Frankie's Vet Visit

[Icey]

Did NOT go well. After a check up and nail trim, his vet, Craig, informed me Frankie was really aggressive with lunging at him, and trying to bite. I was shocked and asked if fe had done anything different. He stated the nurses who help are rotated, so he has seen a few different ones lately.
As I stated a while back, Craig had been on holiday and his colleague, a female had done his nails. Frankie was screaming so loud, hubby had to stop me from rushing in to the room. AND when she brought him out, she told me she had 'nicked' him. Poor Frankie was shaking and I was furious with her.
The last time we went, I made sure only Craig was to see Frankie. I always let Frankie know days ahead of his nail trims and let him know Craig is going to do them. He even played in his unlocked carrier, knowing he was going out.
I have no idea what made him 'aggressive ' as Craig told me, but also stated he would do his nails again, but if Frankie still acted out, he would have to give him a slight dose of anaesthesia to calm him.
Otherwise, he did state Frankie looked great and his health was good.
I would love to do his nails myself and avoid the stress altogether, but Frankie and hubby don't see eye to eye and I can't have any injuries. If hubby was to hold him Frankie would freak out. If hubby was to do his nails while I held him, we would all get stressed to the max and achieve nothing. Just being honest.
Frankie is in his early 20's so it's not like he can be trained like a younger parrot could be.
I do Dolly's nails myself, but she's alot smaller, being a cockatoo, and she barely fusses anymore when I towel her to do them.
If I just touch Frankie's nails, he goes berserk.
How do you all manage with the BIG beaks?
I really don't want him put under anaesthesia for a nail trim.

 

[Linwood]

So you aren't in the room at the time? My vet visit (one with current bird, but decades ago with two) I am in the room the whole time.

Not that this always relieves stress, but it does solve the "what really happened" question.

 

[patchyjoon]

This one is hard because even with my little beak he is not a fan of nail trims. He's never been nicked but Patch is a bird that appreciates his autonomy and does not appreciate being toweled. I commend you for doing your birds own nails, I won't only because I don't want to ruin the close bond, I have with mine. He hates anyone who does his nails, period. I think it's definitely bird dependent. I don't have any answers but I'm also in the same boat as you. Patchy pants and freaks out after the nail trim and then just puffs up for the rest of the day and sleeps... He's been sedated only once before for an xray and it really scared me, so I also get avoiding that. Can they give you anti-anxiety meds that you can give a couple hours before the appointment? So not strong sedation but something just to calm the nerves beforehand? That's what I'm considering doing with Patch.

 

[Icey]

This one is hard because even with my little beak he is not a fan of nail trims. He's never been nicked but Patch is a bird that appreciates his autonomy and does not appreciate being toweled. I commend you for doing your birds own nails, I won't only because I don't want to ruin the close bond, I have with mine. He hates anyone who does his nails, period. I think it's definitely bird dependent. I don't have any answers but I'm also in the same boat as you. Patchy pants and freaks out after the nail trim and then just puffs up for the rest of the day and sleeps... He's been sedated only once before for an xray and it really scared me, so I also get avoiding that. Can they give you anti-anxiety meds that you can give a couple hours before the appointment? So not strong sedation but something just to calm the nerves beforehand? That's what I'm considering doing with Patch.

That's a great suggestion. Thank you. I will speak with his vet this week and see if thete is something I can give him. I would try chamomile tea, but he doesn't like things like that. Of course lol.

 

[Icey]

So you aren't in the room at the time? My vet visit (one with current bird, but decades ago with two) I am in the room the whole time.

Not that this always relieves stress, but it does solve the "what really happened" question.

Okay, the first time with this vet (new) and long story regarding his previous vet, yes I did stay in the room. I took Frankie out of his carrier, and after sitting on my shoulder for a minute or so, handed him to Craig. He went to him no problem at all.
When they tried to towel him, Frankie started getting upset and kept looking at me as if to say "Make them stop mom."
I started getting upset seeing Frankie upset, so Craig suggested Frankie might calm down once I was gone. So I left them to it.
I could hear Frankie fussing and it was nerve wracking to say the least, but as time went on, he calmed down.
As for last night, I don't know what set him off...for that, yes, I wish I had been there to see it and try to calm him down before the situation escalated.

 

[KiMa27]

That's a great suggestion. Thank you. I will speak with his vet this week and see if thete is something I can give him. I would try chamomile tea, but he doesn't like things like that. Of course lol.

I used a supplement by Morningbird brand called Mood Food for Benny when I first brought him home (due to his foster mom stating he had panic issues and it was a 3 hour drive home). It definitely worked well - it actually made him a bit sleep so the 2nd time I used it (for his first vet visit) I gave him less than a full dose and it still helped without the drowsiness. Maybe something to check with you vet on to see if he knows of it and recommends it? You can buy it at most bird sites and on Amazon. I use a couple of their other supplements too (Thrive and Probiotics), good stuff.

 

[Finchbreed]

supplements too (Thrive and Probiotics), good stuff.
These two I will 2nd as being useful for any bird that is in anyway stressed or unwell. My mother has been using them both in times of stress or illness with her Budgies for years.

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

Echo also hates getting his nails done. I can't hear him squawking at his vet when they are being done. I can do them a little by myself be it's a real struggle. I recently put his flagstone perch in. (I've had it for years , but needed help putting it in.) I had in it for a month now and have really noticed a different in Echo's nails. They're not as sharp. I'll still get them done at the vet's when we go. But maybe if Frankie doesn't mind new stuff in his cage, it might be something that can help reduce the frequency he needs his nails done. And maybe the would help reduce all of your stress. Just a thought.

I got mine from T4W but Sarah has some currently in stock if you're interested
Bird On The Rocks - Flagstone Perches from Seriously Nutz

 

[Clueless]

Birds feed off our anxiety. I make hubby go to the vet with us and when the vet starts doing something that makes me anxious, I close my eyes and turn away. If it's going to be too much for me (like an xray years ago), Hubby goes in to be within sight of Secret. I would have lost my mind during that but hubby just wanted to see what they did.

Secret doesn't "like" hubby but seems to be fine Just knowing he's there.

 

[Clueless]

Could you hold him while the vet does his nails?

 

[Icey]

Echo also hates getting his nails done. I can't hear him squawking at his vet when they are being done. I can do them a little by myself be it's a real struggle. I recently put his flagstone perch in. (I've had it for years , but needed help putting it in.) I had in it for a month now and have really noticed a different in Echo's nails. They're not as sharp. I'll still get them done at the vet's when we go. But maybe if Frankie doesn't mind new stuff in his cage, it might be something that can help reduce the frequency he needs his nails done. And maybe the would help reduce all of your stress. Just a thought.

I got mine from T4W but Sarah has some currently in stock if you're interested
Bird On The Rocks - Flagstone Perches from Seriously Nutz

I did reach out to Sarah last year for one. She didn't have one in stock at the time and have been waiting for her to get back to me.
Meanwhile hopefully I can find something similar here in the UK.

 

[Icey]

Could you hold him while the vet does his nails?

Honestly I may have to try that next time. It may be him being 'taken away from mommy' so to speak that triggers his anxiety.
Big sigh.

 

[Icey]

supplements too (Thrive and Probiotics), good stuff.
These two I will 2nd as being useful for any bird that is in anyway stressed or unwell. My mother has been using them both in times of stress or illness with her Budgies for years.

Is it a powder or liquid?