Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotics Blog

Cockatiels are very social, interactive birds that make great first pets for families with elementary school-aged children and older. They have big personalities trapped in little bird bodies. They can learn to talk and to do tricks and love to hang out with their human family members. They don’t take up much space and are…

What is it? If you own a pet rabbit, you have likely heard about a new virus that is killing both pet and wild rabbits around the world by causing uncontrollable bleeding. RHD, also called viral hemorrhagic disease, is a virus that is endemic to Australia, New Zealand, Cuba, Europe, and parts of Asia and…

Parakeet: The parakeet, also known as a budgerigar or budgie, is a small parrot that originally comes from Australia. Highly social birds, budgies can be found in the wild in flocks of thousands! As such, they often do best when they are housed with one or more other budgies to form a small flock. Due…

Ferrets are definitely mischievous, and if left alone, they tend to get into everything. Therefore, it’s critical that ferrets be kept caged when they are unsupervised. Since they are truly talented escape artists, ferrets should be housed in cages that can be securely closed and/or locked. Cages should be as large as possible – minimally…

While ferrets tend to be very clean animals, grooming themselves regularly like cats do, pet ferrets do need some additional grooming by their owners. Unlike wild ferrets that get the opportunity to wear down their nails by running and climbing outside, pet ferrets generally live indoors, where their nails typically become overgrown unless they are…

Ferrets are carnivores (meat eaters) that in the wild typically eat rodents, birds, and rabbits. Pet ferrets should be fed commercially made, high-protein, moderate-fat, low-carbohydrate pelleted diets formulated specifically for ferrets. Feeding pet ferrets raw diets, such as frozen thawed rodents, isn’t recommended, as their gastrointestinal tracts haven’t been adapted like those of their wild…

We’ve all been there – you’re clipping your bird’s nails, you cut one nail just a little too short, and blood gushes everywhere. Or maybe your bird was out flying around your house and flew right into a mirror, chipping the tip of its beak which is now dripping blood. You start to panic while…

Did you know that ferrets can get dental disease just like cats, dogs, or you? Unlike people, who can communicate that their teeth hurt and make a dentist appointment, our ferret friends are unable to tell us when they are uncomfortable. In fact, unfortunately, sometimes we only find out that ferrets have dental disease when…

By Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice) Birds can make great pets in the right situations. However, unlike pet cats and dogs who often enjoy the company of other animals, not all birds welcome other birds into their environments once they have been established there for a while. Some species of birds do well…