Exotic Companion Animal Facilites

The number of households in the US with at least one specialty or exotic pet

23 million

Responsiblity, knowledge, and skill of Exotic Vet practices

• Treating diverse species

• Proper handling restraint and clinical procedures

• Understand behavior

• Have proper equipment

Staff Education

• Responsible for the knowledge and skills required to treat diverse species

• Professionally trained in handling, restraint, and clinical and laboratory procedures

• Requires an advanced education

• Consider unique aspects of anatomy when handling and treating patients

• Consider unique aspects of the behavior

• Aware of stress caused by the presence of predators

Facility Concerns

• Need an area to examine and hospitalize exotic pets away from domestic species

• Ensure that all escape routes are blocked, and all exhaust fans are turned off and covered

• Exotic pets should not be able to see, hear or smell dogs, cats or other predator species

Equipment needed

• Gram scale

  • Accurate weight in grams

• Have supplies appropriate for the potential species to be treated (perches, cages, microtainer blood tubes, heat sources, etc.)

Office visit

• Additional time may be needed for visits

• Transport pet in primary enclosure if possible

• Many hide signs of illness, making the accuracy of signalment especially important

• Knowing the sex and life stage is required for accurate diagnosis

• Many medications are also not approved for use, so their use is considered extra-label

• Exotic pets should not be able to see, hear or smell dogs, cats or other predator species

Client education

• Owners may have received inaccurate information on the care of their pet

• Client handouts and models should be available to aid in client education

• Consider retail areas in the practice to aid in the appropriate acquisition of food, treat, and enrichment

Exotic pets include

Birds, reptiles, amphibians, and a number of “pocket pets”

Pocket Pets

• Mice, hamsters, gerbils, sugar gliders, rabbits, and guinea pigs

Approach for the physical exam

Systematic while evaluating each body system carefully

Medications for Exotics

Many are not approved for use, so their use is considered extra-label

True/False: Exotic pets should be able to see, hear or smell dogs, cats or other predator species

False