Avian veterinarian or bird specialist, what is the difference and is there a guarantee of expertise?
The specialization in bird medicine is a special specialization within (veterinary) medicine. Within human medicine, it concerns a specialization within a specific animal species, namely humans. Within this one type it concerns a specialization of an organ or a specific field within the field. There are ophthalmologists, cardiologists, internists, dermatologists, otolaryngologists, radiologists, psychiatrists, etc. The most important characteristic of these specialists is that they focus and engage exclusively in the specialist field. It is therefore unthinkable that a cardiologist can also be a dermatologist or gynecologist because a specialist is expected to focus entirely on his specialization. A geriatrician is never a gynecologist at the same time.
Within human medicine there is no human specialist, even though it only concerns 1 (animal) species. In veterinary medicine we deal with a wide variety of animal species. These include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds. Within bird medicine it concerns an entire class within the animal kingdom with more than 9,000 different species, ranging from a hummingbird to an ostrich, from a canary to the hyacinth macaw and from a duck to a white-tailed eagle. The differences between birds of prey and canaries as birds are certainly as great as between mammals such as a cow and a cat. No one could imagine that there would be a recognition as a mammal specialist where the specialist is an expert in the field of hippos as well as ferrets, rabbits, cows and dogs. There is also no dog specialist. There are within veterinary medicine on the other hand, there are dermatologists, eye specialists, cardiologists, surgeons, etc. who are expert in their field and who also apply this expertise to several animal species. With the recognized bird specialists it is not a specialization within an animal species but of an entire class within the animal kingdom with 9000+ different species. This indicates that the concept of specialist is not the meaning covers as it applies to other specialists in human medicine and veterinary medicine.
It is therefore remarkable that it is no exception that recognized bird specialists are not only concerned with bird medicine but are also actively working in the field of mammals such as dogs/cats, rabbits, ferrets, etc. etc. It is even more remarkable that there are recognized bird specialists who are also recognized specialists in the field of small mammals. Small mammals include guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, mice, etc.This concerns a wide variety of completely different animal species. The fact that bird specialists also treat reptiles, lizards, etc. makes it even more remarkable. It is actually a bizarre situation in science that there is great complexity and diversity within bird medicine when we look at the differences between bird species. It is clear that there are similarities between birds and reptiles in several respects. It is also clear that there are virtually no similarities with mammals. It is therefore not obvious to assume that a recognized bird specialist is an expert or has sufficient experience in all areas of bird medicine.
There are (avian) veterinarians in the Middle East who focus exclusively on birds of prey. These are in fact real birds of prey specialists within the field, but since it is not an official specialization, these veterinarians cannot call themselves birds of prey specialists. These birds of prey specialists are also surgeons, radiographers, internists, cardiologists, etc. at the same time. There is no point in taking a parrot to such a bird of prey specialist, especially when it comes to behavioral problems in the parrot. As a pigeon fancier, there is no point in going to a bird specialist who has no expertise and no experience in the field of pigeon medicine. The pigeon fancier would be better off going to an avian veterinarian who has knowledge and experience in the field of pigeon medicine and who regularly visits pigeon lofts. Veterinarians who have devoted themselves entirely to racing pigeon medicine for many years often have no experience and no knowledge in the field of parrots or canaries. These veterinarians may not officially call themselves racing pigeon specialists and an avian veterinarian who only focuses on parrots may not call themselves a parrot specialist. Within (avian) veterinary medicine there is a separate specialization in the field of commercial poultry. This specialization has a long history due to the commercial interests of commercial poultry farming. These poultry specialists are generally not experts in the field of birds other than poultry/fowl. The conclusion is that the name bird specialist does not actually cover the meaning and that the term specialist is more or less misleading. The recognized title is a reason for major misunderstandings. The suggestion is made that as the owner of a bird it is better to go to an avian specialist than to an avian veterinarian who is completely dedicated to bird medicine. The International Organization of Avian Veterinarians was founded in 1980. AAV (Association of Avian Veterinarians). One of the founders and the first president of the AAV was Dr. Greg Harrison.
There are avian veterinarians worldwide who have dedicated themselves to avian medicine for decades, long before there was any official training as an avian specialist. In Europe, the European Organization of Avian Specialists was founded in 1993 with the intention of gaining recognition for avian medicine as a serious field within veterinary medicine. Requirements have been formulated that a bird specialist should meet and training courses are provided in several places in Europe that ultimately lead to recognition as a bird specialist. The foundation of this avian specialization within veterinary medicine was laid by avian veterinarians who have focused on avian medicine for many years, before 1993. A number of them have focused exclusively on bird medicine and are/are not considered bird specialists. It is not obvious that a recently graduated veterinarian, who follows a 3-year training course and can then call himself an officially recognized bird specialist, could be more expert in all areas of bird medicine than a veterinarian who has focused exclusively on bird medicine as an avian veterinarian for more than 20 years. This seems especially obvious if the official bird specialist also works a significant part of the time in the field of mammals and other “exotic species”.
The conclusion is therefore that recognition as an avian specialist is no guarantee of expertise in the entire field of avian medicine. Any suggestion in that direction is incorrect. Unfortunately, this suggestion has been and continues to be made. This development is harmful to avian medicine as a whole, where avian veterinarians are at the basis of the health and well-being of birds. Just as in human medicine, general practitioners are at the basis of the health and well-being of people, with general practitioners referring to specialists when necessary. There is no recognized bird specialist in the Netherlands who is internationally regarded as a specialist in avian medicine in the field of parrot behavior and welfare.
From the Bird Consulting Practice, over the past 40 years as an avian veterinarian, I have focused on management, the prevention of health problems, the prevention of and solving behavioral problems and promoting the welfare of birds. Within the field of avian medicine, I am considered an expert internationally in that field. This has been evident over the years from invitations to present lectures, workshops and master classes at international conferences. This is also evident from invitations from universities in the USA, South America and Europe to give guest lectures in the field of bird behavior and welfare. It is more than remarkable that a recognized bird specialist does not exclusively work within the field of bird medicine. The name avian veterinarian is not a protected name. Dat wil zeggen dat elke dierenarts zich ongestraft vogeldierenarts mag noemen. Er is geen basis deskundigheid is vereist en because the name does not mean that the veterinarian has really dedicated himself to bird medicine.
What applies to a recognized bird specialist, in my opinion, also applies to the designation of bird veterinarian. This means that an avian veterinarian is fully committed to bird medicine with all its consequences.
That means
- Actively standing up for the health, interests and welfare of birds.
- Visiting (international) conferences in the field.
- Actively contribute to the field.
- National and international collaboration with fellow avian veterinarians
The same applies to recognized bird specialists, including actively working with avian veterinarians. These criteria are in the interests of the birds and therefore also in the interests of bird owners. My conclusion is that over the past 40 years there has been no structural consultation and cooperation in the field of avian medicine in the Netherlands. The consequence is that the ,strong>interests, health and welfare of birds have suffered as a result. The outcome is that it is downright disastrous for bird owners if they are confronted with health problems with the bird(s). It is no exception that owners have to travel for hours to visit a veterinarian who has more or less specialized in bird medicine. If the problem occurs in the evening or at the weekend, then it is a real drama. In addition, it is not easy for bird owners to assess the specific expertise of an avian veterinarian or a bird specialist.
Enkele manieren om de deskundigheid van een vogeldierenarts en/of vogelspecialist te kunnen beoordelen zijn:
- The curriculum vitae plays an important role in assessing backgrounds and expertise, just as it plays an important role in assessing a candidate during an application procedure.
- How long has the avian veterinarian/avian specialist been active in the field.
- How much time does the avian veterinarian/avian specialist spend on bird medicine per day.
- Is the veterinary practice/clinic specifically equipped for birds with regard to the waiting room, consultation room, operating room, admission areas, quarantine areas, specific incubators, etc.
- How often does the avian veterinarian/bird specialist attend (international) bird disease conferences? This is necessary further training that shows that he or she is continuously improving in the field and has international contacts?
- How often is the avian veterinarian/avian specialist invited to give lectures or workshops at (international) avian disease conferences within the field, demonstrating that he or she is recognized and considered an expert within avian medicine due to specific expertise and contributions?
- Hoe vaak wordt de vogeldierenarts/vogelspecialist uitgenodigd door universiteiten om gastcolleges, workshops te presenteren voor studenten/collega’s?
- How often is/is the avian veterinarian/bird specialist asked to contribute and write chapters in serious textbooks in the field of avian medicine that demonstrate that the avian veterinarian/bird specialist is recognized as an expert within the field?
- Is the avian veterinarian/bird specialist in question a member of the International Organization of Avian Veterinarians (AAV)?
- Is the avian veterinarian/bird specialist actively involved in organizations in the field of bird medicine/bird welfare?
- References and referrals within the field by fellow veterinarians are also an important indicator.
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