Poultry Veterinarian

[bigbird]

Is there such an animal as a poultry veterinarian? If so, how does one go about locating him/her?
I am looking for a Dr. that is very up to date on the latest technology, and medicine for turkeys.
If anyone knows someone like that, or has advice on how to find one, I'd be very grateful for the information.
Thank you.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You want an "avian vet" - one that deals with birds. Given your location, I would suggest reaching out to UK.

 

[bigbird]

I would hope that there would be numerous somewhere in the U.S.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I would hope that there would be numerous somewhere in the U.S.

University of Kentucky - that UK (sorry, given your location I had assumed that would make sense) -- the veterinary school there should be able to help you track down the sort of specialist you seek.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Or you can use the Association of Avian Vets "find a vet" link -- searching "Kentucky" for the location will give a list of 7
http://aav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=1803

Also, using "Avian Vet Kentucky" in a google search shows multiple results

 

[bigbird]

UK doesn't have a veterinary program, and although Ohio State has one, they don't even teach avian science.
That's why I was hoping that someone on here uses or knows of someone.
I'll try the "find a link", that sounds like a pretty good place to start. Thanks

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Well, what do you know - we are just across the river and more than one person tried to push DD towards UK when hearing she was pursuing a veterinary career- we never looked into it because she had her heart set on Purdue (where she is now) - guess I assumed there was a vet school there based on all of that, but we all know what ASSuming does, lol.

 

[bigbird]

Easy to assume! When I think of UK, I think of science. Hard to believe they don't have a vet school!

 

[ivan3]

Just did a quick search on location of Vet Schools in KY (can't vouch for accuracy): http://www.educationnews.org/career-index/veterinary-schools-in-kentucky/

There was one Avian Vet, in KY, that a member recommended in BYC list of Vets: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/200108/list-of-vets

The State Vet's office in the Dept. of Ag. can at least give you the info. on the closest State certified Vet. Path Lab (for necroscopies/labs): http://www.kyagr.com/statevet/
They can also tell you who, in the State gov,, is the liaison for the NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Plan), that person might know someone.
Call Large Animal Vets in your area, they might know of a colleague that works with poultry.
The Vet schools listed in first link might be able to point you in the right direction.
Go to our subforum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you and post up in the most recently active KY thread, could be a member already knows a vet to recommend.


Just don't give up. We had a RP tom that developed a fast growing chondrosarcoma (bony tumor) on his beak (huge). I called everyone (U of MO has a turkey farm & a dedicated avian pathologist - but he couldn't identify what the heck the growth was, from the shots I emailed. and, frankly, didn't care - ag. schools are all about commercial production - culling before treatment is the rule). We had signed-up for the NAIS program (just wanted to see what consequences would attend the horrible Federal ID of poultry) through the State Vet's office a year before. Rose Foster, the employee in the SV's office who patiently worked out how to classify us (not a rendering facility???) for NAIS, not only called the University's Vet Path Lab, when one of our toms died suddenly, to let them know we were to get free necroscopy/labs/report on the poor guy, but was able to give me the name of a professor in the Vet School, at UM, she guessed would know someone who would at least examine our RP. And, so, after calling vets from St. Louis to Kansas City (and all points in between), We finally tracked down a winner who had an undergrad degree in poultry science and a Masters in Poultry Genetics. http://columbiabusinesstimes.com/12...ealizes-lifelong-dream-opens-animal-hospital/

She even allowed me to shoot pics of the surgery on our RP (not for the squeamish): http://s30.photobucket.com/user/IvanIvanovich/library/SCREAMER?sort=3&page=1.

Won't be easy, to find, probably. Nearly All of the `certified' Avian Vets (with the best tech), we contacted, were experts in exotics (parrots...), we searched on-and-off for a year. Our vet doesn't have the `latest and greatest equipment, but she knows her poultry.

Good luck!

P.S., use the advanced search function, here on BYC. Plenty of threads in Turkeys/EDC subforums with good info. and links to a fairly extensive set of references from anatomy to treatment (becoming one's own `expert' is always worth the time & effort)

 

[bigbird]

Thank you so much for the above wealth of information. I have a bourbon red hen, that's soon to be a year old. She had an injury about 6 months ago that we are still dealing with. We have literally, with the help if a vet, kitchen sinked her. From what we have figure out, she missed her perch, and came down on a broken off piece of a branch, cutting open the area under her wing, and above her leg.
For months, she was stitched, sprayed with veteryecin, and given medicam. The wound itself, which was horribly extensive, has healed. There is still a gap, and the joint is exposed and damaged. Apparently here is a tear in the joint capsule.
I was wanting to know if anyone has heard of, or used Collasate? It is a wound healer that we are wanting to use with the hopes it will eventually bond the damaged tissue. Or, if anyone has any other thoughts, suggestions or answers to this. I can't imagine that the anatomy of a turkey would be all that different from an exotic 3k parrot. Per above post, I guess I shouldn't be assuming though.

! Lol
I'm posting pictures, which IMO are really gross, and I hope no one is offended. She does not act like she is in any pain. If she was, I wouldn't even be writing this post, I would have had her euthanized. Her appetite is good.
Thank you all for your time and consideration. I just think that if I can find a vet, or poultry keeper ANYWHERE who may have experience with treating this, or have an idea, they could give me the information I need to pass along to her dog & cat vet.

Still working on pictures, sorry. Can't get them to upload.