880 SOUTH RAND ROAD
LAKE ZURICH, IL 60047
Closed on Saturdays
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Dr. Daniel W Hamblin and OFFICITE expressly disclaims all warranties and responsibilities of any kind, whether express or implied, for the accuracy or reliability of the content of any information contained in this Web Site, and for the suitability, results, effectiveness or fitness for any particular purpose of the services, procedures, advice or treatments referred to herein, such content and suitability, etc., being the sole responsibility of parties other than Dr. Daniel W Hamblin and OFFICITE, and the reliance upon or use of same by you is at your own independent discretion and risk.
Like all pets, it is important to take your bird for its first veterinary examination as soon as you possibly can. The first examination gives your vet an opportunity to establish a baseline for the bird's health and to identify any potential health issues, particularly diseases it may pass on to other birds or humans.
At the first vet visit, your bird will undergo some extra testing, such as a complete blood count, to make sure all its health indicators are normal. In addition to a physical examination, the vet will likely conduct a fecal parasite check to make sure your bird has no intestinal parasites; an examination of urine and feces to be sure there are no indications of gastrointestinal or renal health problems; gram stains to detect any gram-negative bacteria and yeast, a common cause of bird illness that is treatable; a complete blood count to ensure healthy blood levels and verify the absence of blood parasites; Chlamydia testing, to assess if your bird is a carrier of three common infectious diseases — psittacosis, ornithosis and parrot fever — which can spread to other birds and to people and is also treatable; and psittacine beak and feather disease, a virus that can affect birds at any stage of their lives, affects many organ systems and usually reduces the bird's life span.
Be prepared for every visit to your vet by assembling information about the daily care you give your bird, descriptions of the bird's environment and normal behaviors, a list of any changes in behavior that may concern you and how you expect to handle grooming issues such as feather, nail and beak trimming.
Birds can sneeze, cough, get sinus infections and acquire a number of different illnesses over a lifetime. However, by far the greatest risk to a bird's life is accident and human error. A good diet, lots of exercise and socialization and regular vet visits can help keep your bird healthy. More significantly, you need to ensure that the bird's environments are always safe.
To prevent hazards that put your bird at risk, make sure you are aware of these leading risks:
A zoonotic disease is one that originates with an animal but can spread to humans. Birds are susceptible to bacteria and viruses, which is why it is recommended that new birds always be quarantined from other birds and pets when you first bring them home. Regular vet visits allow you to keep on top of your bird's health and make sure your bird isn't carrying any contagious diseases. Chlamydia testing can assure you that your bird is not a carrier of three bird diseases that can spread between birds and from birds to people. With regular checks and a controlled environment, you should be able to prevent your bird from acquiring any other zoonotic diseases.