don't know if you ever got an answer to your question, but you're sorta correct. it's easier to separate the feathers than fur, but birds' outer feathers cover a coat of underlying down. that down can get pretty thick in some birds. and, since birds are often more fearful of being handled, they will attempt to squirm, and are really good at it. this leads to blood-draw issues like hematomas. in addition, birds have very little blood in their system, so any blood loss can be a big deal.
It is good to see a demonstration for the restraint of a large bird. I've always wanted to see the best way to hold the large ones b/c I've also heard that their faces will bruise easily. I've done most all of my own birds' care. My cousin has the largest of the birds, the African Grey Echo. If she ever needs help w/him I'll be able to properly restrain him not only w/ the towel but w/ my thumb under the mandible so he can't turn his head & bite. I've crop needled my birds, etc.
it wasn't mentioned, but the area under the mandible is very soft and sensitive--and can also bruise. therefore, you should only prop your finger there, like they said--no heavy pressure.
We just rescued 3 cockatiels & a Quaker parrot and since I am vet tech school and finishing up my degree & working 2 clinics, I was appointed by my family to see to their overall care. They were my uncle's birds but he just passed. The times I take them to the vet are when surgery or xrays are required,etc but their services are limited as well as their time b/c they are very busy, so it's been left up to me to give them the upmost proper care. I even had to deworm them myself,nailtrims,etc.
I still do not know if i want to work with exotics, large, or small animals yet. I am in an exotics class and were going to learn restraint for parrots tomorrow so this helps me feel a little more ahead since i do not know how to do this yet. thanks!
I love working w/exotics and I am pursing a career in Exotic/Wild/Zoo/Laboratory Animal Medicine but will probably do a little bit of all but limit myself to specialize in Laboratory Animal Medicine since my hands are quite small but long and I love science. But I am perfectly capable of working with many species if required. Venipuncture is my strongest area as is nail trimming, medicating the animals, & bathing birds. I have drawn blood samples from fish and injxns in birds (SQ & IM).
The only problem is that I will have to go out of my way to find a practice that deals soley in that of exotics b/c the other places are mainly cats & dogs and I've pretty much covered their care & medicine. Jugular blood draws seem easier in birds than does it for dogs & cats. But cats being easier than dogs and fish being easier than the two. The feathers are easily pushed back, but in a hairy dog, it doesn't help, esp. when the dog's overweight & all hair.
Basically, I have found my niche, and even though I can bath cats without them being sedated and even aggressive ones, when it comes to the medical procedures, for some reason, it seems easier for me to pull off more procedures on birds, fish, and other exotics faster 'boom boom boom' done, than it would cats and dogs b/c of their larger size. However, cephalic, medial femoral, and lateral saphenous venipuncture are a cinch on cats & dogs for me.
@silverbulletgirl29 from what i have learned in classes so far, there are bald spots under the feathers making venipuncture in birds much easier. am i correct in saying this?
don't know if you ever got an answer to your question, but you're sorta correct. it's easier to separate the feathers than fur, but birds' outer feathers cover a coat of underlying down. that down can get pretty thick in some birds. and, since birds are often more fearful of being handled, they will attempt to squirm, and are really good at it. this leads to blood-draw issues like hematomas. in addition, birds have very little blood in their system, so any blood loss can be a big deal.
It is good to see a demonstration for the restraint of a large bird. I've always wanted to see the best way to hold the large ones b/c I've also heard that their faces will bruise easily. I've done most all of my own birds' care. My cousin has the largest of the birds, the African Grey Echo. If she ever needs help w/him I'll be able to properly restrain him not only w/ the towel but w/ my thumb under the mandible so he can't turn his head & bite. I've crop needled my birds, etc.
it wasn't mentioned, but the area under the mandible is very soft and sensitive--and can also bruise. therefore, you should only prop your finger there, like they said--no heavy pressure.
We just rescued 3 cockatiels & a Quaker parrot and since I am vet tech school and finishing up my degree & working 2 clinics, I was appointed by my family to see to their overall care. They were my uncle's birds but he just passed. The times I take them to the vet are when surgery or xrays are required,etc but their services are limited as well as their time b/c they are very busy, so it's been left up to me to give them the upmost proper care. I even had to deworm them myself,nailtrims,etc.
Does this vet make house calls!!!!??
I still do not know if i want to work with exotics, large, or small animals yet. I am in an exotics class and were going to learn restraint for parrots tomorrow so this helps me feel a little more ahead since i do not know how to do this yet. thanks!
Did you make it?
I love working w/exotics and I am pursing a career in Exotic/Wild/Zoo/Laboratory Animal Medicine but will probably do a little bit of all but limit myself to specialize in Laboratory Animal Medicine since my hands are quite small but long and I love science. But I am perfectly capable of working with many species if required. Venipuncture is my strongest area as is nail trimming, medicating the animals, & bathing birds. I have drawn blood samples from fish and injxns in birds (SQ & IM).
Nice instructions!
This is one of the sites for venipuncture, however the right jugular vein is the ideal place for blood samples.
1:32 WTF?! Where did the bird go???
Very informative.
The only problem is that I will have to go out of my way to find a practice that deals soley in that of exotics b/c the other places are mainly cats & dogs and I've pretty much covered their care & medicine. Jugular blood draws seem easier in birds than does it for dogs & cats. But cats being easier than dogs and fish being easier than the two. The feathers are easily pushed back, but in a hairy dog, it doesn't help, esp. when the dog's overweight & all hair.
Basically, I have found my niche, and even though I can bath cats without them being sedated and even aggressive ones, when it comes to the medical procedures, for some reason, it seems easier for me to pull off more procedures on birds, fish, and other exotics faster 'boom boom boom' done, than it would cats and dogs b/c of their larger size. However, cephalic, medial femoral, and lateral saphenous venipuncture are a cinch on cats & dogs for me.
@silverbulletgirl29 from what i have learned in classes so far, there are bald spots under the feathers making venipuncture in birds much easier. am i correct in saying this?
i enjoyed the video, please make more on assertion of dominance between owner and parrot.
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