Page 11 - Stuart Exposure - October '23

Stuart Exposure, Page 11

tIp of tHe taIl

Sudden Death … Is Rarely to diagnose and save the bird, a few hours later, in intensive Increased or decreased hunger, becoming less active or

Sudden care, she died. hyperactive, vocalizing more or less, etc., are all alarms that

should be investigated.
The truth is, the bird had not been sick for only one
day; she had probably been sick for weeks. What the 2. Respond quickly. My advice to clients is to make an
owner observed was not the beginning of an illness, it was appointment the moment they notice something out of the
the beginning of the end. The sad truth about exotic pets, ordinary. If the signs are subtle, make an appointment with a
particularly birds, is that they pretend to be OK until they competent avian veterinarian as soon as practical. If the bird
are too weak to do so. With very few exceptions, at that point gets back to normal, the appointment can always be cancelled.
it’s too late for them to be saved. If the signs are serious, get help immediately. As already
Most pet birds are prey species. They subconsciously described, the bird could be on its last leg. Serious signs
believe that predators are always lurking, hoping to find an include sitting quietly on the bottom of the cage, sleeping
easy meal. Easy meals are those individuals that are slow constantly on the perch, complete loss of appetite, difficulty
or weak from illness or age. Therefore, in order not to be moving around … and anything else significantly different
targeted, pet birds usually do everything they can to look from the individual’s normal behavior.
A few days ago, a client came in with a cockatiel that well even when they may be seriously or even terminally ill. 3. Practice preventative maintenance. In other words, do
had been sick for less than 24 hours … or so he thought. Since birds pretend to be OK even when they aren’t, how regular checkups, ideally on at least an annual basis. Chronic
A physical exam revealed that the 12-year-old female was does one detect illness? There are three quite simple steps: illness can frequently be detected before it becomes terminal.
frighteningly thin, literally skin and bones. Despite all efforts 1. Respond to any change in behavior or appetite. Over the decades that I have been practicing, I’ve made a
clear observation: 90 percent of the illness I see are in patients
I’ve never seen before, and 90 percent of the patients I see
for annual exams never present with terminal illness. Many
causes of illness in pet birds can be avoided simply through
the education that comes with regular veterinary visits. Other
conditions can often be detected well before they become
terminal. Everyone knows the value of regular checkups in
people. Why shouldn’t our feathered family get the same
care? In fact, since they don’t speak well for themselves,
sound physical exams and laboratory diagnostics can speak
for them.
Dr. Don J. Harris has joined Palm City Animal Medical
Center after a long career in exotic animals as our exotic
animal veterinarian.
Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center
is dedicated to providing the best possible care for your
pets. With focuses on compassionate care in surgery,
physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative medicine,
extensive diagnostics, and emergency service, Palm City
Animal Medical Center combines exceptional medical
care with a caring philosophy for pets and their owners.
For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit www.
palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
kIds Corner

Reading Time With Dad

By Jim Forgan, Ph.D.,
School Psychologist
James and the Giant Peach
and Danny, Champion of the
World were two of Roald
Dahl’s books my dad read with
me when I was in elementary
school. Some of my fondest
childhood memories were
reading these books with
my dad. We did other
things together like playing
basketball, going fishing, and riding bikes but the relational
connection of sitting next to my dad on the couch and feeling
his presence and love was strong and evident. Dad gave me his
precious gift of time.
The father-child relationship is powerful and creates a
foundation for your child’s psyche to develop. Will your child feel
loved and affirmed or rejected and ignored by dad? As a school
psychologist and dad, I get it. Dads are busy. Dads might believe
they don’t have the nurturing instinct that mom holds. They are
busy providing for their family. Parenting expert, Meg Meeker,
M.D., says, “After 30 years in my medical practice and extensive
research, I see one common thread in children of all ages: the direct
correlation between a father’s presence and a child’s well-being.”
If you are a dad reading this, it’s not meant to guilt you.
Whether you’ve messed up or think it’s too late, your child of
any age still needs you. They don’t need perfection; they need
your presence and affirmation. Start small. Perhaps for you it’s
asking them more thoughtful questions, taking a genuine interest
in them telling you about a favorite video game, or watching a
funny video together. For other dads it is telling your child what
every child wants to hear: You love them and are proud of them.
Parenting is an on the job learning experience. Here are a
few resources to help you along the way: Meg Meeker’s book
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, Robert Lewis’ book Raising
A Modern Day Knight or John C. Maxwell’s book Intentional
Living, are thoughtful books to help dads along their parenting
journey. Check out AllProDad.com. Dad, you got this.
Call or text to discuss your child as we test for autism, dyslexia,
See answer in this paper. dysgraphia, ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Visit JimForgan.com
or call (561) 625-4125.