Bird vet care in San Jose, CA is a distinctive area of veterinary medicine–one that requires years of special training and a commitment to our feathered friends. Very different from other types of pets, birds require unique living arrangements, diets, and socialization, as well as specific handling and veterinary skills.
The professionals at West Valley Pet Clinic understand how much your bird means to you. Two of our doctors are working towards their Avian Board Certification to become true specialists in the field.
Our Staff of Bird Lovers
Our staff members and technicians are trained to properly handle your pet bird. Our ongoing staff education guarantees confident care with a gentle touch for your feathered companion.
West Valley Pet Clinic veterinarians take blood tests, do X-rays, or perform surgery as needed to keep your bird happy and healthy. In addition, our technicians are trained to do wing trims or nail trims for our avian patients.
As a final note, many of the professionals at our clinic are proud owners of birds. We understand the excitement and pleasure a feathered companion offers and are dedicated to the care and support of our bird patients and their owners.
Even the most experienced avian veterinarian can have a difficult time telling the health status of a bird from a physical exam alone. In addition, the signs of illness in birds are often nonspecific and rarely lead to a diagnosis. Avian veterinarians rely heavily on laboratory diagnostics to find the cause of an illness as well as assure wellness in birds.
Laboratory Diagnostics for Birds
Laboratory diagnostics for avian patients are the most valuable under the following conditions:
- During a post-purchase examination to assure the health of a new bird
- At periodic well-bird check-ups (blood test every two years in young birds and annually in older birds) to catch problems early
- Whenever a bird appears sick, to find the cause and best treatment
- At the recheck visit to determine how well the treatment has worked
Available diagnostics for birds include these specific tests: blood tests to assess organ function, response to infection, fecal testing to look for abnormal bacterial growth, avian gastric yeast or the uncommon parasite, bacterial cultures to identify the cause of infections (such as in skin or sinus) and the best antibiotic to treat with, disease testing (looking for DNA evidence of transmissible infections such as psittacine beak and feather disease), psittacosis, avian flu, polyomavirus, biopsies to assess the cause of disease for feather picking, abnormal lumps (even inside the body through endoscopy), and of course, if needed, a post-mortem exam if a cause of death needs to be determined.
