The Exotic Pet Vet Blog
You plan an exotic, or perhaps not so exotic, getaway for you and your family. Tickets are booked, hotel plans are made, then you are stuck with the question – what do I do with my beloved exotic pet? Some owners bring in a pet sitter who will come twice a day to visit, feed and clean their pet in their home. While there are benefits to having someone come to your house when you’re away, a lot can happen to your pet during the hours the sitter is not there. Another option is to bring your pet to the…
Gerbil vs. Hamster: Differences in Care, Behavior, and Personality
A hamster and a gerbil look alike at first glance, but the two rodents differ in social habits, sleep schedule, body shape, and handling style. Hamsters are mostly solitary, nocturnal,…
What Can I Feed My Parakeet? A Bird Owner’s Guide to a Balanced Diet
A healthy parakeet diet rests on a quality formulated pellet, a daily mix of fresh vegetables, a little fruit, and seed as an occasional treat. So, what can I feed…
How Long Do Parakeets Live? Lifespan, Wild Versus Home, and Healthy Aging
Most pet parakeets live about 5 to 10 years, and a well-cared-for budgie sometimes reaches its teens. So, how long do parakeets live in the average home? Long enough to…
What Are Some Common Pet Birds? A Guide to Popular Feathered Companions
Budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, conures, canaries, finches, and African grey parrots rank among the most popular companion birds, and each one brings a different personality, lifespan, and care routine to the…
Why Is My Chicken Sneezing? Everyday Irritants, Illness, and When to Call a Vet
An occasional sneeze in a chicken is usually just dust or a tickle in the nasal passages, but repeated sneezing, especially alongside other changes, can point to a respiratory problem…
Common Causes of Feather Plucking in Birds and How Avian Vets Find Answers
The common causes of feather plucking in birds fall into three broad groups: medical problems, emotional or behavioral stress, and environmental factors. Many birds have more than one at work…
Why Is My Parakeet Shaking? What Bedford Hills Bird Owners Should Know
Parakeets shake for plenty of harmless reasons, including fluffing their feathers, drying off after a bath, and getting excited, but constant trembling paired with a puffed-up, sleepy look can point…
Why Is My Parrot Screaming? Common Causes and When to Call an Avian Vet
Parrots scream mainly to communicate: to call out to their flock, to ask for attention, to react to something startling, or to mark the start and end of the day.…
When Do Birds Molt? What Bedford Hills Bird Owners Should Expect
Birds molt once or twice a year, and wild species usually do it in late summer or early fall, after nesting ends. So when do birds molt if they live…
Egg Bound Chicken: Causes, Warning Signs, and Why It Needs a Vet Fast
An egg bound chicken is a hen who cannot pass an egg, and the usual culprits include low calcium, excess weight, oversized or misshapen eggs, an inflamed reproductive tract, and…