'm glad you were able to find someone more capable, I bet Alfie appreciates it, too. For those of you who do live long distance from the Avian specialist, what is your emergency plan if they need medical attention far sooner than you can get to the primary vet? http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?193760-Avian-first-aid-kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex2014 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I guess i'm lucky, my avian vet is only 10 minutes away end even though he is part of an overall vet practice he only does birds. The first time I met him i could tell by the way he handled and interacted with Alex and Rocco that he was experienced. So far there have not been any emergency visits, only yearly checkups, he spends as much time discussing their eating habits and attitude as he does giving them a thorough exam and trimming nails and beaks. He loves the fact that they are flighted. He does not like to trim their flight feathers but will do so if the owner wants it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 There is a vet about 20 minutes from me (as opposed to the 2 hours to the avian vet) who has experience with birds. She does my nail trimming and that kind of thing. As brat birds said, you might check around your area and see if there are any regular vets who see birds. Then looking at neoow's experience, you might want to try to get some reference or talk to other bird owner's in the area. If Timber is actually sick, we would go the two hours to the avian vet. For an injury, I would probably try the local first and go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 I had an Avian Vet tell me some of the non certified in avian care vets have just as much knowledge and experience as those who do. He was recommending a non avian certified Vet to cover when he was out of town and told me that the care and skills were excellent and had no qualms about referring my bird to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Greywings... Good info! I wouldn't be particular, in who took care of Sophie, as long as they new what they were doing. Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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