Avian Vets

[pineapplemango]

I called my local Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital to get an estimate for an exam and bloodwork to test for diseases in a Conure I might be getting from a breeder... $63 for an exam (ok) and about $350 for bloodwork (yikes)! Even just the test for chlamydia alone would be anywhere from $80-$178 (for some reason there's three different tests and the vet would have to pick which). I used to work at a regular animal hospital and the prices were nowhere near that, so I almost had a heart attack.

I could afford a regular exam, but $350 just for precautionary bloodwork seems a little outrageous to me. If something were actually wrong with the Conure, the breeder doesn't pay vet bills, so I would just be out of luck.

Does this pricing seem reasonable? And does anyone know of a good avian vet in the Los Angeles area? I wish I would have known how expensive that particular avian vet was earlier, but they've been closed the past week.

I did see a GCC at Petco that I liked, and they state that all of their birds are already vet checked and tested for chlamydia, etc. Do you think that would be a good option, or do you think I shouldn't rely on their health checks and would need to have it tested again anyways?

[MLaCross]

I do not live on the west coast so i do not know of any avian vets, but I would call around. Look online for CERTIFIED avian vets in your area and see who you get a good vibe from and are reasonable. I think that is a bit pricey for the blood work.
I got my Pedro from PetSmart, I still brought him in to be tested just because he was still around other birds and you never know.

[RockysMom]

That actually sounds about right to me, my vet charges about the same for all the labs and I am in Indiana. Even if a petstore says they did a vet check, I would still do my own, you just never know. Birds are always more expensive with everything inculding vet visits, probably because they are considered exotic. Everything as far as my vet bills for my puppy I know I can usually double the bill with Rocky.

[xafsmom]

Do you have reason to suspect the breeder has a problem with psittacosis in her aviary?

[LovelySydney]

I understand your concern, I dont think I could pay that much and be happy about it - $350 IS a lot, especially if you really dont have any concerns. I would definitely go to an avian vet who could assess your bird and tell you if you REALLY need all the blood work.

[RXK]

for reference (although, i don't know if this is going to be helpful since i'm in Canada) avian vets here in Toronto charge about $80 for an exam, $180 for baseline tests (CBC, blood chemistry, and fecal grain stain), and about $120-$180 to test for the 4 major diseases. it's definitely expensive, but i feel these (at least the baseline tests) are necessary to get an idea on health. plus, you only have to test for diseases once (with the exception of a few diseases).

and, honestly, no matter where you get the bird from, i think it's helpful to get the tests done.

[pineapplemango]

Originally Posted by xafsmom

Do you have reason to suspect the breeder has a problem with psittacosis in her aviary?

Not necessarily, it's just that this is my first bird so I want to make sure I take good care of it and do everything right the first time if possible. Plus the breeder keeps all of his birds outside, so I'm not sure if it would have been exposed to anything. I'm really not sure what I should think, I'm kind of learning as I go along!

I called around to get pricing from other avian vets. There were a couple that were slightly more reasonable, one was $100 for an exam but $250 for the bloodwork. Sigh. I had no idea that birdie care could be so expensive, but I guess I should have known better what I was getting myself into before I fell in love with Green Cheeks! I found a really nice vet in Orange County called The Bird Clinic, I even think I remember reading about them in Birds USA, so I think I'm gonna take my little guy there and get the vet's opinion about what kind of tests I should have done and which ones might not be necessary and go from there.

[perchingbird]

I was not fond of Long Beach Animal Hospital when I was up that way, and the only other vet in the LA area I went to had to put down my 'tiel. :(

In San Diego I've been to a few, but I don't know if you want to drive that far. PLus, I'm not happy with either of them.

[Dusty73085]

Originally Posted by perchingbird

I was not fond of Long Beach Animal Hospital when I was up that way, and the only other vet in the LA area I went to had to put down my 'tiel. :(

In San Diego I've been to a few, but I don't know if you want to drive that far. PLus, I'm not happy with either of them.

It kinda stinks that there aren't that many avian vets in So Cal. Hopefully I like the one I take Olive to next week...and thank goodness he is really close.

[sailorkelly]

Do they have health insurance for birds like the do for dogs and cats? I have been thinking of getting the boys health insurance and I would like to get a policy for Abbey. I don't think Skipper would need insurance.. lol just some meal worms and he is fine...lol