I had the extreme misfortune of needing an aviary vet in an emergency situation and was unable to find one in my area. My mother has a goreous, and until two weeks ago, healthy blue and gold Macaw parrot. When Tutu was found on the bottom of her cage one morning we rushed around trying to find her help. We were led to VAC Ocean Beach Vets and were told that there was a "SPECIALIST" in Avian health and care there. We made the 2 hour journey and we met by a filthy environment, feelingless staff and cold hearted avain vet. When we took Tutu into the room and the vet arrived, Tutu was glaced at, flipped around to face the vet and not further evaluated. We were then told that they were unable to weigh her and they assumed she had ingested lead and they would not even begin steps towards diagnosis or treament without half of $1500 and would require the other half when we picked her up three days later. We attempted to make payment arrangements and the vet walked out of the room and did no other consult or assistance from that moment on. There was no offer of a antibiotic or anything else in our budget nor did she offer any advice for home care. There was just NOTHING! We got more information, advice and assistance from the internet and our own vet, ( a dog and cat vet, Larry Goza ) and from Gary Rider at the Bird Channel and Macaw forum than we did from this so called specialist. Then this office actually had the GAUL to call and ask us to return and make a payment for an office visit of $68.00 ( they had quoted us $63.00 on the phone before we arrived) and have since sent my mother a bill. They also wanted $140 for an x-ray which our vet did for $20. It is very sad that there still exsist people who are so much about the financial gain that they continuously forget about the care of the creature. How sad for her and her office and staff.
Pros: none
Cons: staff put cash above client and payment above pets!
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