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When does a bird need to see a veterinarian?

We have a 2 year old Galah cockatoo who is playful. The other day he had an accident -- we have an electric stove and he one of the rings had not cooled down and he walked over it (there is glass above the ring). He seems to be OK but a little subdued and has a small sore on his left foot. Is there anything you recommend we do, does he need to see a vet in case of infection? He is weight-bearing on his other foot. I feel terrible about this as I am normally extremely careful around the home with him.

When there are concerns about the health and welfare of your bird, a proper physical examination by a veterinarian is appropriate, and I certainly recommend it for your bird if there are problems here.

About Brian Speer, DVM

Avian veterinarian Dr. Brian Speer was raised in a small town on California’s coast. He received his BS in Biology from California Polytechnic State University in 1978, and his DVM degree from the University of California at Davis in 1983.

An active member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), Dr. Speer is a much sought after guest speaker and has presented at numerous conferences in the avicultural and zoological communities both within the United States and abroad. He is well published in the AAV annual proceedings, has served as guest editor for the journal Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, the Veterinary Clinics of North America, and authored chapters in several recent veterinary medical texts on pet bird, avicultural and ratite medical topics. In 1995 he co-authored the extensive avicultural reference, The Large Macaws, and helped to co-author Birds for Dummies in 1999.

Since 1989, Dr, Speer has run a “bird’s only” practice in the San Francisco Bay area and is the President and Director of The Medical Center for Birds. He is a consultant for The Veterinary Information Network (Avian Medical Boards) and the Maui Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. In 2003 he was the recipient of the Lafeber award for excellence in private practice of avian medicine and surgery and in 2006, was named Speaker of the Year for the North American Veterinary Conference.