Portland Veterinarian -Veterinary

We here in the Portland veterinarian clinic have found that pet birds have recently become very popular. They have many positive attributes, but very few negative characteristics. Many people who meet a good bird for the first time are amazed at how friendly and affectionate birds can be. They offer a great deal of companionship and will return all of the live you can give. We, as a society, are becoming more and more concentrated. Less and less space is available. Therefore we are forced into living in smaller dwellings. Apartment life has become the norm. This may be one of the reasons for an increased popularity in owning a pet bird. Birds do not need to be taken for walks; they are not susceptible to fleas; they do not have an odor; and most apartment complexes do not require a pet deposit for a bird. In addition, they are small, requiring less room than other pets. Another factor dictating the popularity of birds is the cost. Birds are the cheapest pet to own and manage. The initial cost of purchasing a bird varies depending on which bird you get. The monthly feeding cost is less than five dollars in most cases. In addition, they do not need costly, monthly heartworm prevention. Regular maintenance is very low. Cage paper should be changed daily. Fresh food and water should be given daily (or more often if necessary). The cage should be scrubbed and disinfected weekly. These tasks should take less that ten minutes per day and less than 45 minutes on the week end. Birds are very clean animals. Mites and other parasites are not a common problem. Their droppings have no odor nor do birds need to go out when it is raining. There are some concerns that usually come when people are considering a bird for a pet.