How to Find a Avian Veterinarian

By Don J. Harris,DVM

One of the first responsibilities you have as a pet owner is obtaining quality medical care for your bird. The process of finding a qualified veterinarian, who is educated, trained and experienced in treating birds, is often more difficult than you initially might think. Perseverance and some good common sense on your part can result in finding a veterinarian who is skilled in treating your bird.

Here are some methods you can use.

Yellow Pages While this may be the easiest method, an ad in the yellow pages does not necessarily qualify the practitioner to treat your bird. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) allows the term “specialist” by only those veterinarians who have fulfilled certain defined criteria in that specialty. Beyond that, yellow page ads can reflect marketing skills more than veterinary competence.

Association Rosters Many pet owners check association rosters for qualified veterinarians. For example, the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) is a veterinary certifying organization that requires its members to prove competence in order to belong. Within ABVP, there is the “Avian Practice” category of specialization. Veterinarians who complete this certification process are recognized by the AVMA as true specialists. These individuals are identified by the title ABVP, Avian Practice, DVM behind their names. Generally, bird owners can trust these practitioners to provide competent care for their birds.

Pet Suppliers’ Recommendations Pet retail stores or breeders will often recommend a veterinarian they work with on a regular basis. Their recommendations may be based on positive experiences with this particular veterinarian’s care and treatment. On the other hand, pet suppliers occasionally have relationships with veterinarians based on discounted services in exchange for referrals. While this business relationship is not in itself bad, bird owners should be advised to verify the veterinarian’s credentials.

Word-of-Mouth Recommendations This is one of the best ways of finding a competent avian veterinarian. If a veterinarian’s own clients are making recommendations, there must be a reason why. Unfortunately, these personal recommendations are not always available, especially if you recently moved into the area and don’t know anyone to ask.

Colleague Recommendations This is probably the best and most consistently reliable method, but it demands a little sleuthing on your part. Here are the steps you can follow:

• Identify and call veterinarians in the yellow pages who DO NOT claim to be avian specialists.
• Call to ask if they will see your bird. If they agree, thank them and move on.
• If they decline, ask whom they would recommend.
• Continue this process until you get enough answers to form a consensus.

The veterinarian whose name was recommended the most often is the veterinarian most recognized by his colleagues for competence with exotic birds.

Congratulations! Through hard work and some common sense, you may have found just the right veterinarian for you and your bird.