Your birdvet

[Sivin]

Tell us about the person you take your bird to for his or her medical needs. Is this a general vet, a noncertified birdvet, or a board certified birdvet? How far is the office from your home? Are you happy with this person? What is the most important thing this doctor has told you about birds? How often do you consult with the vet about your birds?

[Sivin]

Isn't there anyone out there who wants to tell about or tell on his or her vet? We're about to make a long move and one of the people we'll miss most is the wonderful woman who tended to our birds. Dr. Jeanne has been practicing over twenty years and administers only to birds and reptiles. Her home and office is 50 miles north of here but twice a week she travels to her patients and that's when she comes to our house. We love watching her handle our birds, gently yet firmly, much like a practiced pediatrician with an infant. Her pure dedication is evident in every step she takes and the instructions she gives to unschooled owners is patient and clear. No attitude problems here.

She told me that at age eight her sick budgie was taken to an avian vet an hour away. She thought what that doctor did was quite extraordinary and decided that she wanted to be an avian vet. She attended one of the top vet schools in California and is a credit to the profession. Does anyone know someone similar in southern California?

[Gem]

Hi Sivin,

Your vet sounds wonderful - I'm sure you will miss her. I wish I could find one as good. I live in New York City, and the one time I have needed to take one of my birds to an avian vet I paid over $300 (standard nyc prices, unfortuantely) and he died later that day. It may be that it was just too late for him, but it didn't exactly inspire confidence in the vet, especially as the bird's condition began worsening right after the vet visit.
I wish you luck with your move and finding a new vet, and if anyone knows of a good avian vet in nyc, I'd be glad to hear about it. Is j2 still on this board? I know she lives/lived in new york..

[Sivin]

Hi Gem,

J2 hasn't signed on in a long time. I'll try to contact her and see whether she has a good person to recommend in NYC. It seems to me she was somewhat cynical about those she saw, but not sure. Was the person you took your bird to an avian specialist or a dog and cat person who claimed to know birds? It is just so hard. I'm originally from New York and know that prices are higher there but comparing dog care with a friend in Manhattan has revealed not that much of a difference. Do you remember what was done for $300?

[Sivin]

J2 has been involved in her business and has not been on the board in a long time. However, we are in touch every so often and I contacted her today about Manhattan bird vets. Here's what she said: The vet I would recommend is the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine between 87th and 88th and Columbus. They're pretty good.

Gem, if you need someone on one of the boroughs I would suggest contacting the place mentioned above and asking them. Hope this is of some help!

[Gem]

Hi Sivin,

Sorry for the delay in replying - I somehow didn't see your 2 replies before now. Thanks so much for getting J2's recommendation (thanks to J2 too!) - it is so helpful to at least have some clue how good a vet is, rather than choosing blindly and hoping for the best. I haven't been to that particular vet before, although I remember getting a quote and finding it to be expensive. Still, can't be helped I suppose; we do what we have to. Next time I have a problem with one of my 'gang' I'll plan on going there, but hopefully no time soon (touch wood)!
To answer your question from before, I don't exactly remember what was included in the $300 I paid to that other avian vet, but I believe they kept my bird overnight to give him regular saline injections because he appeared to be dehydrated. So it may have been too late for him anyway, but of course there's no way of ever knowing..
Thanks again Sivin.