Adding Exotic Animals to Your Practice

What % of pets in the US are exotic?

50%

What is the fastest area of growth in pet ownership?

Exotics

What % of homes in the US have an exotic?

14%

T/F exotic pet owners have a high frequency of conventional domestic pet ownership?

True

How much money is spent on exotics pets every year?

15 billion

Why can exotic pet visits be charged as a premium?

There is a lack of service available

What are the baseline facility requirements to see exotics?

Designated exam rooms

Dedicated ward spaces (if hospitalizations are offerred)

Why do you need designated exam rooms for exotics?

Exotics are usually prey species and are sensitive to predators that were in the area

What species are less sensitive to stimuli from predators?

Birds, reptiles, fish, and ferrets

What features should you have in an exotics exam room?

Sound proofing

Towels and other restraint devices

Supplemental heat

Gram scales, perches, baskets, and buckets for weighing

Secure ceiling tiles to prevent escaping birds

What equipment do yoiu need for small mammals?

Dental equipment

Head loops

Oral speculum

Quit clippers

Incubators

heating discs

Pediatric stethoscopes

What equipment do you need for reptiles?

Aquarium tanks

Heat lamps

Nitrile gloves

What is an affordable animal to add to your species?

Reptiles and amphibians

What equipment do you need for birds?

Incubators

Solid sided ward cages

Dremel tool

Cole/uncuffed endotracheal tubes

Avian collars

Pediatric stethoscopes

What do you need to get to provide premium care for exotics?

Dental radiography equipment

Rigid endoscope

Mini-convex hockey stick US probe

Anesthesia specialized equipment

Why do you need dental radiography equipment?

Small patients will have better detail on a smaller unit

Why do you need a rigid endoscope?

Accessible intubation of small mammals

Why do you need a mini-convex or hockey stick US probe?

Conventional probes are too large

What is the #1 key to success when adding exotics?

Train staff to educate clients on husbandry

T/F it is important to add exotic staff that have good training?

True

What are some problems with getting medications for exotics?

Unique anesthetics

Hormonal management is a big issue that you need to buy

Most drugs are meat flavored

Dispensed injectable formulations are common

What are the staff benefits for seeing exotics?

Exotics have variation to help prevent burnout

Can use it to recruit highly trained staff

Why do exotic appointments usually generate more revenue?

Because they are usually sick and sick visits make more money than wellness

What are some stereotypes of exotic pet ownes?

They are cheap, they are high maintenance, they own illegal pets

T/F you should usually require deposits to reserve appointment times?

True because status of animal can change rapidly