flighted at the vet?

[orphansparrow]

it's getting about that time where i think duckie may be due for a checkup.

last time i took her to the vet, several months ago, was a disaster.

she does not like strangers at all, and last time at the vet, the first half of the appointment was spent trying to catch her as she zoomed around the office in terror.

this was quite traumatizing to her (and me).

what preparations can i make this time that will help her?

i'm also afraid of her getting hurt if she gets away from me or the vet. i don't want her banging into stuff.

thanks for any help. ^_^

 

[Greycloud]

A good qualified avian vet should know how to towel Duckie right in the crate. Then replace him back in after the exam. Keep his travel crate covered while in the car and there.

 

[bubblelady]

I agree. If the vet you saw couldn't handle a flighted bird, tis time to find a new vet!

 

[Sharpie]

I've taken 6 flighted budgies to the vet- never had anything like what you had happen last time. So long as you don't open the crate until asked and warn the vet that the bird is flighted (and that you want it that way) there should be no trouble. If there IS trouble, I too would be looking elsewhere.

 

[suileeka]

I've had my birds flying crazily around the exam room, and the assistant wasn't necessarily much help, but my AV came in and caught my ornery budgies right away with no fuss. I would not be terribly impressed with an avian specialist if they couldn't manage at least that much.

 

[Euphoria]

i agree a experienced avian vet would towel them right in there carrier. sunnis first check up at the vet i was sooo nervous but when my vet came in she opened the carrier and toweled sunni and that has to be the most calm state i have ever seen sunni in with in the hands of a stranger. i think my vet has a gift with birds lol... im so sorry you had a awful experience last time.. just keep him calm and covered till its time to see the vet so his stress lvl doesnt cbuild to a lift off in the exam room.. i hope it goes well and its a lil easier this time around...

 

[orphansparrow]

i have moved since her last visit, so there is no chance i'll see that vet again anyway.

but i see now that i am the big problem. i had taken her out of her carrier while waiting for the vet to come in the office. i was holding her securely, and the vet came over to towel her, but somehow in the exchange, she got loose.

this time i'll just leave her in her crate and let the vet get her out.

 

[hotfoot jackson]

When you get to the vet...before s/he goes to get her out tell the vet that your parrot is flighted and shy ...that way there will be no unexpected happenings..as others have said a good avian vet should towell a frightened bird.

 

[MommyBird]

It is also a good idea to have the carrier pretty bare, maybe just the one perch and no toys. Then nothing will interfere with the vet being able to easily towel the bird.

 

[orphansparrow]

thanks you guys for the advice!

 

[HollyT]

Keeping her in her carrier will help. If you're at all anxious and you cuddle her while waiting it can make her nervous too. I use plain carriers. And do not remove them. I just talk to them and let them get used to the surroundings. I've had my cockatiel do a fly about but in her case it's not a panic flight. She just likes flying and she's very good. So I tell the vet if she takes off just wait and she'll land on one of us and then she'll be fine. I think vet visits are why it's important to accustom parrots to towels in general. Most vets use them. And in a pinch we need them sometimes too. Towels are a supervised toy in our home. Ravi actually dries (surfs) on a towel after his bath. As everyone said an experienced vet knows how to towel or handle parrots with much fuss.