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…
Popular Pet Birds
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…
How to Safely House Your Ferret
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…
How to Groom Your Ferret
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…
How to Feed Your Pet Ferret
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…
First Aid for Your Bird
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…
Ferrets Need Regular Dental Care
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…
Why Special Species Of Exotic Pets Require Specialized Veterinary Care
In human medicine, special medical problems typically require specialized medical care. For example, if you have a broken bone, you see an orthopedist who specializes in the care of broken…
Getting An Exotic Pet
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…
Holiday Hazards In Exotic Pets
By Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice) Like human infants, rabbits are very oral creatures; they like to put everything in their mouths to check things out. Unfortunately, also…
Common Health Hazards and Toxins for Small Mammals
When people hear about commonly kept small mammal pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hedgehogs, ferrets, rats, hamsters and gerbils, they don’t usually think of them being at high…