Anesthesia for Wing Clipping?

[tvymola]

I was just having a conversation with the gal cutting my hair tonight. She was telling me that her avian vet recently moved away from the area and they didn't know how they were going to manage getting their CAG Pooper's wings clipped. She said that her AV actually puts the bird under anesthesia to clip his wings.

Has anyone heard of this? She seemed to believe that it was pretty common. Her boyfriend won't allow the bird to be clipped unless he is under. I recommended that she take the bird to Varietees (our mega bird store in St. Louis). Their groomers are very experienced and haven't even had to towel my birds to clip their nails and wings. Of course I would have no problem with toweling if it was necessary.

I would think that this procedure would be very risky.

[hollyhawkz]

I don't know, but I think it would be risky to do over and over. I've never heard of it, but that means nothing.

[FloorCandy]

ANytime an animal or person is given anesthesia it is a risk! Also it can kill brain cells, which is why sometimes very elderly people come out of anesthesia with strange behaviors. I would never anesthetize any animal for a cosmetic procedure. If it is so hard to clip, then an experienced groomer would towel the bird and do the clip, I have seen the nastiest amazon in the world toweled and clipped.

[perchingbird]

...

Yeah, anesthesia, especially in parrots with their low weights, is risky. All the avian vets I've ever been to have been leery of it unless it was absolutely necessary to do a test (x-rays).

I'd never have my bird go under for something as benign as a wing clip. O.O

[maggy]

No way would I let someone knock my girl out for a wing clip (I don't clip anyway) as Floorcandy said anaesthetics are always risky in people,birds and any living thing. My advise is for your friend to find somewhere else to get the wings done. The other point is what's it got to do with her boyfriend? The flamin' bird is hers and her responsibility..he should butt out!

[jenseits]

Wow, I've never heard of such a thing. I'm surprised a vet would recommend or even do that. Way too risky a thing to just for the sake of cutting some feathers IMO.

[Ringneckmom]

Originally Posted by FloorCandy

ANytime an animal or person is given anesthesia it is a risk! Also it can kill brain cells, which is why sometimes very elderly people come out of anesthesia with strange behaviors. I would never anesthetize any animal for a cosmetic procedure. If it is so hard to clip, then an experienced groomer would towel the bird and do the clip, I have seen the nastiest amazon in the world toweled and clipped.

This may be true for most birds, but there are some birds that you do have to put under for their safety as well as the safety of the people grooming.

I am an experienced groomer and even with an experienced holder - there is one greenwing macaw that we cannot groom anymore unless he is put under.
This is a very big bird that is strong as an ox and he will not let you catch him period. We have done all the different methods of catching but now he knows them all. He has a huge can opener and he WILL inflict damage if he can. For his safety, he has to be knocked out now otherwise he won't be able to get groomed as we just cannot get him - even with a towel - in a safe hold.

There are birds that you have to do that to.
Thankfully, we can handle most of the birds that come in including wild breeders etc but he is one that we cannot. You have to know your limits and what is too stressful as well as not safe.

[Phenomenon]

Originally Posted by Ringneckmom

This may be true for most birds, but there are some birds that you do have to put under for their safety as well as the safety of the people grooming.

I am an experienced groomer and even with an experienced holder - there is one greenwing macaw that we cannot groom anymore unless he is put under.
This is a very big bird that is strong as an ox and he will not let you catch him period. We have done all the different methods of catching but now he knows them all. He has a huge can opener and he WILL inflict damage if he can. For his safety, he has to be knocked out now otherwise he won't be able to get groomed as we just cannot get him - even with a towel - in a safe hold.

There are birds that you have to do that to.
Thankfully, we can handle most of the birds that come in including wild breeders etc but he is one that we cannot. You have to know your limits and what is too stressful as well as not safe.

Oh the visual (bolded). I would think so. There is a limit to how much physical abuse paid workers would take to do a simple job. If the bird is unmanagable, I can see why the Vet would recommend putting under.

Is the OP's bird unmanageable?

*FWIW: Just because we spoil our birds and let them play "Puncture the skin" on us, does not mean that anyone else will...just saying.

[LovelySydney]

Ive never heard of that for just a wing clip! & I say "just" a wing clip because it really isn't that hard of a thing to do, it can be done very quickly. I think that would be very risky to do over and over. If you speak with her again I would definitely advise against doing that. I feel like over time it can create some neurological issues. Plus, its just not necessary to do for a wing clip - I cant imagine itd be cheap either!!

[Valo's Moirana]

i'd ONLY go with that if necessary in situations like what clara described; if the bird can be caught and toweled, the risk of putting the bird under is not worth it