There are some procedures I won't attempt like, of course, surgery since I'm not a vet, or flushing the sinuses. (They have to go in there, sometimes boring a hole in the beak just to get the clog out from sinus problems in birds.) I learn quick from books, pictures and videos. I knew I had a knack for this kind of work & so chose this field to major in. Grooming was not it, all those scissoring jobs & time it takes, vet med is faster & easier to learn & do for me.
I can even pull blood on a fish, and that's a new for me, let alone I don't know a vet around that will do that in my area. I'm sure that drawing blood on fish is an easier procedure, b/c bird's skin being so thin can tear or hematoma if you're not careful. And yes, the jugular is the safest spot to get your sample on birds & sometimes the metatarsal vein b/c the brachial cephalic will definitely hematoma if not done correctly.
You see, the only exotic clinic that is reachable is pretty far away where I live & when we go there, they are very busy & their services are limited. I asked the techs up there but most said they don't know how to do certain procedures on exotics and birds. It's really a cat/dog and mix clinic where the vet sees exotics when time allows b/c she goes back & forth to the zoo, so her schedule is tight. So, here I am w/many acquired skills on proper bird care, injxns (SQ, IM), etc.
The female had to have a tumor removed & the vet did that for us. We have 3 cockatiels & one Quaker. My cousin has the African Grey. Told her I could trim Echo's nails/beak anytime she needed me to. But she'll have to have the vet do the other procedures b/c that is what I consider to be 'crossing the line' & practicing vet medicine, which you can do on your own birds/pets but not on others'. An AVMA board member at a meeting said it is perfectly legal, but I don't do sugery though.
I sure have a lot left of my plate to do w/our birds. They were my uncles but he just passed so our family rescued them. (His wife wasn't taking care of them.) I have to have them tested for Chlamydia/Psittacosis/Polyomavirus via blood test, have them vaccinated against Polyomavirus and they're now getting the best of care. I dewormed them all myself, treated one for coccidia, and feed/water/clean them. I also bathe them, nail trims, beak trims myself, except for surgery, etc.
Does the hole eventually close up? I know it does on cats & dogs, but I was wondering how long it takes the hole to close on birds since they have thin skin. I have had to crop needle one of my birds to make sure he got his medicine. I don't trust the 'put it in the water' deal b/c your bird/s might not drink the water or not get enough. It's amazing what you can do once you learn how to properly restrain your own bird. Of course, I work at 2 clinics & am in vet tech school, so it helps.
There are some procedures I won't attempt like, of course, surgery since I'm not a vet, or flushing the sinuses. (They have to go in there, sometimes boring a hole in the beak just to get the clog out from sinus problems in birds.) I learn quick from books, pictures and videos. I knew I had a knack for this kind of work & so chose this field to major in. Grooming was not it, all those scissoring jobs & time it takes, vet med is faster & easier to learn & do for me.
silverbulletgirl29 4 days ago
I can even pull blood on a fish, and that's a new for me, let alone I don't know a vet around that will do that in my area. I'm sure that drawing blood on fish is an easier procedure, b/c bird's skin being so thin can tear or hematoma if you're not careful. And yes, the jugular is the safest spot to get your sample on birds & sometimes the metatarsal vein b/c the brachial cephalic will definitely hematoma if not done correctly.
silverbulletgirl29 4 days ago
You see, the only exotic clinic that is reachable is pretty far away where I live & when we go there, they are very busy & their services are limited. I asked the techs up there but most said they don't know how to do certain procedures on exotics and birds. It's really a cat/dog and mix clinic where the vet sees exotics when time allows b/c she goes back & forth to the zoo, so her schedule is tight. So, here I am w/many acquired skills on proper bird care, injxns (SQ, IM), etc.
silverbulletgirl29 4 days ago
The female had to have a tumor removed & the vet did that for us. We have 3 cockatiels & one Quaker. My cousin has the African Grey. Told her I could trim Echo's nails/beak anytime she needed me to. But she'll have to have the vet do the other procedures b/c that is what I consider to be 'crossing the line' & practicing vet medicine, which you can do on your own birds/pets but not on others'. An AVMA board member at a meeting said it is perfectly legal, but I don't do sugery though.
silverbulletgirl29 4 days ago
I sure have a lot left of my plate to do w/our birds. They were my uncles but he just passed so our family rescued them. (His wife wasn't taking care of them.) I have to have them tested for Chlamydia/Psittacosis/Polyomavirus via blood test, have them vaccinated against Polyomavirus and they're now getting the best of care. I dewormed them all myself, treated one for coccidia, and feed/water/clean them. I also bathe them, nail trims, beak trims myself, except for surgery, etc.
silverbulletgirl29 4 days ago
Does the hole eventually close up? I know it does on cats & dogs, but I was wondering how long it takes the hole to close on birds since they have thin skin. I have had to crop needle one of my birds to make sure he got his medicine. I don't trust the 'put it in the water' deal b/c your bird/s might not drink the water or not get enough. It's amazing what you can do once you learn how to properly restrain your own bird. Of course, I work at 2 clinics & am in vet tech school, so it helps.
silverbulletgirl29 4 days ago