What to Expect at Your Parrotlet's First Vet Visit
A Parrotlet’s First Vet Visit
You’ve just brought home a new addition to your family…a little bundle of feathers and joy. Perhaps this is a newly weaned baby, and older adoptee, or a rescue. You’ve lovingly provided a cage, toys, a variety of foods, and a bit of time for a new bird to settle in to a different environment. Now it’s time to introduce Patty or Pete to your veterinarian for a “Well Bird” check-up.
Before the Appointment
Whether this is your first bird or your fifth, whether you are a previous client of this particular clinic or this is a first time exchange, it will be your new Parrotlet’s initial visit and your vet’s first chance to meet and examine your bird, as well as answering any questions you may have.
Be prepared with those questions. Bring a list you can refer to during the appointment. Be as specific and concise as possible about your concerns or the information you require – you are much more likely to receive the answers you need.
Be sure to write down any behavioral or physical observations of your bird that concern you, no matter how trivial they may seem. A “silly” question may actually provide your vet with a clue to a potential problem. In the wild, most birds are prey. They are adept at hiding symptoms of illness or injury to avoid bringing attention to themselves. If there is nothing unusual to note at the time of your visit, ask the vet to explain the physical and behavioral signals an ill bird does exhibit – what to watch for, and what would be considered an emergency. Be prepared to answer questions posed by the vet as well. These may include questions regarding diet, (what are you feeding your bird on a regular basis), sleep, (how much dark, uninterrupted sleep your bird is getting per night), and general activity level. It is important to answer those questions as accurately as possible. If your Parrotlet is served fresh fruits and vegetables every day, but doesn’t eat them, or his cage is in the family room covered, but you like to stay up and watch the late, late show, acknowledging this may help your vet determine the overall health of your bird.
You now have your list of questions and are prepared to answer some. Prior to the time of your appointment, it is a good idea to make your bird as comfortable as possible in its travel cage or carrier. Line the bottom with wax or freezer paper if possible, or clean cage paper. This will allow your vet to obtain a fresh fecal sample for tests that may need to be run, as well as observationally examine droppings for any abnormalities. Providing food for the trip is fine, and will not affect the outcome of any tests, but do stick to drier seeds or treats for ease of identification.
The Physical Examination
Accompany your Parrotlet to the exam room and remain with your bird at all times. Even though the relationship is new, your Parrotlet needs a familiar face and voice in this environment of strangers. Being present also allows you to ask questions and discuss procedures before they are done.
The veterinarian will start by observing Patty or Pete in the travel cage/carrier, watching behavior, stance, and motion. Much of this is to judge neurological health in that there are no strange or uncontrolled movements indicating a problem. It also serves to note any difficulties with perching or mobility that may reveal a past or present injury.
Out of the cage, your Parrotlet will be weighed, and dietary changes or additions may be discussed at this time. The physical examination starts with the head region. The eyes are checked for discharge, abnormal swellings or growths, redness, possible visual problems, and pupil response. The nares, (or nostrils), are examined for unusual swelling, blockage or discharge. The beak will be opened to note any redness, growths or lesions, overall coloration, the opening and closing o the glottis, (airway), and any discharge, swelling or discoloration of the choana, (slit located on the roof of the mouth). Upper respiratory, sinus, yeast, and certain parasitic infections may be indicated during this process, as well as vitamin deficiencies, (particularly vitamin A), dehydration, or anemia.
The beak will be examined for proper alignment and wear patterns, as well as any chips or cracks that may pose a problem. Beak “overgrowth” is often an indicator of illness, malnutrition, or an unsuitable cage environment for proper beak maintenance.
The jaw, neck, and crop areas will be “palpated”, (felt), for any abnormal lumps or swellings.
The keel, (breast bone), and surrounding muscle tissue will be felt as another indicator of weight and proper body mass. At this point, it is a good idea to ask the vet to show you, and allow you to feel, what a normal keel bone and breast muscle should look and feel like. This is a significant way to judge loss of weight or anorexia, as well as malabsorption, (inability to process food/nutrients properly), and may be the only sign of illness.
Your vet may also listen to the heartbeat and respiration rate with a small stethoscope. Part of a bird’s respiratory system includes air sacs located throughout the body. A punctured air sac, fluid in the air sac, or parasitic infestation, (air sac mites), can all effect breathing ability.
Palpation of the body and abdominal cavity will indicate any obvious inflammation of internal organs, unusual lumps, or fluid buildup. The pelvic region will also be palpated for normal structure and alignment, and the vent, (or cloaca), will be checked for cleanliness and unusual growths. The uropygial or “preen” gland at the base of the tail will also be examined for swelling or redness, and unusual discharge. This small gland helps keep a bird’s feathers in top condition, so infection or blockage will result in feather problems.
The bones and joints of each wing, leg and foot will be examined. Old or new injuries can be noted, as well as unusual swellings or pressure sores. This is particularly important with special needs and geriatric birds, and your vet may want to discuss cage alterations after the exam.
Overall skin and feather condition will be checked. Stress bars, unusual feather or shaft color, feather breakage, or a dull appearance of plumage may indicate nutritional deficiencies, viral diseases, or feather picking behavior. Skin dryness, flaking or loss elasticity may be an indicator of dehydration, allergy, or a need for better environmental controls in the home with regard to humidity. Any external parasite problems will be evident during this part of the examination.
Please be aware that the physical examination of a bird should be as quick and thorough as possible. No bird enjoys being restrained, poked or prodded, and this will definitely be a situation of stress. Allow your vet to complete the examination with as few questions or interruptions as possible. Inquiries can always be made after the physical is finished.
Routine Tests
Assuming that your Parrotlet passes the physical exam with flying colors, there are some routine lab tests that your veterinarian may want to perform.
He or she may suggest a “fecal direct-mount smear” and/or “fecal floatation”. Both tests are done with fresh droppings to check for internal parasite or protozoal infestations. A “gram stain” may also be done to test for high levels of bacteria that indicate an on-going infection. Previously, it was standard procedure to retrieve fecal matter directly from the cloaca, (vent), with a cotton swab. However, this is highly inadvisable with a bird the size of a Parrotlet, or any small bird! Many vets have refuted the “necessity” of this type of collection, as there is extreme risk of internal damage or possible death. All fecal tests can be run from fresh droppings on the cage bottom…with no exceptions. If a veterinarian insists on a cloacal swab, it is in your bird’s best interest to refuse and, if necessary, leave with your bird. Better yet, ask about your chosen vet’s method of fecal collection for testing prior to the appointment. Also note that a “choanal swab” is a different procedure that involves collecting mucus from the slit on the roof of the mouth for bacterial testing. This is a safe procedure.
Bloodwork is another procedure that is routine in some clinics. Veterinarians who recommend this as part of an initial exam are doing so to have a “baseline” reference of what is normal for your bird to compare with in case your bird becomes ill. Other vets feel that drawing blood from a small bird to obtain a “baseline” is not worth the stress and risk involved, and only draw blood for testing when symptoms warrant. It is very important to discuss this with your vet prior to it being done. This decision is between you and your vet. That said, do make sure the vet you are seeing has a large amount of small bird experience, and does blood draws on them routinely. If this is your first encounter with a particular veterinarian, there is nothing wrong with returning at another time to have a baseline done if you wish to have it done.
Communication with your veterinarian is key. Speak up if you are not comfortable with anything that is being requested to be done to your bird, and explain why. At the same time, be willing to listen. A good veterinarian will not be put off by questions or inquiries, as he/she knows that taking the time to build a relationship with each client, and each bird, can only benefit everyone involved.
- Parrots, Parrots, Parrots would like to thank, Dawn Woodland for allowing us to post this article written by her. Dawn was Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator at Vancouver Island’s largest Wildlife Rehabilitation facility, servicing 1,600 sick, injured, and orphaned birds and mammals per year. She is currently retired, but continues to volunteer in the avian community, and spends much time lavishing attention on her own flock of birds…including two adorable Parrotlets…Kinney and Brockley.