Take cockatiel to regular animal vet?

Question

Okay, I'm planning on getting a cockatiel really soon and I think I have it all figured out. I'm fourteen, but my parents agreed to help me pay for the costs of keeping a bird. I'm going to get a nice big cage, I researched what they should be eating, I'll get nice toys, perches, all of that stuff. There's one thing I'm not sure about, though: vet care. I looked up local avien vets and the closest one is more than an hour away! I don't think my parents would take me there. Do you think that a local vet, like one that treats cats and dogs, can treat birds as well? At least give them a checkup every once an a while? Is it necessary to take them to the vet? I think that it is. Please help?

Answer 1

Go find a hole in the yard and stuff $75 in it and you will get the same results. The reason that they don't list birds beside dog and cats is because it takes specialized training for avian vets. I think that if  you would purchase a good Cockatiel handbook you will be able to take care of any problems that you will encounter with a cockatiel. I have kept over sixty stock birds for ten years. I have never had a sick bird. Either it is blind luck or Cockatiels are not susceptible to sickness. I have found that if you will train it to eat people food (fruits/veggies) that it will be healthy and live for years. I had a 29 year old cockatiel. So be prepared to pass it on to a sibling or friend when you go to college.  

Answer 2

If the "regular" animal vet says they can care for birds, then yes. But I want to point out that the "breeder" who claims that you should hopefully NEVER have to take your bird to the vet is so wrong. You should always take your bird for a wellness check when you first get it, and at least ONCE a year your bird should go for a check up. Birds are excellent at hiding illnesses and a gram stain check at least once a year would be best. I can't imagine why a professional breeder would say that you should never have to take a bird to a vet. That's just plain irresponsible. Do you plan on clipping your birds wings? You should ask your local vet if they can clip wings (if you plan on keeping your birds wings clipped) clip nails, handle bird emergencies, do lab work such as gram stains and care regularly for birds. Birds are fairly expensive to care for and they DO need veterinary care.

Please do not get a bird if you can't afford to care for it - and they live for 15-20 years, it's a long long commitment.  

Answer 3

The best thing for you to do is to call the various vets close by to ask if they treat cockatiels. Hopefully, you'll NEVER have to take your pet to the vet because it is VERY costly. By doing this, at least you'll have a phone number and address ready in case you need to go to the vet rather than panicking and trying to find out the information while you are upset.

Knowing how to properly care for your bird, such as keeping it's flight feathers trimmed and proper nutrition, should prevent situations from arising where a costly trip to a vet is required.

Answer 4

No.  They go to an avian vet since their skeletal struction and biological make up is completely different.  Avian vets have taken regular vetrinarian training PLUS another 1-2 years of specialization.  you will have to phone around to the vets in the area and ask if they have a certified avian vet.

Um.. all these people saying that you shouldn't have to take them to a vet are horribly wrong.  They should have a check up immediately after getting it (it's not overly expensive for the check up) and at least once per year thereafter if there is no immediate need for a vet.  If you cannot afford check ups you should not own an animal in reality.

Answer 5

Some vets don't advertise bird care, mostly because they're not technically certified to care for them. You can call the closer vets and see if any of them know anything about birds. If not, have that other vets number handy.

As for taking it to the vet, some people do take their birds in for regular check ups. It depends on your situation I think. A regular single pet bird, you might want to take when you first get it, and then keep the vet handy in case of an emergency. For people with multiple birds, or that breed, etc, regular vet care becomes a little more important because of multiple factors.