What would each of these vet tests involve for my budgie?

[soundsfun]

I brought my new little budgie home about 2 weeks ago, and he's still a very nervous baby (about 10 weeks old now). I'm taking him for his first vet check soon, and want to get some tests done to check that he's healthy before introducing him to my first budgie, Tofu (after quarantine, of course). I don't want to subject the poor little guy to any more than necessary so I'd really appreciate any info you can share as to which tests are necessary (and if I missed any), and what they involve for the budgie (i.e. how invasive the test is):

• Gram stain
• Crop wash
• Testing for PBFD and ABV

 

[expressmailtome]

Bump.

 

[Hankmacaw]

@soundsfun Here is a list of procedures that are recommended on your first vet visit;

The most commonly recommended basic tests and exams are as follows:
1) Physical examination
2) Fecal Parasite Check and examination of droppings
3) Fecal and Choanal Gram Stains
4) Chlamydia Testing
5) Polyoma Virus Testing
6) Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease Testing
7) Complete Blood Count

New Bird Testing & WELL-BIRD Exam

NEW BIRD TESTING & WELL-BIRD EXAM: what veterinary tests should you provide new birds with as well as reasons for different examinations and some of their uses.

www.beautyofbirds.com

If abnormalities are found in this exam then your vet may recommend additional tests. This article also explains the "whys" for certain tests.
I recommend you read through the entire article. The more you know the less anxiety you will have.

 

[Chomskypom]

I would like to mention that I requested the disease testing and blood count for my budgie, and the vet that I go to explained that she is not comfortable taking the amount of blood needed from my 30 gram bird.

I believe some other vets are able to do it, but mine said that the specific lab they use for blood work just needs a certain amount to test and it’s more than a budgie can spare.

 

[soundsfun]

Thanks for the bump @expressmailtome!

@Hankmacaw I just finished reading the whole article and learned a lot. Thanks for sharing that, and I apologize for not Googling it myself - I guess I trust all of you here on AA more than a website!

That post doesn't mention what's involved for the bird for tests 4-7. Do all of these require the drawing of blood? And if a budgie is too small to spare enough blood as @Chomskypom mentioned, are there other options? Or do I just have to forego those tests?

ETA: I don't see crop wash listed. Is that only done when a bird is sick?

 

[Hankmacaw]

Possibly. my vet (and numerous others) regularly takes blood samples from birds as small as finches. He is a very accomplished vet though.

 

[WikiWaz]

I would like to mention that I requested the disease testing and blood count for my budgie, and the vet that I go to explained that she is not comfortable taking the amount of blood needed from my 30 gram bird.

I believe some other vets are able to do it, but mine said that the specific lab they use for blood work just needs a certain amount to test and it’s more than a budgie can spare.

Agreed with @Chomskypom. When I found an exotic vet, I didn't know the right questions to ask. I didn't realize at that time that some vets are not comfortable with taking blood from a bird 100 grams or less. It may be a question you want to ask before your first appointment with a vet.

 

[WikiWaz]

Thanks for the bump @expressmailtome!

@Hankmacaw I just finished reading the whole article and learned a lot. Thanks for sharing that, and I apologize for not Googling it myself - I guess I trust all of you here on AA more than a website!

That post doesn't mention what's involved for the bird for tests 4-7. Do all of these require the drawing of blood? And if a budgie is too small to spare enough blood as @Chomskypom mentioned, are there other options? Or do I just have to forego those tests?

ETA: I don't see crop wash listed. Is that only done when a bird is sick?

"I guess I trust all of you here on AA more than a website!"

Me too, @soundsfun. There's a lot of information available online about parrots, not always accurate.

 

[Hankmacaw]

Yes, those are all serum analyses and come from the same sample. There are other symptoms to identify any illness, but the blood tests reign above all. Discuss taking blood with your vet - there are so many medical solutions that are not available when blood tests can't be taken. That is one of the reasons I would never have a budgie - because many Dr.s won't do a blood draw and that is a severe limitation on their available health care.

Be aware that one blood sample can be taken at one appointment, then another at a later appointment, if your bird is compromised in some way.

A crop wash is done when it is suspected that a bird has a microbe infection in his crop or many times when a problem with the crop/digestive system can't be identified. It is a specialist test and not something done for a regular health checkup.

Is your vet an avian vet? If not, I recommend you start looking around for one.

Here is a great article for yo to print out and have available. It answers so many questions about the tests. The why and interpretation of the results.

https://nilesanimalhospital.com/files/2012/05/Understanding-Avian-Laboratory-Tests.pdf

 

[Hankmacaw]

You can screen and make intelligent decisions about the information your find on the internet - here are a few rules to follow.

Make sure your source is completely qualified to give the information - A vet is first in line (actually I pay little to no attention to anyone who isn't a vet. Samples - Bird Tricks (they are salesmen and nothing else), Breeders - unless highly recommended and recognized by other professionals in the bird world, Self proclaimed experts - experts are educated and recognized by other experts in their profession A good example of this type of real expert is Susan Friedman, not someone who says they have owned/bred birds for 15 years and I am therefore an expert

Take everything written by someone who sells the product with a large grain of salt.

Pay attention to when the information was developed. I'll guarantee that anything written about PDD 15 years ago has nothing in common with what we know and know we don't know about it today.

 

[soundsfun]

@WikiWaz I'm so thankful to have such a wealth of wisdom among the parronts here on AA! I do feel a lot better going into this vet appointment having learned all of this beforehand.

@Hankmacaw Yes, our vet is an avian vet. I feel so fortunate that the area I live in has an avian vet, as I know so many don't. I will definitely discuss the options with my vet and work with her to find a way to get all the necessary serum analyses done, even if it means going back a second time to get the blood sample. Glad to know that a crop wash is not needed for this type of check up.

Thank you for another helpful, informative resource and for all the tips on finding good sources. You know, I learned all this in school and I apply this when I research most things, but for some reason I don't when researching budgie-related info! Thank you for the excellent tips!

 

[WikiWaz]

@WikiWaz I'm so thankful to have such a wealth of wisdom among the parronts here on AA! I do feel a lot better going into this vet appointment having learned all of this beforehand.

@Hankmacaw Yes, our vet is an avian vet. I feel so fortunate that the area I live in has an avian vet, as I know so many don't. I will definitely discuss the options with my vet and work with her to find a way to get all the necessary serum analyses done, even if it means going back a second time to get the blood sample. Glad to know that a crop wash is not needed for this type of check up.

Thank you for another helpful, informative resource and for all the tips on finding good sources. You know, I learned all this in school and I apply this when I research most things, but for some reason I don't when researching budgie-related info! Thank you for the excellent tips!

@soundsfun, @Hankmacaw - wish there was an avian vet near me but there is not. So I go to an exotic. I'm currently switching to an exotic vet that takes blood samples on birds 100 g or less.

 

[WikiWaz]

You can screen and make intelligent decisions about the information your find on the internet - here are a few rules to follow.

Make sure your source is completely qualified to give the information - A vet is first in line (actually I pay little to no attention to anyone who isn't a vet. Samples - Bird Tricks (they are salesmen and nothing else), Breeders - unless highly recommended and recognized by other professionals in the bird world, Self proclaimed experts - experts are educated and recognized by other experts in their profession A good example of this type of real expert is Susan Friedman, not someone who says they have owned/bred birds for 15 years and I am therefore an expert

Take everything written by someone who sells the product with a large grain of salt.

Pay attention to when the information was developed. I'll guarantee that anything written about PDD 15 years ago has nothing in common with what we know and know we don't know about it today.

@Hankmacaw - Can I ask your personal opinion of Barbara Heidenreich?

 

[Hankmacaw]

I have only heard good things about her, but have no experience with her. To be quite honest, I've never been all that interested, or needed help in the behavioral side of bird care.