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Vet in Lake Forest, CA

Pet Avian Medicine and Surgery

We are equipped to handle a wide variety of medical conditions, including emergencies.

Appointment
Group of bunnies

Pet Avian Medicine and Surgery Care

Birds are good at hiding signs of illness, so if you notice that your bird is acting unusual or if something just doesn’t seem right, call us as soon as possible.

Pet Avian Medicine and Surgery in Lake Forest, CA

Our doctors are all trained in the unique needs and care of avian patients. We offer all aspects of avian care, including routine wellness, medical, endoscopy, and surgery. We see birds of all kinds, from parakeets to macaws to chickens to eagles!
Avian Infectious Disease Testing
  • Psittacosis (Chlamydophila)
  • Polyoma
  • Beak and Feather Disease
  • Bornavirus
Avian Chronic Egg-laying Options
  • Behavioral
  • Medical
  • Surgical
Avian Feather Picking and Self-mutilation
Feather picking and self-mutilation are two of the most aggravating problems that bird owners face. Feather picking can happen suddenly and your pet may pick all of its feathers within one day! Birds who self-mutilate tend to chew on their skin and can cause severe damage if not treated.

At Serrano Animal & Bird Hospital we examine your pet and look for any underlying medical causes and work with your bird’s behavior, environmental factors, and the owner to develop a treatment plan.

Wing Clipping
Clipping a bird’s feathers can protect your bird and your home. Wing clipping is a nonpainful procedure that ensures the safety of your bird in its environment and keeps your bird from chewing holes in your doors and window frames. It limits your bird’s ability to fly, removing the risk of injury from flying into a ceiling fan, onto a hot stovetop, or into (or out) a window.

Having your bird’s feathers professionally clipped helps ensure that the right feathers are removed without irritating the skin. Improperly clipped wings can cause your bird to pluck or chew its feathers. In addition, inexperienced wing clipping can result in a blood feather being accidentally trimmed, a situation that can become life-threatening. We can perform this procedure safely while preserving the aesthetic appearance of your bird. Please feel free to call us to discuss this option, as well as any concerns you might have, or to set up an appointment.

Toenail Trims
Most birds need to have their nails trimmed regularly. However, the process can be detrimental to your bird if its nails are trimmed too short. We can take care of this procedure for you so that you don’t have to worry about nicking the blood vessels inside the nails. Call us if you’d like to schedule an appointment.

Be careful if you perform this procedure at home. In fact, we only suggest that you attempt this at home if your bird is small and has white nails (which allow you to see the blood vessels). We also suggest you keep a caustic agent, such as styptic powder, on hand in case a nail bleeds.

Providing perches with rough surfaces can help reduce the frequency of nail trimming, but do not use sandpaper perches. They don’t wear down the nails and can cause skin problems.

Sexing
Unfortunately, relying on physical appearance is not an accurate method of determining the sex of many birds. We can reliably tell you your bird’s sex by performing a laparoscopy. This technique involves making a minor incision while the bird is anesthetized and using a small camera to visualize the bird’s internal sex organs. Although other methods of sexing are available, they are less reliable. Please let us know if you have any questions about laparoscopy or other sexing procedures.
Beak Trims
Beaks continue growing throughout birds’ lives. Although most birds do not need routine beak trim, doing so can actually lead to future beak problems, including improper alignment and infections.

Some birds, however, develop beak problems and require veterinary assistance. Regular assessment and specific tailoring to your bird’s needs, including correcting therapeutic trims and plans to help abnormal beak growth should be done with experienced veterinarians. Do not attempt to trim your bird’s beak at home. Call us to schedule an appointment.