Introduction to Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery-1CPD
The aim of this presentation is to familiarise veterinary staff with keeping and raising of backyard poultry flocks with an introduction to common diagnostics, procedures and diseases seen in practice.
Amber grew up on the Mornington Peninsula raising and breeding cockatiels and from an early age realised that working with birds was her passion. Amber studied veterinary medicine at the University of Melbourne and took every chance as a student to work with avian veterinarians and learn all she could about avian health. It was during her studies that she became involved with the Association of Avian Veterinarians – Australasian chapter, volunteering as a student at their annual conferences.
After graduation from veterinary school in 2010, Amber began working at a small animal practice on the Mornington Peninsula. In 2011, she was awarded a foreign veterinarian scholarship to attend the worldwide Association of Avian Veterinarians conference in Seattle, USA. Then in 2012, Amber made the huge move to the USA where she undertook a one-year rotating small animal internship at VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Centre in Indianapolis. Amber then stayed in the area to complete a residency in Avian Practice at the Avian & Exotic Animal Clinic of Indianapolis under the supervision of the esteemed Dr Angela Lennox.
After completion of her residency in 2015, Amber moved to Boston to start practicing at VCA South Shore specialty hospital and later at VCA Wakefield Animal Hospital. Whilst there, she worked with emergency veterinarians and mentored veterinary interns in avian and exotic animal medicine. In 2017, Amber passed her Avian Practice specialty examinations through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). This was a culmination of many years hard work and study so that she can provide a higher standard of care for her patients. There are approximately 125 other specialists in Avian Practice throughout the world.
Realising the lack of quality information online for bird owners and combining her love of teaching, in 2018 Amber launched her website and professional social media accounts as a platform for client education. Amber is an active member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) and as of 2020 she is co-chair of the AAV’s social media committee.
Amber is comfortable treating all manner of species, but her particular interests are in avian reproduction, anaesthesia, pain management and surgery. She has published a number of articles and textbook chapters for the education both veterinarians and pet owners. At the end of 2020, Amber and her partner made the huge move back home to Victoria to be closer to friends and family.
