The Avian Vet & Why It Matters
By Marguerite Floyd
The Avian Vet
Whenever two or more parrot owners get together it isn't long before the words "avian vet" come up. The second and third terms that come up are "expensive" and "few and far between."But what is an avian vet and why does it matter? Can't my regular vet take care of my bird?
Basically, an avian veterinarian is one whose practice focuses on birds. You might think that all vets, including the familiar dog and cat vets, have studied and can treat birds. While the education of a vet includes the same basics (dogs, cats, chickens) other birds are not studied in standard curricula. But chickens are birds, I can hear you say. Yes they are, but chickens are considered an agricultural crop, which warrants them more widespread attention.
There are other differences as well. An avian vet must take very specialized courses that focus on avian physiology, non-commercial reproduction, dietary requirements, environmental and behavioral needs, and so on. Those types of education are often offered as electives. Elizabeth Mackey, DVM, Executive Director of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, said "Learning opportunities totally depend on the school! Some may provide very little education on avian medicine, while others devote entire residency programs on avian medicine (non-poultry). Some schools have electives on many of the exotic animal species and provide rotations available for the clinical year, and others do not."
For established veterinarians who want to begin seeing birds they can take courses to build their knowledge base.
Many avian and regular veterinarians are members of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, which provides extensive educational opportunities as well as listings to help you locate an avian vet in your area.
It is important to recognize that any veterinarian can join the AAV, call themselves an avian veterinarian, and never see a bird. Many other veterinarians with experience in avian medicine may also join the AAV without completing the AAV Avian Veterinary Clinical Competency Program.
A non-avian veterinarian, unfamiliar with avian physiology, can possibly injure a bird or make things worse. To be sure your veterinarian is a true avian veterinarian, there are several ways to find out. Ask how much of their practice is devoted to birds. Ask your friends in the parrot world about their favorite vets. Avoid veterinarians who have no experience in avian medicine but are "interested" in birds as a sideline -- you don't want someone inexperienced with birds handling or treating your sick bird.
Don't be afraid to make an appointment with a prospective veterinarian just to meet them and ask questions about their experience and any specialties. Do you communicate well? While you're there, look around. Is the facility clean and organized? Are the staff attentive or overwhelmed? What are the normal fees? What basic visits and tests does the veterinarian recommend? Is the veterinarian available after hours in cases of emergency or have reliable back-up plans? I don't know about you, but my birds tend to only need emergency care on holiday weekends.
Why is avian medicine so expensive?
Starting up a regular veterinarian practice isn't cheap, but preparing to see and treat parrots can significantly add to those costs.
Specialized education costs are higher, much necessary lab work is more expensive and sometimes requires overnight shipping to out-of-state laboratories, the scarcity of avian vets in an area can cause overloaded schedules and require additional help.
You wouldn't dream of taking your sick child to an elder care specialist, would you? Your special bird deserves the best of everything, and that must include excellent avian veterinarian care. Now is a great time to find your nearest avian veterinarian
References
Association of Avian Veterinarians
https://www.aav.org
E-mail correspondence with Elizabeth Mackey, DVM, Executive Director of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, October 16, 2024.
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
- Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.