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Re: Polyoma question/ to Fran
Posted by Debbie on 2/25/06

If I get a chance when Dr. Scott Macdonald (vet) comes to our town
again I will ask him his advice on this. I havent heard of it too
much until this year and with only this one person. This breeder has
bought so many birds from so many different places and started
raising/hand feeding lots and lots of babies so something was due to
happen but this is my own opinion. I just got over worried I guess
but its good to check into different things once in a while just to
make sure.
Debbie

On 2/24/06, Michael L wrote:
> On 2/24/06, Fran wrote:
>> Michael, what is your opinion on vaccinating pet birds? My
> previous avian vet and
>> current one differ 180 degrees on this issue. Previous vet said
> vaccine was not necessary
>> for pet birds in a non-breeding home. Said the vaccine could pose
> more risk than
>> necessary, mainly by adverse reaction at injection site.
>> On the opposite side, my current avian vet (both of these are
> Avian certified and tops in
>> their field) feels EVERY bird should be vaccinated. He feels that
> an owner could bring the
>> virus in on their clothes or shoes after visiting babies in a pet
> store, etc. He even goes
>> so far as to not board birds if not vaccinated. I am on the
> fence. I have thought I may
>> need to go ahead and get my birds vaccinated in case I need to
> board them. What are
>> your general thoughts on this issue?
>
> Fran,
> I can understand your dilemma concerning vaccinating, but maybe
> this will lend more clarity on the issue.
> I don't know if you're aware or not, but Polyoma is usually a
> disease that primarily affects newly weaned birds or very young
> birds. It is not a virus that attacks healthy, adult birds as a
> rule as their immune systems are more resistant. Certainly there
> can be exceptions, let's say, for immunocompromised, or very old
> birds, but this is a rarity.
> My avian vet was not recommending, nor in favor of doing it. He
> felt that preventative measures were sufficient rather than
> vaccinating chicks. The jury is still out on whether or not this
> vaccine is 100 percent effective, although the manufacturer will
> tell you that it is.
> While he wasn't encouraging it, he did order in for me the vaccine
> so that I could vaccinate my baby birds.
> I did investigate what side effects there might be when doing this
> and basically came up with little that I would consider major
> concerns. At the injection site, the serum gathers and forms a
> small "bubble or ball" under the skin. This dissipates within
> minutes of giving the vaccine. Possible there is a chance that it
> wouldn't, but I've not encountered that. Also, the vaccine is
> a "killed" or inactive vaccine so it doesn't contain live Polyoma
> virus so that risk is eliminated.
> The reason I decided to do it was that I do have exposure to other
> people's birds when I go to a pet store, bird fair or some other
> place that birds may be present.
> I do practice sensible hygiene when I come home and will remove my
> clothing in the basement and take a quick shower to lessen the
> chances of me bringing anything home to my flock, not just Polyoma.
> Also, when my baby birds go to new homes, they do so at a young
age
> and I want them to be as "protected" as they can be when they
leave
> me. I know how I operate in my own home, but can't attest to
> someone else's situation.
> My adult birds are not vaccinated, but all have been tested. And
> this doesn't guarantee anything, as some birds will not test
> positive if they are not actively shedding a virus even though
they
> carry it.
> I don't know if this helps or not, but it's all I know on the
> subject.
>
> Michael L

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Polyoma question, 2/20/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Fran.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Michael L.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Michael L.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by D.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/21/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question, 2/24/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question/ to Michael L., 2/24/06, by Fran .
• Re: Polyoma question/ to Fran, 2/24/06, by Michael L.
• Re: Polyoma question/ to Fran, 2/25/06, by Debbie.
• Re: Polyoma question/Michael L., 2/25/06, by Fran .
• Re: Polyoma question/Michael L., 2/25/06, by Michael L.
• Re: Polyoma question/Michael L., 2/25/06, by Debbie.