Avian Veterinary Services

Having always been interested in birds and wanting to specialise in avian medicine for a few years, I've been aware of Avian Veterinary Services for a few years. We follow each other on Twitter and (I now know) after a few outspoken tweets by me, they invited me to see practice with them.

Richard and Carli are based up in Cheshire and are an awesome bird vet team!

I booked myself into the local Travelodge and spent the week seeing practice with them, having a great time.

I know quite a lot about chickens and a fair bit about raptors but have learnt so much already, and started getting to grips with parrots and other birds!

As birds are generally pretty small and surgeries pretty intricate, Richard uses surgical loupes for magnification and microsurgery tools for precision surgery. I was given the honour of having a go (play!) with them as they cost a few thousand pounds!

First up I practiced writing as small as I could to get used to the focus and slight feelings of seasick-ness

Once I'd mastered writing I moved on to suturing witha high tech practice pad (examination glove) which was kinda tricky being so small so I'm quite happy with how I got on!

I think I'm going to have to get a cheap pair of loupes and some microsurgery instruments to practice suturing and doing surgery on grapes!

Consults are half an hour as exotics need quite a thorough history taking. We usually take the birds out the back to examine them as parrots especially can be quite bonded to their owners, and vice versa, so it's best for everyone that they're out of sight and if examined in theatre we have everything to hand should it be needed.

I never really appreciated behavioural problems in parrots and the problems imprinting them can cause so have learn loads about that this week and seen the real impacts it can cause!