How well do they handle the vet?

[clickchicks]

Update, the visit did not go particularly well.

The GOOD news is that Chacha (the chicken) is fine and seems to be healthy. Fecal came back negative and while they said she is a little underweight, they didn't think it was cause for concern. Beak also checked out ok.

The bad news the visit itself was a mess. They kept her there for 10 hours and never actually called me to say I could pick her up. They'd told me in advanced that she'd be seen later in the day, so when I dropped her off at 7:30 am I didn't expect to hear back from them until later... but they close at 6, and when I didn't hear anything at 5pm, I started getting worried.

So I call them, was told she was ready to go and someone must have just missed calling me. I tried to not get upset... things happen.... but when I asked how the exam went they told me they had to give her an IV and force feed her??

Maybe that's normal for birds, but I was almost in tears, I thought she was dying and wanted to know why on earth this happened... the tech was trying to be helpful but the reason given was that she looked a little dehydrated and her crop was empty.... well YEAH! She was there for 10 hours! I'd put some ice in a bowl in the carrier so it would melt over time and she'd have some water, but I'm sure it was melted a couple of hours in. No one thought to just add some more water to the bowl? I also had food in a separate bowl for her, PLENTY of it, which she was eating willingly while we waited in the parking lot for the tech to pick her up. I simply cannot wrap my head around why they would have to force feed her?

Anyway, she's ok. I'm really upset about how this went, but I'm trying not to take it personally or be too upset with the clinic. I know they didn't do anything to deliberately cause harm or scare me, but it doesn't feel very good all the same.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd expect an apology! While things may be very chaotic during this time, you should have been called, and informed, and asked permission, with explanations, for any treatments.
Sorry you had this experience, and i would want to talk to the veterinarian/ and or the clinic owner.
Mary

 

[clickchicks]

I'd expect an apology! While things may be very chaotic during this time, you should have been called, and informed, and asked permission, with explanations, for any treatments.
Sorry you had this experience, and i would want to talk to the veterinarian/ and or the clinic owner.
Mary

I talked to the vet, he was very nice and explained everything to me but it still feels off. The tech did apologize for not calling sooner, but I don't think they fully understand that the part I'm most upset about is force feeding and IVing an animal that was eating/drinking on their own and was not otherwise in distress.

I'm a million miles away from an expert on birds or chickens, but if I'd dropped off my dog there in stable condition, then was told they had to IV/ff him, I'd assume something terrible happened and he was on death's door! Which just wasn't the case at all. Is that just what people do for birds as some standard course of action?

As for reasons WHY they did it, vet said she was working on an egg, and that the fluids + food would help. Again, millions of miles from an expert, but she's 12 weeks old! Maybe a little older, not more than 13 weeks for sure... I've never read anything that indicates a pullet would be laying at this age but what do I know

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Update, the visit did not go particularly well.

The GOOD news is that Chacha (the chicken) is fine and seems to be healthy. Fecal came back negative and while they said she is a little underweight, they didn't think it was cause for concern. Beak also checked out ok.

The bad news the visit itself was a mess. They kept her there for 10 hours and never actually called me to say I could pick her up. They'd told me in advanced that she'd be seen later in the day, so when I dropped her off at 7:30 am I didn't expect to hear back from them until later... but they close at 6, and when I didn't hear anything at 5pm, I started getting worried.

So I call them, was told she was ready to go and someone must have just missed calling me. I tried to not get upset... things happen.... but when I asked how the exam went they told me they had to give her an IV and force feed her??

Maybe that's normal for birds, but I was almost in tears, I thought she was dying and wanted to know why on earth this happened... the tech was trying to be helpful but the reason given was that she looked a little dehydrated and her crop was empty.... well YEAH! She was there for 10 hours! I'd put some ice in a bowl in the carrier so it would melt over time and she'd have some water, but I'm sure it was melted a couple of hours in. No one thought to just add some more water to the bowl? I also had food in a separate bowl for her, PLENTY of it, which she was eating willingly while we waited in the parking lot for the tech to pick her up. I simply cannot wrap my head around why they would have to force feed her?

Anyway, she's ok. I'm really upset about how this went, but I'm trying not to take it personally or be too upset with the clinic. I know they didn't do anything to deliberately cause harm or scare me, but it doesn't feel very good all the same.

Oh my goodness. What a trying day for the both of you but so glad she was actually in very good shape thanks to a super good chick Mama! glad your worries turned out to be unnecessary after all but. Until the next time you at least know how to handle things in the future if and when but hopefully not that you have to use the vet clinic for your birds. Best of luck with her.

 

[texsuze]

Glad you were able to see a vet, but how distressing that things didn't go as smoothly as they probably could.

I'm also in TX and have names of a few vet clinics who see birds and chickens. If you'd like, send me a private message with your specific location and maybe one of these clinics is within driving distance for you for any future needs.

 

[clickchicks]

Glad you were able to see a vet, but how distressing that things didn't go as smoothly as they probably could.

I'm also in TX and have names of a few vet clinics who see birds and chickens. If you'd like, send me a private message with your specific location and maybe one of these clinics is within driving distance for you for any future needs.

Yes, I would appreciate that very much. Please feel free to message them to me.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

My biggest worry is that I'm missing something because I just don't know enough about what I'm looking for. The primary reason I'm taking this pullet in is because she broke off the tip of her beak (I posted some images here: link)

My 10 month old broke of the front 1/3 of her beak (she got scared of a dog). I isolated her for a night, put her back the next morning. The beak is healing slowly but surely.