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Avian Medicine

 

Avian Medicine

Bird Talk

Birds are rapidly becoming some of the more popular pets in our society.  Bird enthusiasts predict that they may become even more popular than dogs.  Birds have needs and desires as complex as our furry pals.  Most are highly affectionate and social.  They have the added bonus of coming in many different sizes and host of beautiful and brilliant colors.

Proper Care for Your Avian Friend

• Annual Exams- yearly exams are important to the health of your bird. Being a "prey" species, birds are highly capable of hiding any signs of illness until they are extremely sick. An annual exam by an expert veterinarian may help detect early disease.

• CBC (Complete Blood Count)- this simple blood test should be performed yearly to detect underlying anemia and/or infection

• Gram Stain- this microscopic examination of fecal matter performed yearly will detect yeast and subtle changes of bacteria levels in your bird’s digestive tract (a possible indicator of disease).

Other Avian Services

• DNA sexing: one drop of blood will tell you if it’s a girl or a boy

• Comprehensive lab work

• X-rays

• Radiosurgery

• Intensive Care

• Nutrition Counseling and Pellet Conversion: We recommend the feeding of organic pelleted diets such as Harrison’s Bird Food.

Which Species is for You?

Many of the larger birds are going to outlive you, so choose one that fits you and your family’s lifestyle.  Each species brings its own unique personality and beauty to your household.

• Canaries and finches can be colorful and fun to watch. 

• Parakeets and Cockatiels are wonderful starter birds. 

• Conures are the Terriers of the bird world.  They can be noisy, very engaging and can get into lots of trouble in the house if not supervised properly.

• If you are comfortable being the center of the bird’s universe, a Cockatoo may be the bird for you. 

• African Greys are arguably the most intelligent members of the bird world. In general, they can be high strung and often choose one person in the household in which to bond.

• Amazons tend to be good talkers and will definitely need a creative person to provide them with the kind of interactive environment they need.

• Macaws are the largest and most colorful of the bird species and should not be considered for an inexperienced bird person.

Resources:

Bird Talk Magazine 

Association of Avian Veterinarians

Harrison’s Bird Food