Chaska's vet check

[Tiki]

Chaska, my new Quaker had a new bird check up, I will post the details for benefit of fellow Aussies, also Americans may like to compare the prices over there. She was given a thorough examination and inspection of her body, poop check and worming treatment. He spent about 20 minutes with me to give advice on Quaker handling as he knows I am most familiar with tiels. He managed to get her to step up and gave me nutrition hints, she needs either pellets or more fresh fruit and veggies. She is a bit underweight at 86 grams, he siad she should be 100 grams. He said she has a beautiful temperment and is very sweet but at about one year of age she will get a bit hormonal and nippy so it is important to train her now to step up. This all cost AUD $93 so say about $70 USD. I opted for additional tests before I let her meet the tiels-blood check for liver disease and psittacosis, I will get the results back in 2 days. This is an extra $222 AUD-about $160 USD.

One question-the AV thinks if Chaska comes back negative for psittacosis, I should have the tiels tested as well-for HER protection. I have 9 tiels, 6 of whom were born in my home. They have not been with other birds. DO you think if I test the 3 adult tiels (Tiki, Manu and Koro) and they are negative, then the babies should automatically be negative? They are not actually babies now, they are 16 months old.

[Franciscus]

I think the prices are pretty reasonable. As far as the psittacosis is concerned, I think the three young 'tiels would be unlikely to have it unless the parent birds do. That is unless you have been handling other birds elsewhere that carry it and you didn't shower and change clothing and shoes before handling your birds. I beleive young birds are more suseptable to catching something because their immune system has not had the time to develop.

[Tiki]

Got the test results back-all is well! Blood work came back normal, no psittacosis/chlamydia! I am so relieved!