i have four kids, 2 cats, 12 budgies and 5 fish and a husband so it will get spent on food and more food.

 

 

Better spent on feeding your huge family than in a vet's massive pockets!!!

 

I agree!! and with the ever increasing cost of food, every dollar counts!!!! Vet bills are only good when there is a problem that we cant deal with ourselves.

I'm glad you sorted that out and learnt how to do it yourself

I was the one who trimmed Little the student budgie. He wasn't sedated because he was very docile, he didn't even react to being held. Sometimes they get sedated because they might go crazy at the drill and hurt themselves. We worry about nailclipping beaks not just because they can bleed/hurt but because they can split, with pretty severe consequences. But I'm sure you have been given sound advice from the experienced breeders here.

 

I'd like to make a quick note about vet costs. I'm not going to cause a huge fuss because I groan over it too when I have to go myself But let me ask you to consider these things: how much vets are paid (in Aus, at least), how much uni (and in particular specialising, which is what it takes to be an avian vet) costs, the cost of medicine and equipment (which is not under any medicare system) and the level of study/time/effort required to get in, stay in, graduate and then be expected to be an expert on all things animal (and that includes all fields of medicine including radiology, anatomy, surgery, handling, orthopaedics, anaesthesia, dentisty, behaviour, obstetrics etc etc). But, this is totally off topic, and is best left for another day. :hap:

Edited February 21, 200817 yr by Chrysocome

I'd like to make a quick note about vet costs. I'm not going to cause a huge fuss because I groan over it too when I have to go myself But let me ask you to consider these things: how much vets are paid (in Aus, at least), how much uni (and specialising) costs, the cost of medicine and equipment (which is not under any medicare system) and the level of study/time/effort required to get in, stay in, graduate and then be expected to be an expert on all things animal (and that includes all fields of medicine including radiology, anatomy, surgery, endocrinology, behaviour, obstetrics etc etc). But, this is totally off topic, and is best left for another day :hap:

 

Well put (no offence intended)

Well put (no offence intended)

None at all! I wasn't making like you should feel guilty or throw money at the vets or whatever, just to maybe consider those things a little. Money is always a sensitive issue, and everyone has their own problems to deal with. As long as there is no abuse happening, going the cheaper way is totally understandable I trust our experienced members completely - they have taught me so much! Vets have a medical and scientific perspective, but breeders generally focus on their particular species and are therefore extremely knowledgeable about them.

Edited February 21, 200817 yr by Chrysocome

Well put (no offence intended)

 

None at all! I wasn't making like you should feel guilty or throw money at the vets or whatever, just to maybe consider those things a little. Money is always a sensitive issue, and everyone has their own problems to deal with. As long as there is no abuse going on, going the cheaper way is totally understandable

 

:hap: I didn't think that was what you were getting at. When I take my animals to the vets, money doesn't really bother me. I'm not really well off, but the health of my animals is very important to me... if however, I could do something myself to help them, and know that what I was doing was all that was needed... I would. You did make some really good points though. I guess it's like when we go to the doctors and dentist etc... all the same, just different patients. :hap:

if trimming the beak was not something i felt confident i could do after it was explained to me,i would have spent the money on a vet, my budgies are worth the money but i was brought up on a farm and have been around animals all my life so there are certain things involved with the care of my animals that i feel confident to learn myself.

"As long as there is no abuse going on, going the cheaper way is totally understandable "

 

The health of my animals is very important to me... If however, I could do something myself to help them, and know that what I was doing was all that was needed... I would.

 

That's exactly what I meant.

Sorry deb, for highjacking your thread

"As long as there is no abuse going on, going the cheaper way is totally understandable "

 

The health of my animals is very important to me... If however, I could do something myself to help them, and know that what I was doing was all that was needed... I would.

 

That's exactly what I meant.

Sorry deb, for highjacking your thread

 

That's what I thought ... I'm sorry too Deb ...

 

Well done on the beak trimming. I understand what you mean about the farm life etc... my mum's family has been brought up on a farm in the wimmera... you get used to doing more than most

"As long as there is no abuse going on, going the cheaper way is totally understandable "

 

The health of my animals is very important to me... If however, I could do something myself to help them, and know that what I was doing was all that was needed... I would.

 

That's exactly what I meant.

Sorry deb, for highjacking your thread

 

 

that is fine, you had some interesting points. doctors do get alot of government support where as vets do not and their equipment and medicines are just as expensive.i just think the vet should have asked me which beak needed to be trim and what my budgie was like before making a decision about sedating.

she has no problems with eating, my husband loves the yellow face type 2's and would like to breed with her and keep the babies.My two budgies in the house i clip their wings and trim their nails myself and i only do little bits at a time so i have never had a bleed at all.

 

The beak is no different than the nails, just a little bit at a time maybe 2 or 3 times a day. You can sometimes see how far you can cut without hitting blood with a light shining through the underside of the beak. If it is too thick best let the vet handle it. Although the bleeding would not be a big issue, he can cauterise it or use clotting agent.

Good luck