What to expect at vet??

[missysue29]

So, I'm taking my Sun Conure, Rio, to the vet. They said they take birds, but is it going to be the same stuff as if I took him to a avian vet? This is just for a checkup, since he hasn't been in about 5 years(previous owner took him once; financially, I haven't been able to until now.)

-What should I do to prepare for his appointment?
I haven't made the appointment yet(but will soon) and I'm sure they will tell me some things to do, but you all have been through it before and know the tips and tricks to make it go smoothly.

-Any tips for the drive there??
The vet is about 20 minutes from my house. He seemed to do alright on the ride home from his previous owner, which lived about 30 minutes away, plus now he is used to me so it should be a bit easier.

I can get Rio to step onto my hand sometimes, I can coax him up most of the time, he doesnt really like to be pet, but if he doesnt notice it or if hes eating then its ok.
-Are there any commands or actions I should try to teach him or get him familiar with before the appointment to make things easier?

-So, I get to the vet with Rio... What are they going to/should they do to him for just a normal checkup?

-I should be allowed to be in the room during the checkup, right??

-What questions should I ask the vet?
He doesnt seem to have any problems right now, but what general questions should I ask?

-How much should a normal bird checkup cost?
How much is too much?

-Should I let them trim his nails?
I have heard that wing clipping can throw the bird off, or change their personallity, so I dont think im gunna have them clipped, but his nails are really long and sharp, to the point where when he is standing on a flat surface, the length of the nail causes the toes to turn to the side a bit(if that makes sense.)

That all I can think of for now. If you have any tips, tricks, advice, first hand stories, please feel free to share them. Thanks! : D

[Eliza]

I would suggest finding either a board-certified avian vet (Dipl. ABVP - Avian Medicine) or a vet associated with the Association of Avian Veterinarians. This will enable Rio to have the best possible evaluation.

ABVP: certification, species, credentialing, veterinary clinical practice, vet, abvp

AAV: The Association of Avian Veterinarians | Association

Board members in your area might be able to give you recommendations, too.

As far as what to expect... The vet will give Rio an exam (weight, listen to his heart, check his eyes, nares, vent, beak, etc.) and will likely want to do gram stains and draw blood. I would recommend having Rio tested for diseases like PBFB, polyoma and psittacosis along with having his blood chemistry (liver function, etc.) tested. This will give the vet a baseline level of health, assuming that all is well with Rio. You should be allowed in the room -- I can't imagine why you wouldn't be.

The vet should be able to trim/file Rio's nails and offer guidance in regard to trimming his flight feathers. You do not have to have Rio's flights trimmed if you do not want to. Just be aware when you have him loose in the house (are all windows and doors secure, toilet seats down, no pots of water boiling on the stove, etc.) or when you take him outside (is he secure in a carrier/cage or is he wearing a harness).

As far as costs go... that will vary from vet to vet, town to town, state to state, etc. Bloodwork, gram stains and disease testing adds up, too. I pay about $300 for a well-bird visit, including all testing. I do think that vet visits run higher in my area, though. The practice you use should be able to give you an estimate before your visit.

As for the drive to the vet, why not take Rio on a few little car trips in the days leading up to his visit? Put a couple of foot toys and tasty treats in his carrier and take a brief drive. He'll be fine!

Best of luck!