Looking for exotic or avian vets in Jacksonville, FL? Below, I’ve put together a list of all the avian practitioners I was able to verify in Jacksonville at the time of publishing.
Avian vets specialize in the care of birds. If you have a sick or injured bird or chicken, it’s important you take them to an avian vet if one’s available.
Here is a list of animal hospitals and veterinary practices in Jacksonville that may be able to help:
Table of Contents
List of Avian Vets in Jacksonville, FL
| Name | Location | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exotic Bird Hospital inc | 8820 Old Kings Rd South, Jacksonville FL 32257 | 904-256-0043 | exoticbirdhospital.com |
| Mandarin Veterinary Clinic | 11587 San Jose Blvd, FL 32223 | 904-268-8880 | mandarinvet.com |
| VCA Fleming Island Animal Hospital | 4711 US-17 South, Building D, Fleming Island, FL, 32003 | 904-264-7387 | vcahospitals.com |
| Riverside Animal Hospital | 2641 Park Street, FL 32204 | 904-388-3494 | riversidejaxvet.com |
| Ark Animal Hospital | 12585 Phillips Highway, FL 32256 | 904-886-2751 | arkanimalhospital.info |
Exotic Bird Hospital inc
Address - 8820 Old Kings Rd South, Jacksonville FL 32257
Phone - 904-256-0043
Contact - Contact page
Website - exoticbirdhospital.com
Mandarin Veterinary Clinic
Address - 11587 San Jose Blvd, FL 32223
Phone - 904-268-8880
Contact - Contact page
Website - mandarinvet.com
VCA Fleming Island Animal Hospital
Address - 4711 US-17 South, Building D, Fleming Island, FL, 32003
Phone - 904-264-7387
Contact - Contact page
Website - vcahospitals.com
Riverside Animal Hospital
Address - 2641 Park Street, FL 32204
Phone - 904-388-3494
Contact - Contact page
Website - riversidejaxvet.com
Ark Animal Hospital
Address - 12585 Phillips Highway, FL 32256
Phone - 904-886-2751
Contact - Contact page
Website - arkanimalhospital.info
What Do Avian Vets Do?
Avian vets are veterinary practitioners that specialize in treating and providing healthcare for birds. They are sometimes also referred to as exotic vets, as a lot of birds are exotic animals.
Often, vets will also niche down to either specializing in poultry or companion bird care. Companion birds are birds like parrots, budgies, and so on that people keep in cages as pets. Poultry obviously relates to chickens and other domestic fowl.
All avian vets graduate with the same Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) as other vets. Vets that specialize in certain animals, often pursue further certifications too.
You may see the letters “AAV” or “ABVP” next to their name too. These demonstrate a vet is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians and/or the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.
Their role basically involves anything and everything to do with providing healthcare for birds. If you have any concerns about your chickens, it’s an avian vet you need to speak to.
Signs a Chicken Is Sick
Chickens don’t tell us when they’re sick or injured, it’s up to us to spot the signs.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms that a chicken requires some medical attention include:
Lethargic behavior - If you notice one or more of your flock are acting lethargic, not as active as normal, or just aren’t acting right for any reason, it’s a sign that you need to check they’re in good health.
Pale comb/wattle - A chicken’s comb and wattle gives away a good indication of their health. A vibrant red comb and wattle generally indicate they are in good health. If they're faded or are pale, they might be under the weather.
Diarrhea or vomiting - Diarrhea and/or vomiting is always a sign that something hasn’t agreed with a chicken. It may be as simple as a passing bout of gastro issues, but it may be an indication of illness.
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.
Not laying eggs - Not laying eggs is not always a sign that a chicken is sick. It might simply come down to the number of hours of daylight, their breed, or some other things. It’s worth investigating, however, as it may be an indication that they’re sick.
What To Do if You Have a Sick Chicken
If you have a sick or injured chicken or any bird for that matter, it’s important that the first thing you do is isolate them from the rest of the flock/other birds.
Chickens will often pick on flock members they think are weak due to being injured or sick. So, it will just cause further problems if you leave them integrated.
Another reason is that obviously, you don’t want a sick chicken to infect others with any disease or illness that may be able to be passed around.
If you have a large pet crate or something similar, that’s ideal. You can keep an eye on their condition while monitoring how much they’re eating and drinking.
You should make contact with a vet at this point if you have any concerns at all. They may be able to recommend some form of treatment without seeing the chicken, but you may have to take them in to be seen.
Did You Find an Avian Vet Near You?
Now you know the role avian vets play within the veterinary profession. Birds are very different from cats and dogs and some other common household pets.
Sometimes, you’ll need to see a specialist to get the highest standard of care. I hope you were able to locate an avian vet near you in Jacksonville or the surrounding area from the list above.
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
