Your Bird’s Health
Your Bird’s Health Choosing an avian veterinarian All companion birds should visit an avian veterinarian at least once a year for a well-bird checkup. Just as you’ would take a dog or cat to the vet annually, a bird needs his own doctor, too. An avian veterinarian is one who specializes in birds. Not all vets are qualified to work on birds, so you may have to look around to find one. Usually, avian vets are board certified by the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), but not all of them are — if the doctor has an established avian practice, then board certification shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. When you’re looking for an avian veterinarian, you will usually see the practice advertised as specializing in “exotics.” Call ahead to see if there is a vet in the office who deals primarily with birds. If so, here are a few questions to ask: How long has the doctor been working on birds? Ideally, he or she should have extensive experience working directly with birds. ...