How to find a Good Avian Vet

The term "avian vet" can be misleading. Any vet can use that term, regardless of their education, certification, or experience. All that is required is a willingness to treat birds! Therefore, it is best to find a "Board Certified Avian Vet"- one who has worked on birds a minimum of 6 years and has taken a rigorous exam (and passed).

How to find a Board Certified Avian Vet vet near you: ABVP.com (Search the "Find a Diplomate" database and pick "avian" as the specialty.)

You need to plan for emergencies, which means buy a Gram Scale! Assemble a First Aid Kit! Keep it stocked!

While we in the Bay Area are lucky to have several wonderful Board Certified Avian (BCA) Vets nearby, if you found this page and do not live here, the nearest avian vet may be hours away from you. This is due to the fact that there are only a couple hundred avian vets in the whole WORLD. If this is the case, you should do a bit of research and find a second if not third vet within a proper travel distance. Find the nearest BCA vet in case you birds life is in danger and you need someone that KNOWS what to do about it and fast. Then, find the nearest non-certified avian vet that specializes in birds. If that vet is quite a distance away local your nearest vet that accepts birds. Some vets only take dogs/cats, cows, horse, ect ect... You need contact them and speak with them to find out.
Given that avian medicine and nutrition are a new science that is advancing all the time, you may find that there is no Board Certified Avian Vet near you. In that case, ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS of any prospective vet. Many of these avian vets are wonderful- and are indeed studying toward the Avian Medicine Exam. (It does take 6 years of practice before they can take this test, remember.) The first question on your list should be, "How many birds do you see in your practice DAILY?" The answer that is best for your bird will be at least "four". Any less and they most likely do not have enough experience. Then ask what sorts of birds they have treated, and what sorts of conditions. Here are links to find vets treating birds:

toolady.com
babybirds.com
AAV.org
parrotmag.com

Also research emergency care. What happens if your bird gets stepped on at 9 PM at night? If it can't stand or is bleeding out its mouth. A broken wing or leg. An accident in the kitchen. What do you do? Who do you call? You should already know. Not knowing is irresponsible neglect of any pet. Researching vets does not cost you a penny but can save you a bundle of money and grief in the future.

Other Emergency Medical Contacts:

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center (USA) 24-hour emergency phone number: 1-888-426-4435
(Vets are available to help 24-hours a day, but you are charged a fee for the call)