Exotic Pets Need Care Too
One of the most important parts of your appointment for an exotic/non-traditional pet is accurately & confidently teaching you about appropriate diets, housing, temperature, light, & health needs that your pet requires in order to have the best chance at staying healthy & comfortable. We learn more & more about the best ways to care for these pets all the time & need to ensure that best practices are discussed. Filling out the Care Sheet information before your appointment & coming with a picture of your indoor &/or outdoor enclosures is very important!
Many exotic pet’s metabolism is much faster (rabbit) or slower (turtle) than traditional pets like cats & dogs. As a result, health conditions can develop & progress rapidly or be so slow & insidious that they are missed by an owner. Most exotic pets benefit from a wellness exam every 6 months. This allows us to catch many health problems early, before they are advanced or life threatening. Wellness bloodwork profiles, fecal examinations & other laboratory testing may be recommended every 6-12 months based on the type of pet you have & its health status.
Exotic pets can be more prone to stress when traveling to the clinic or during the exam. Our clinic uses current “Fear Free” techniques & protocols to keep your pet as relaxed & safe as possible. High stress patients or those that simply will not tolerate an exam will need sedation. There are a number of different sedation protocols to allow a safe exam & evaluation of your pet. Every sedation or anesthesia protocol is tailored to your pet & their needs.