Just like when you go to the doctor, you want to get the most out of your bird’s vet visit. There are a couple of important suggestions to keep in mind when preparing and during the visit.
Take Notes
It is always a good idea to keep a list of items you would like to discuss with your bird’s veterinarian. This could include anything from what you would consider odd behavior from your bird to
excess sleeping or egg laying. While discussing these issues with the vet, make sure to take notes as well; especially if the vet gives you any special instructions for ongoing care to keep your bird healthy.
The Exam
The vet will conduct a full physical exam, including checking your bird’s weight, check the bird’s body under its wings and potentially observe the bird sitting on its perch to check for any abnormalities. The vet may also inquire about your bird’s diet and make suggestions if changes are required. If your bird’s nails or wings need to be clipped, it can be done right there during the visit.
While most clean their bird’s cages often and change floor paper daily, the morning of the visit, you may want to leave the paper in place. This can allow for the vet to look at your bird’s droppings. This examination will help ensure the dropping’s shape and color is normal, which will provide insight into the bird’s overall health.
Your bird’s vet may take swabs inside your bird’s mouth and vent (the opening below the tail) for additional analysis to check for any infections or other health issues. The vet may also suggest periodic blood work to again check for any issues that are not obvious upon the physical examination. While this is not required at every visit, it may be a good idea to have blood drawn once a year. Ultimately, this should be determined between you and the vet.
Regular Vet Visits
Unless a specific issue is discovered, many take their bird for a visit to the veterinarian twice a year just to help ensure their bird stays happy and healthy. Again, this should be discussed with the vet during the visit. Additionally, it is important to remember that visits can be costly. A “healthy bird checkup” can cost anywhere between $50 and $100. If additional tests or services are required, the visit could get quite costly. Most veterinary offices can furnish a cost list to help the pet owner properly budget for the visit.
Ultimately, vet visits are very important in order to keep your bird healthy and happy to help ensure a long life for your bird!
See something on the Internet that you'd like us to profile in this column? Anything about pet fashion, technology or interesting is good. Send us an email to editors@yeepet.com or leave a comment below.
Why Yeepet is great for 
