Blue's vet visit

[Spreckles]

Elana Babs Cindy Sally and ALL!

Blue went to the vet in his little traveller bird cage today. I brought a mirror of course. I put him in a pillowcase to stay warm. We had BAD WEATHER today. Thunder, lightening, gully washer rain and TORNADO WARNING's. Sirens went off for an hour. Of course the weather would be bad.

It wasn't too bad for Blue to travel. He seemed interested more than afraid he wasn't flighty. The avian vet did not include finches. His tech thought he did. So anyway he was nice but he didn't know. His first guess was mites or lice but I said my other birds are fine. Least they seam to be!

I am glad he was honest. He looked in his books couldn't find anything. Then he said maybe put some lotrimin on him. Good grief! Finally he said, "Mam he is so little I don't know how to dose him& if I make a mistake he'll die."

Ok so I paid my bill and took my little bird home. I really looked him over and he is a mess. The vet said he could just be old and he thought he has been scratching himself. He has continued to bleed on & off isolated. That sweet bird was so relaxed in my hand he didn't try to bite me. His heart wasn't pounding with fright. He doesn't have a sharp breastbone. I could see his crops! They were full. I looked him over good. He is losing feathers around his neck.

When we came home to catch him in the little cage He was hopping on my hand. I wasn't moving fast. When I caught him He was pretty relaxed. I hope this doesn't mean he's dying. He is so cool I probably could have tamed this one. He isn't afraid of me. He did not like the pictures but I think they are close enough for you to see.

You guys will be proud of me. He told me to get that clip on mite protector for the cage. I told him those are fatal for finches & I told him about the Forum if he wanted to read up. He trims wings & beaks and keeps chickens. I still had to pay how crazy is that?

That being said YAWL ARE SMARTER THAN THE VET! Talk to me about Blue.

[Sally]

Sorry, but I don't think you should have had to pay for that visit. It is nice the vet was honest enough to admit he didn't know how to treat a finch, but then he should not have charged! And he should have known about the mite protectors.

I can't remember, has Blue been in with other birds? He certainly looks plucked.

[Babs _Owner]

Spreckles

Good grief, you would have thought the doctor looked at his appt. chart the previous week and saw "finch" and would have had the assistant call you ahead of time and told you not to bother.

You still had to pay for it?

Please tell me the vet was very old....like back when they were told moth balls were safe.....like WWII, during the depression old. Cause those are the only folks that are brave enough to use something that has mothballs in it.

Looks like you are Blue are having a wonderful moment together. Kinda hitting ya now, eh? Old fellow is so sweet. And you have given him a great life, dear. Enjoy your little Blue a little more every day now. ;)

[Spreckles]

Babs
You think he's failing? What about some thing treatable? I am in denial. Just leave me there. He could live longer.

Say it isn't so. No he wasn't very old. He called ME MAM!

@Sally
He was with other birds. I am lifting up the feathers on the back of his head because it's so red. I looked everywhere for anything moving saw NOTHING. I keep edible grade diatomaceous earth in the bottom of the cages. Just looks like plucking? He has an adoring hen who has been a bit over zealous preening. No aggression among anybody. He's separated from the rest but in the Bird room.
Karen

[Babs _Owner]

Spreckles

Awww. Blue still has plenty of spunk left in 'em. So what did the doctor tell you when you told him that product was toxic?

They didn't tell him in vet school not to sniff mothballs? Heck the warning labels on mothballs says its toxic...same ingredient as the mite protector.

Some of these new vets (we have a bunch out this way), are so quick to give you unnecessary "preventatives" and even quicker when they want that $money$. Training them now like they train lawyers "create a problem that isnt there, make you pay for the solution". He should have never charged you like Sally said, because he had no professional knowledge to on a finch, therefore NO service was rendered. Call and get your money back. The vet assistant knows darn well what critters that vet can handle.

I had a vet trying to charge me like $600 for a doggie CHECKUP & rabies shot, wanting the dog to get this loooooong list of vaccines..and of course I would have to come back for a SECOND visit to get the rabies (which was the ONLY thing she really NEEDED) because after his list of "preventatives" it would be too much for the dog's system to have the rabies. Therefore he could make more $$ on the second visit as well . Cha CHING!

We have another vet here, it's a national chain. Ohhhh they are shady, shady, shady. I wanted an ultrasound for my bred pitbull (I suspected false prenancy and I was right), and I wanted a quote. They refused and said they have no fixed rate. "they charge on a case by case basis" (and it isnt based on your income). I told them to shove it. All the other vets in town were able to quote me a price for an ultrasound right on the phone. They are an "emergency" 24 vet care where if your pet gets hit by a truck or something and you bring it in, you second mortgage your house and you sign off your soul or the dog dies in the waiting room.

Nasty business in the big cities. Its just aweful what I've seen my state turn into. Legal scams around every corner, all perfectly made legal, by whom I would love to know one day

Miss the days of my father when a man's handshake was his "word" and legal binding. And it gets exhausting that you can no longer call businesses out on their bullcrap in this politically correct world where simply stating the OBVIOUS is considered rude.

Sigh....

[Babs _Owner]

Spreckles

Hey, not to mix this up with my rant above. You know that diatomaceous earth is very abrasive on a microscopic scale and it is easily blown into the air.

Hun, that might be your problem. It might be getting in the air and into his feathers and skin. Try keeping the diatomaceous earth on the edges of the room where the ants come in and get it out of the cages. Let Blue take a few good baths and see if that helps. ;)

[lovezebs]

Spreckles

Hey Karen.

Glad to hear that Blue came home in one piece.

I would gently clean his cheeks, apply a tiny bit of antibiotic cream for a few days, and see how he does. Also I would keep lovey girl away from him. Let them have a long distance relationships (different cages ), and see if his cheeks heal.

Regarding the Vet, I honestly don't think you should have been charged for anything other than a consultation.

Some of these big Vet outfits, are horrible. They make you feel like a terrible pet owner, if you can't afford thousands of dollars worth of treatments or surgeries.
I joke about how they charge you for the air you breathe, the minute you walk in the door. I hate it when these folks assume, that you have all sorts of money, and are just unwilling to spend it on your beloved pet (and try and use guilt, to make you fork out outrageous amounts, that you simply can't afford).

I actually ran into a woman a few years ago, who owned her first ever dog. A perfectly healthy, normal dog. The Vet she was going to, actually talked her into twice a year check ups, including blood work, urine tests, etc. He convinced her, that her dog needed every test in the book, even though he never claimed that there was anything wrong with the dog. It was all precautionary, and the dog couldn't live without all of this. Boy was she surprised when I set her straight, and send her to my old Vet.

I so wish that my Vet, hadn't retired. I have found another Vet since then, who is a decent fellow (and doesn't charge astronomical amounts ) but it's still not the same.

Good luck to little Blue.

[debbie276]

I don't think it is the diatomaceous earth. I used to add it into my mineral mix and bottom of my nest boxes and know very many that also use it.
If the skin is red and irritated I would think there is something causing it and not just old age.
Have you used Scatt or S76 or mite and lice spray to eliminate the chance of mites or lice? You wouldn't necessarily see mites and lice because they can be very small.
There must be some type of ointment you could apply for some soothing.
Wish I could help more
best of luck

[Spreckles]

The vet was just $43. He was a kind man & wished he could help me. I am to concerned about Blue. I saw him puffy this morning & tears just started.

I'll see if I can get some scatt. They didn't have any there. & antibiotic ointment too.

Karen

[Spreckles]

Babs
The doctor was a humble kind man. He thanked me for telling him.

[lovezebs]

Spreckles

Good morning Karen.
Regarding an antibiotic cream for Blue, I would go with the cream, rather than the ointment (not as greasy ). I just use Polysporin.

Sweetie, he might just be stressed from all the hullabaloo yesterday. Offer him some nice warm light (and some spray Millet ). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him, and sending hugs your way.

If the Vet was a nice man, then we'll forgive him for charging you $46 bucks . Maybe he should have paid you, for teaching him something, eh?

Best of wishes for your little Blue boy.

[Spreckles]

Elana
Thanks what are those holes on the sides of his head? Ears? Is that normal Bird anatomy or is he hurt? I tried to look up Bird anatomy last night everything had feathers on it. I did read about a red mite that can make feathers come out. He just looks so red and raw it breaks my heart.

And I haven't stocked up an emergency med kit with all the doings & our house SOLD!
I am going to order by express. Called the feed store & he said the only thing he had for finches was a special order bag of finch mix that someone ordered & never picked up. That was quite the answer for do you carry Scatt? ????????

Karen

[debbie276]

Scatt and S76 has to be ordered online as far as I know, no stores carry it.
If it is external mites or lice any spray at any pet store for mites will do, and probably better then Scatt or S76. If it's Scaley mites then Scatt or S76 would be best

All the best, please keep us posted

[lovezebs]

Spreckles

Yes, those are his little ears (so no worry there).


https://www.quora.com/Do-birds-have-ears

Just keep him comfortable hon.

[tam]

hey guys, I think their is a certified avian vet in ms. Saltillo small animal hospital. Dr. John Morris. I was talking to a store manager at the barnes crossing mall and he just happened to own blue macaws. I asked about the a bird vet and he mentioned Dr. John office. You might want to call them and inquire before driving up there. - good luck Tam 662-869-7301 . I just called them and she said the vet isn't avian certified however has a special interest in birds and has been seeing birds clients for over 10 years. hope this helps.