I was just having this conversation yesterday and found it very fascinating. I have a question and not sure there is "one" correct answer and wanted to come here and get your guys' opinions and thought on why this may be.

For those of you that don't know, I work for my AV. I have recently stumbled on a conversation which I found very intriguing. On a whole, why is it that pet owners are more willing to spend more money on medical care for their dog than for their bird(s). Based on this conversation and the experience of the two people that I had listened have this conversation, it was stated that as a whole, people will spend more money on their mammalian pets vs. their birds. They had asked for my input. My responses were many and here is what I said:

For this group of people you are talking about, maybe they don't understand to the fullest extent how intricate their birds really are. Otherwise, they don't take the time to find out how cool their birds really can be.

A dog has been called a man's best friend for decades. The majority of people will spend their money on the pet that they can roll around with on the floor. Not that you can't do that with a bird.

Maybe it has something to do with the size of the animal or the cost of the animal.

At this point they weren't satisfied with my answers until I said the following:

In general the majority of your dogs and cats are sociable and accepting of anyone who walks in the door. A bird on the other hand is more selective. The majority of households who own more than one bird will have at least one bird they consider and label "a one person bird". I believe the majority of people you are talking about who would opt to spend more money on their dog's medical care vs. their bird, could really be do to that "bond" or "connection" has not been made between the bird and their owner. I don't feel I'm making myself clear here. Birds are more paticular on whom they pick to bond. The households you are talking about I believe the bird doesn't have that connection.

They still weren't totally satisfied with my last answer but thought I was on to something with it and I forgot exactly what they said because I'm so A.D.D.

I've heard people say they would spend that money on their dog if it needed the medical attention but not on their bird. Why??? Why the dog and not the bird???

So I thought, there couldnt' be a better place to ask this question than right here. I would love to ask you guys your opinions on this. I think this will be very interesting and I will sit back now and be eager to hear everyone's take on this topic. Thanks in advance.

I get what you said about the bonding, puppies pretty much love everyone, not so true with birds. I also think that just because dogs are so popular as pets so it is more socially acceptable to spend money on a dog's care. Most other people can relate to why you would spend $500 on your dog when it got Parvo. Because it loves you and you love it and they have that same bond with their dog at home. It is the necessary thing to do. But with a bird it is viewed more as a pet to look at and listen to and show off when it talks. Because they are not as popular as pets many people can't understand the bond you would make with your bird and so they are viewed as replaceable. It is just like when Danny hurt his foot, many friends and family did not understand why I took him to the vet, it is just a bird you can get a new one.
Also I think because you see so many birds in the wild everyday (and no wild dogs) people expect them to be more hardy and able to fend for themselves.

You know what, Lara? I just cannot relate to this situation at all. I have had dogs (3 in the past, none right now) and cats (I currently have a 7 year old one named Rudy that I have raised since a kitten) and I must say, I would never spend less on any bird of mine than I would on a dog or cat. I just wouldn't. My birds are valued members of the family and I would not spend less on them. Without a doubt, between cages, toys and food, I already spend WAY more on my birds than I ever spent on all of my dogs or cats total!!!

I think it may have something to do with the stigma that's been attached to birds for so long. Many still view them as something that sits in a cage, to be viewed as an ornament or a novelty item more so than as a pet.

When I read your post I immediately thought that in the households that you are talking about, the bird is not really considered part of the family, whereas the dog most likely is. The dog can easily go on car rides or trips and is generally involved in all household activities, even if it's just being in the same room lying on the floor next to them. The bird, however, might not even see out of cage time - confined to one room, not able to participate in everything or everyone in the house. Thus, making it more of a "cool decoration" of looking and not touching (espcially if that special bond is not present with most household members).

I think it would also depend on the original price of the bird. Take a budgie, or tiel for example - they generally cost a minimum amount of money and are a lot of times considered "replaceable." Most people cannot grasp spending $100.00 of vet care when they only paid $10.00 for the bird. On the other hand, dogs and cats may even be obtained for free, but most people take their new puppies or kittens for vaccinations and spaying/neutering - it's considered pretty standard practice. Vaccinations or spaying/neutering doesn't need to happen with birds, so maybe some people disregard the need for any medical attention at all.

I think it all boils down to the fact that most people of the general population do not know much about birds - their physiology, the care that they need (diet, housing, etc.), or their personalities. I think that if people took the time to look into these things, they might see how special and important they are. I think the internet is a great starting resource to spread the word about their needs, so I do think the word is getting out - slowly - that birds need more than a small cage with no attention.

I have been a dog person all my life. My best friend as a kid growing up was German Shepard named Chica. I now have 4 birds and no dog. Yet. lol I don't know for sure but the first thing that came to mind was the only reason I would spend more for my dog would be because it cost more then the bird. I mean the vet bill would be higher not the price of the critter. Because I would never spend $1000 for a dog!! Go figure huh?

I would agree that it has a lot to do with familiarity and perception. Dogs are perceived as companions, parrots are perceived as ornaments. And lets face it, parrots are more difficult, in a sense, in many ways. Many more people know how to provide for, and cope with, a dog. Birds are totally different in behavior, requirements, etc. They are a bit too "alien" for many people to relate to other than as something pretty that sits in a cage. When that "something pretty" starts pooping all over the place, screaming at inopportune times, biting, or needing expensive veterinary care, the pretty factor alone isn't enough to carry the day.

I've wandered away from the original question here, but I think willingness to provide veterinary care relates to treatment of the animal in general. You might be shocked to discover (per capita) how many dogs don't receive the veterinary care they need. Its important to remember that abused and neglected dogs undoubtedly outnumber abused and neglected birds by several factors. Partially because there are so many more dogs kept as pets then are birds. It would be interesting to undertake a study to determine what percentage of birds (in pet situations) are neglected or abused as opposed to what percentage of dogs (or for that matter, other pets). I have a gut feeling that percentage wise, the numbers might end up quite similar, and I think those numbers might carry over into willingness to spend money on a vet. In fact, you might even find that parrots (particularly if you factor out the so called "cheap" birds) actually fare better!

I think everyone has a very good point. Perhaps it is that birds are more expensive and it is harder to care for them than dogs or cats. Finding avian vet care is hard and expensive. Most people think birds are more ornamental than dogs. Most people ask me questions like 'can you hold them?' and are they friendly. Of course they are, but itjust goes to show how clueless people are about birds.

Ditto. I've been very interested in what I've been hearing so far.

I also feel that people have the idea that you can do more with a dog. You can take them for walks, play fetch, etc. Us bird owners know that we can do the same with out birds (just slightly different). Birds are much more expensive than dogs, and there are many more homeless dogs than there are parrots. But more dogs are adopted each year that parrots because a lot don't have problems with biting, screaming or... plucking?Birds, however can get these problems and rescues won't just adopt them out as they will dogs.

Besides the fact that there are hundreds of dogs that don't get veterinary care, think about that percentage versus birds. If we asked 100 dog owners and 100 bird owners if their pets get regular vet care, I'm sure the dog's perentage would out number birds. General vet care is muchh cheaper than exotic vet care.