My Bird's Veterinarian

I always thought exotics would cost more because the Veterinarian is in a specialized field. My regular vet does not see birds.
Last year about this time Reuben was really sick so I took him to a bird vet. Recently I got a card in the mail saying he was due for his annual gram stain. This is something Vet's do to determine what sort of bacteria is in a bird, I think. It turned out to be normal this year.
My husband went along because I thought he would get a kick out of seeing a bird check-up. They wrap his body in a towel and take a slender cotton swab and take a little fecal sample. This is the Gram stain.
Then I asked him if he could trim Reuben's beak again as it has been growing misshaped over the last couple of years. They use a dremmel tool for this. I bought one last year and have been trying to keep it in shape. I asked him if he could get it to look a little more normal than I had. He used his dremmel and removed about a fourth inch with the and then took a wire cutters and removed some of the bottom.
I was half expecting him to be dead when they took him out of the towel. He is real good and knows what he is doing. I wish Reuben would lie that still when I try.
He did all this and the total bill was only $44! Shoot, I can't even get into the regular vet without a
fee for the office visit.
Reuben is chipper and really feeling good with his newly shaped beak. He seems so much happier with it. I bet it feels like a misfit shoe when it is out of wack!
It is funny to see feathers on the floor in the exam room instead of bits of dog and cat hair.
I would take a picture of him and put it on now, but as you know birds retire at dusk. LOL I will try to get one of him tomorrow with his newly fixed beak.