Routine Veterinary Care for an African Grey

Highly intelligent and full of personality, the African Grey parrot makes an excellent companion pet. Adopting or purchasing an African Grey can lead to making a lifelong friend, since these parrots can live in captivity from 15 to 50 years. Taking care of an African Grey is a big commitment, however, and it is vital to your parrot's health to have it seen by a veterinarian routinely. Knowing how and when to take your African Grey in to see the vet is crucial to your feathered friend's overall health and wellness.

  1. Avian Veterianarians

    • Not every animal doctor specializes in avian care, or that of parrots and other birds. An avian veterinarian--or bird doctor--is the person you need to schedule your routine appointments with to check on the health of your African Grey parrot.

      According to All Creatures Animal Hospital, you should take your African Grey in to see an avian veterinarian every 6 to 12 months. These visits are absolutely necessary to your parrot's health, and should not be skipped; this is something you need to consider before taking on the responsibility of caring for an African Grey. Like a human, this parrot needs routine check-ups to ensure its health.

    Routine Care Visits

    • When you take your African Grey in to see a bird doctor for routine care, the avian veterinarian will perform certain examinations. Knowing about these is important in preparing to take your African Grey in for a check-up.

      Routine procedures your African Grey will undergo are fairly simple and non-invasive. The avian veterinarian may take blood from your African Grey and run routine tests on the sample, making sure your parrot is healthy and getting proper nutrition. The vet may also call for a vaccination against Polyomavirus, a type of virus that can cause tumors in birds. The bird's fecal matter will also be tested to check for the presence of parasites and bacteria.

    Keeping an Eye on Your Grey

    • Routine visits to the avian veterinarian every 6 to 12 months are business as usual in caring for an African Grey. However, there are signs to watch for that may call for an immediate visit for your bird's safety.

      Sometimes it may be hard to tell if your African Grey needs medical attention, since these intelligent parrots often hide symptoms of an ailment out of instinct to avoid showing weakness to predators. Sailfin Pet Shop say that you need to know your African Grey, keep an eye on your bird and take note if the parrot is acting out of the ordinary. Changes in size, consistency or color of bird droppings is a key sign that your pet may need to see the bird doctor. Also, any marked changes in the parrot's eating habits, behavior or appearance are reasons to take your African Grey in for out-of-the-routine care.

      Finding an avian veterinarian is often difficult. Check the Resources section of this article for a link to the Association of Avian Veterinarians; this organization can help you locate the nearest health care provider for your African Grey. With routine veterinary care, and a watchful eye from its caretaker, the African Grey parrot will thrive and provide years of companionship to you and your family.