Arthur's Vet Visit....

[Irish]

Went just fine. He had one white blood cell in his fecal sample, so the vet says ACV, 1 tsp. to a quart of water, for the next 10 days, and that he should quit "french kissing" us :-). Ratty looking feathers, but she knows the breeder and says her birds always come to the store looking ratty and that he'll moult them out and look good with time. Weight perfect, good condition, friendly (well, duh! LOL!), nares clear, respiration and heartrate fine, feet in good condition, pelvis narrow, eyes and skin clear, well-hydrated, diet good. She didn't do blood work (I don't think it's something she's set up to do, since she's a traveling vet), but she says she sees no reason to take him to a different vet to get it done, as he's healthy as a horse. The one thing she didn't like was the extent of his wing clip....

It looks like my boy is good to go!

Eddy's exam went fine, too. She has a looooong history on him from his 3 previous owners, all the way back to the days when he used to be called "Jasper", which she'll be sending along to us shortly. She even did some behavioral work with him and his first human--an old lady who was terrified of him because of his vicious bite, and so she never let him out of the cage, which explains why he is so cage-bound even now. Also, that the small line on his chest where no feathers grow was caused by some sort of injury a looooooong time ago. It's good to know there is a history on him, and that we'll get the paperwork at some point! Also good to know the ornery thing is healthy, and will be chewing on us for decades to come....

[Winged_Victory]

Great to hear that everything checked out fine !!

[Irish]

Me too! Knowing that at least one bird coming from the same source had problems, I have been waiting around rather paranoid for the past week and a half until I could get Arthur into the vet for the well-bird check. Now I can relax a bit, knowing that he probably isn't harboring some heartbreaking and incurable disease! LOL! Worrying is my specialty, after all :-).

[Regina U.]

Irish,
That is wonderful. Great news!

[dvelardi]

Um.. I think you have incorrect information. I am assuming you are referring to Jack......... Arthur came from a different breeder. The breeder of Arthur and Cleo has always had excellent healthy babies, they just look rough when they come in. As do the babies that come from the breeder of Jack. Jack was healthy when he came into the store. As Bob... :-)

[Irish]

Heyas, Deb;

I know Jack and Arthur/Cleo had different breeders. Sorry for the confusion. Just meant that they came from the same store. Y'all do a fantastic job there, IMHO, but until I got a vet to say all is well, I worry, worry, worry, worry! Bob was actually examined before he came home, so I had no worries when he arrived.. I had to wait close on 2 weeks for Arthur's appointment, though. Since he didn't adapt immediately to his new home, like Bob did, and was off his food and not playing for the first few days, I worried. That's just how I am. So now I feel better knowing he's healthy, and hope no one was offended! As far as I know, all the breeders that supply the big birds to the store are great, and I know from lots of experience that the staff are fantastic :-).

BTW--he's refused his nightly handfeeding for the 5th day in a row--wants nothing, and I mean NADA to do with it. Right rude li'l fella about it, too! *grins* Good thing he's enjoying his nuts, grapes and veggies :-). Pam says he's right on, weight-wise. I'm still trying to get him to eat more, though--watching piggy Bob chow down puts everybird to shame! LOL!

[dvelardi]

no worries.. just wanted to clarify. And I agree on ANY bird that comes from a bird store and all the traffic that comes through there... you cant be too careful! So many hands touch all the birds..... <sigh>