parrotlet bloodwork?

[pigeoninpink]

Hey everyone,

(First of all, I love this board and have lurked around using it as a reference more than once.)

Recently I took my parrotlet Oliver to the UPenn animal hospital because he's been fluffed up, sneezing, making small poops, and lethargic. The physical exam and his poo tests didn't reveal anything, and I'm waiting for one more test to come back. The vet recommended that they draw blood for more tests, but warned me that the risks sometimes involved death. Basically, just him mentioning that put me in a panic and I told him I didn't want to go through with it right then. So they gave him a vitamin A shot cause they thought he might be deficient and told me to come back if he gets worse.

I know UPenn is supposed to be good with birds, but they said they don't see many parrotlets, and a bunch of students came in to look at him making me think they hardly see any.

Is it okay for such small birds to have blood drawn? Should I look for a vet who is more experienced with parrotlets or stick with UPenn? Can anyone recommend a vet in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area with more parrotlet experience?

I feel so guilty, but I just don't know what to do. My female Penelope has started sneezing now as well.

Thanks you guys.

[huntress]

I would get a second opinion - can you google for CERTIFIED AVIAN VETS in your area?

[pigeoninpink]

Last time I took them to a vet that I found on AAV for a wellness check up. It was mainly a dog/cat vet and he had never heard of parrotlets before. It was a waste of time, money and I felt like it was really stressful for the birds.

So I'd really like to go to a vet that comes well recommended.

[isoscelestri]

My parrotlet had a his wellness check about a month ago and they drew blood from it. He was healthy to start with, and I really didn't notice any difference in his behavior or energy levels when I got him home. The vet drew blood from his jugular, which from what I understood, from her and some articles I've read, is common practice. I asked her how much experience she had with drawing blood from small birds, she's seen a few parrotlets in her practice, and has also worked with lots of parakeets and finches.
She told me about 2 things that I should keep in mind with drawing blood:
1) The bird may be resentful towards anyone in the room at the time the procedure is done. She took him to a surgery table in a sterile room while I waited in the examining room. I took him to get a broken blood feather checked out earlier this week, and he definitely remembered her and wanted nothing to do with her (he's usually good about stepping up to new people, this was the first time he flew away from someone).
2) I think this one is only if the blood was drawn from the jugular... There's a chance that a few hours after the procedure that the bird might sneeze out a little blood. She said it wasn't anything to be concerned about, but that there's an air sac close to where the blood is drawn and sometimes the sac absorbs a little of the blood.

I'd say it's ok for a small bird like a parrotlet to get it's blood drawn. I think a bird that weighs 30g can have .3 mL of blood drawn safely. You can always ask about their experience working on other small birds.
How did that vet do in handling your parrotlet in the initial examine? Was he quickly and confidently able to get a hold of the parrotlet in such a way as to examine it? or did he have to make several attempts at a hold? That might sound like an odd question, but when Link (my parrotlet) broke his blood feather I took him to an emergency vet (I called ahead, and was told the vet on duty could work with birds). She and her assistant had to try a few times before they had him toweled where they thought they could look at his wing. When they were looking at the wing, were holding the wing out by the flight feathers and they didn't have complete control over it and that Link could still move it. It was pretty obvious that they weren't comfortable working with such a small bird and agreed that it would be better to have his regular vet check him out when the weekend was up (he's fine btw, and didn't end up needing the broken feather pulled). The vet that we normally see is able to pick Link up in one movement and hold him in such a way that she has complete control and can easily do a full exam very quickly and with out assistance, which greatly reduces the stress that the bird goes through.
Sorry for such a long post...

[pigeoninpink]

I got some wonderful advice over on the NYC Bird Club, so I'd figure I'd share it here incase anyone else is in a similar predicament.

It was recommended that I seek a second opinion and take my birds to another vet asap. In the meantime I kept them in a hospital room with, partially covered with the temperature around 75. Today I took them to Dr. Goodman's practice in Aston PA. Even though she was booked, she managed to fit them in between patients. She found rods in my female's droppings so they are both being treated for a bacterial infection. Instead of recommending bloodwork and xrays, she took swabs from each of them and just a drop of blood from oliver to do a white blood cell count.

So I guess all in all if you're uncomfortable with your vet's course of action, by all means seek a second opinion.

Also the vets in the Phila/South Jersey area that were recommended are:
Dr. Goodman, Aston PA
Dr. Mckinley, Hillsoboro NJ
Animal and Bird Health Care in Cherry Hill
Dr. Crupi in Nutley NJ
Dr. Wolf in Parsippany NJ

[huntress]

YAY! I hope everyone is well soon!

[Lisa B]

sorry I didnt see this earlier.
I am familiar with all the vets mentioned with the exeption of dr Goodman.
I have been clients of all the others.


a parrotlet can have blood work done. my friend just had hers done at Red Bank Vet Clinc in tinton falls nj. Exit 109 off the GSP.
Dr Strunk is who did it.


The ABVP list of vets in our area is slim pickins....
New Jersey

Cherry Hill, NJ - Ken Dazen (Animal & Bird Healthcare Ctr) - 856-751-2122
Hillsborough, NJ - James Nicholas McKinley (Amwell Bird Hosp) - 908-369-7373 - http://www.infinitedesign.net/amwell

Pennsylvania

Aston, PA - Gloria J. Goodman (Avian & Exotic Animal Med) - 610-494-2811
Philadelphia, PA - Karen Rosenthal (U of Penn) - 215-573-8565

I am trying to get a more updated list from the The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.

[kibblelady]

New member here. I wanted to let you know there is an excellent Avian vet in Lakewood NJ. His name is Warren Briggs and he has excellent bird knowledge and experience. The practice is called Ocean County Veterinary Hospital. His fees are also very reasonable.

Cherri

[CherylK]

I had to take one of my parrotlets to U of Penn for a broken leg. My avain vet sent me there when she couldn't get the leg to heal. The vet and students told us about the risks. I had a very good visit and would take my birds there again.