Tuesday, January 7, 2014

7. WORK WITH A VETERINARIAN

Harrison’s strongly recommends that pet bird owners establish and maintain an ongoing relationship with an avian veterinarian.  Your veterinarian can advise and oversee as you prepare to convert your bird’s diet.

Your veterinarian can help your bird make a smooth and safe transition to a new, healthy diet and be available for subsequent examinations or emergencies. 

A veterinary visit for a general health examination should be scheduled before you start your bird on
Harrison's Bird Foods.  Some birds are so sick from being fed an improper diet that they may require critical care before undergoing a diet change.

Some birds may require holistic support to make the transition smoothly. Because underlying medical problems can be made worse by the inherent stress of a diet change, exams at three and twelve weeks following the diet conversion are recommended. Your avian veterinarian can also help you select which Harrison's formula is right for your bird.
It's a good idea to purchase a gram scale to have at home. In this way, you will be able to monitor your bird's weight during the diet conversion process. You might want to weigh your bird at the same time each morning for two weeks to establish normal fluctuations in its weight. Any serious fluctuations of 10% total body weight or more should be reported to your avian veterinarian.