New Purchase Examination

CONGRATULATIONS ! You purchased your new pet bird, a proper cage, and supplies. Now your goal is to insure your new family member is truly healthy. Every day at The BIRD Clinic we experience clients that thought they were purchasing a healthy bird ("But he looked so healthy and sweet"), only to find out a few months later their new pet would cost hundreds of dollars in an attempt to save its life.

Topics to be discussed in a "New Bird Examination" with a qualified avian veterinarian should include:

1. The weight of the bird in grams. Is it correct for the age and species of bird?

2. Assist you in the proper feeding of the bird and what types of foods to offer.

3. Perform a full physical examination including an examination of the oral cavity and vent area.

4. Perform a Complete Blood Count (CBC).

5. Depending on the age and species; perform an oral/fecal gram stain.

6. Perform a Psittacosis (Chlamydophila psittaci) test. VERY important!
This is an airborne disease contagious to humans (zoonotic) that can exist in a carrier state of apparently healthy-looking birds for an extended period of time.

7. Discuss the risk of Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) in your bird and test as necessary. This is a potentially fatal disease.

8. Discuss the risk of Polyoma Viral Disease (PVD) in your bird and test as necessary. This is a potentially fatal disease, but there is protective vaccine available.

9. Discuss the risk of Pacheco's Viral Disease in your bird and test as necessary. This is a potentially fatal disease in some species.

10. Discuss specific diet recommendations and the benefits of current formulated diets in addition to "people" food products.

11. Discuss the unique behavior of the specific species of bird you just purchased and how to prevent the most common problems before they are established habits.

Once a proper new bird exam is completed and the test results returned, you have insured that your bird's past is truly behind it and has a clean slate to start a long healthy future with you.

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(Revised Nov 2018)