Looking for an exotic or avian vet in Houston for your chickens or other birds?
Avian vets specialize in the care of birds. If you have a sick chicken or want to be prepared, you should check you have one locally.
Birds require different care from common household pets like cats and dogs. Some veterinary practices will recommend an avian vet if you have a chicken, so it’s worth checking if your local animal hospital treats chickens.
To help you locate veterinary practices offering avian care in Houston, TX, I’ve put together a list of all the places I was able to find:
Table of Contents
List of Avian Vets in Huston, TX
| Name | Location | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists | 8042 Katy Freeway, TX 77024 | 713-693-1111 | gcvs.com |
| ABC Animal & Bird Clinic | 11930 Hwy 6 South, TX 77498 | 281-495-9445 | myabcvet.com |
| Dickinson Animal Hospital & Pet Wellness Center | 1100 FM 517 Road West, TX 77539-3914 | 281-337-4535 | dickinsonanimalhospital.com |
| Pearland Pet Health Center | 10525 Hughes Ranch Road, TX 77584 | 713-436-2555 | pearlandpethealthcenter.com |
| Animal Medical Center of the Village | 5406 Kirby Dr. TX 77005 | 713-843-7129 | amcofthevillage.com |
| Briarcrest Veterinary Clinic, Inc. | 1492 Wilcrest Drive, TX 77042 | 713-789-8320 | briarcrestvet.com |
Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists
Address - 8042 Katy Freeway, TX 77024
Phone - 713-693-1111
Contact - Contact page
Website - gcvs.com
ABC Animal & Bird Clinic
Address - 11930 Hwy 6 South, TX 77498
Phone - 281-495-9445
Contact - Contact page
Website - myabcvet.com
Dickinson Animal Hospital & Pet Wellness Center
Address - 1100 FM 517 Road West, TX 77539-3914
Phone - 281-337-4535
Contact - Contact page
Website - dickinsonanimalhospital.com
Pearland Pet Health Center
Address - 10525 Hughes Ranch Road, TX 77584
Phone - 713-436-2555
Contact - Contact page
Website - pearlandpethealthcenter.com
Animal Medical Center of the Village
Address - 5406 Kirby Dr. TX 77005
Phone - 713-843-7129
Contact - Contact page
Website - amcofthevillage.com
Briarcrest Veterinary Clinic, Inc.
Address - 1492 Wilcrest Drive, TX 77042
Phone - 713-789-8320
Contact - Contact page
Website - briarcrestvet.com
What Do Avian Vets Do?
Avian vets, or small-animal practitioners and exotic vets as they’re also called are qualified in providing medical and general care to birds.
You may also find they are further classified as either specializing in poultry or what’s called “companion” birds too. This is essentially because poultry, like chickens, is sometimes treated differently to birds kept in cages indoors, like parrots.
In my experience, an avian vet will be happy to see any type of bird, however. So, don’t let it put you off calling if you think they specialize in a different area of birds.
If you’re wondering about qualifications, you will see the letters (DVM) next to all vet’s names. This is because all vets must have graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
When vets go on to specialize in a certain field, such as avian care, they may also have additional qualifications.
Two that apply to the care of birds are AAV and ABVP. These demonstrate a vet is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians and/or the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.
Avian vets will perform anything related to health care for birds. This means taking blood for testing, performing general check-ups, advising you on specific health concerns, performing surgeries, and more.
If you have a sick chicken, or just have any questions regarding caring for your birds, I recommend picking up the phone and calling one of the vets listed above.
Signs a Chicken Is Sick
Chickens are pretty good at hiding when they’re sick. Most owners know when one of their hens or roosters aren’t themselves though.
Here are some of the common symptoms and signs to look out for that a chicken is unwell:
Lethargic behavior - If a chicken is acting lethargic or sluggish, such as sitting or laying down instead of foraging, it’s likely something is wrong.
Pale comb/wattle - Those red things on a chicken's head known at their comb and wattle are a good indication of their general health. If they’ve changed to a pale or faded color, then it’s typically a sign that a chicken is unwell.
Diarrhea or vomiting - If any of your birds are experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, it’s usually a sign that they’re unwell. It might be a passing bout of gastro issues, but it may be something more serious.
Not eating or drinking - I think noticing any animal is not eating or drinking properly is a red flag. If your chicks are off their food, you need to act quickly to find out why.
Stopped laying eggs - There are a number of reasons why chickens stop laying eggs. The winter months and fewer daylight hours is one reason, for example. It can also be a sign that there is a health issue, however, so it’s worth looking into.
What To Do if You Have a Sick Chicken
If you have spotted any of the above-mentioned symptoms or have any other reason to think one or more of your chickens are sick, the first thing you need to do is isolate them from the rest of the flock.
When a chicken is sick, it will often be seen as weak by the others and they’ll pick on them. In fact, this is often the first sign for some people that a chicken is sick.
You should always give them some of their own space. A lot of people put them in a large dog crate, as this is a good way to keep an eye on them and make sure they are safe.
It’s always a good idea to call an avian vet for advice at this point. They may want to see your bird, or they may be able to offer some advice. It’s a good idea to find out if you’re not experienced in caring for sick birds.
Did You Find an Avian Vet Near You?
If you’re raising backyard chickens I hope you were able to find an avian vet in your area. I hope you’d never need to call them, but you never know. It’s good to be prepared in case of an emergency.
Related articles; check out avian vets in Fort Worth, TX, and Phoenix, AZ.
Disclaimer -These were veterinary practices offering avian services at the time of publishing. I cannot be held responsible for any changes in services, personnel, or otherwise in the meantime. If you spot any inaccurate information, please contact me and I will verify and change it. Many thanks.
Image credits – Photo by Joey Csunyo on Unsplash
