Dr. Google May Be In, But Not Everything You Read Is True
Just because it’s written doesn’t mean it’s true! That goes for what’s written on websites, on Facebook, in magazines, even in literature created by people claiming to be experts about particular subjects. This is particularly relevant when it comes to bird and exotic pet care. When cats and dogs get sick, the first place that most pet owners turn to is their trusted veterinarian. With birds and exotic pets, however, very few pet owners even think to seek out veterinary advice but instead go directly to the Internet or to the local pet store for information.
Find A Good Bird and Exotic Veterinarian
Unfortunately, they are then often given outdated or misinformation which either doesn’t help their pet or which may actually make matters worse. Ultimately, hopefully they eventually seek out care from a licensed veterinarian and veterinary technician trained to treat the species they own. That means actually bringing the pet to an animal hospital for a thorough examination, so that the bird and exotic veterinary professionals can logically determine what tests need to be performed to best diagnose the animal’s problems. It’s not any different from when a person has a medical problem; to be treated correctly, that person must be examined by a medical professional to diagnose the problem and determine a course of treatment.
Seeking Advice from Avian and Exotic Vets
Seeking out advice on-line or from a local store or breeder can be fine for simple issues, but for more serious medical problems, there is nothing like a complete, hands-on physical examination. So, while we love you to email us questions about your pet or ask advice on simple matters on Facebook or other social media sites, we would really be doing you and your pet a disservice if we tried to diagnose your animal’s condition without actually examining him or her. Of course, not everyone is close by enough to the avian and Exotic Veterinary Center to come in for a check-up, so if you are far from us, we encourage you to seek out an exotics-savvy vet in your area to help. There are several great resources on-line that will direct you to vets with training in birds and exotics. Just think, you wouldn’t rely solely on the Internet for diagnosing your own or a family member’s medical condition; why would you for your pet?
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About Veterinary Centers for Birds and Exotics
If you have been looking for specialized care for your bird or exotic pet, look no further! We have you covered. At our unique animal hospital, we provide care to birds and exotics ONLY—no cats and dogs! We are the only bird and exotic veterinary hospital with a full-time, board certified bird specialist, Dr. Laurie Hess. Dr. Hess, who, with her two associates, Dr. Amanda Marino and Dr. Amanda Dewey, are the only full-time veterinarians in Westchester County who are residency-trained in bird and exotic medicine and surgery. Call to schedule an appointment for your pet!