what to expect

What to expect

We will request that your bird be brought in a carrier, cage, box, or other container. This for the safety of all parties concerned; there may be other birds waiting in the reception area, or a very frightening deliveryman may arrive unexpectedly. We want everyone to be as stress-free and as comfortable as possible. It is also our philosophy that your companion should be comfortable in a carrier, and not see the travel or vet visit as a bad thing.

Your first visit will take about an hour, and during that time we will discuss diet, husbandry, medical history, and likely ask a lot of nosy questions. We need to evaluate the complete bird, which includes lifestyle and family life.

We will not allow you to restrain your bird for examination or medical procedures. Safe restraint techniques require intense training and expertise. We want the examination and entire experience to be as efficient and stress-free as possible. All routine techniques and examination are done with you present, so you can see what we do and how we do it.

We will recommend lab work, often including blood profiles and bacterial cultures; other tests may be required depending on the situation. A visual and tactile examination often does not give us enough information on the total health picture of you bird. We will keep sample size and stress to a minimum, and have a variety of profiles to offer.

The first visit with appropriate lab work may cost as much as $250. We try our best to be as economical as possible, but there are times when we cannot cut financial corners. You should expect to pay your bill in full at the end of the visit. If your bird requires hospitalization, we will go over a detailed estimate and request a deposit before you leave. Your payment helps us maintain our high standards and quality care.

Our goal is to make the vet visit as friendly as possible and as medically complete as we can do. We care about your bird's physical and mental well being, and we strive to keep you as comfortable as possible about the whole experience.

Patricia J. Latas DVM, Arizona Bird Clinic