When it involves exotic animals, owners are sometimes unaware of how much assistance veterinarians can offer. People with pets like iguanas, ferrets, parrots, snakes, and rodents do not have to feel alone when it comes to caring for all their needs.
Exotic pets can be treated by the same veterinarian who handles routine examinations on felines and dogs. Because of the specific treatment required for exotic pets, developing a close working connection with your vet is even more crucial. Here are some common reasons you need to take your exotic animal to the veterinarian.
Reasons to Take Your Exotic Pet to a Vet
Exotic animals have specific needs that have to be fulfilled through regular wellness tests. Below are six reasons your precious family member needs frequent examination.
1. Unusual Behavior
Talk to an exotic vet if your pet is acting “odd” in any way. It is crucial to learn that even if a pet is exotic doesn’t mean its weird habits are often the result of its unique character. You have to contact your vet right away if you see anything unusual with your exotic pet. This is because some unusual habits aren’t caused by character but could be signs of a bigger problem.
2. Nutritional and Dietary Needs
Your exotic animal needs a balanced diet to thrive. Pets’ dietary needs may change as they age. As your pet ages or develops food intolerances, you may need to adjust its diet and feeding schedule. Issues might arise if you attempt to change their diet without determining the reason for their unusual behavior.
Because of their sensitivity to dietary deficiency, exotic pets must only be cared for by qualified experts. There are pet foods on the marketplace that your pet can not tolerate or digest, so you need to seek advice from your vet.
3. Nail Trimming and Grooming
Grooming and nail clipping are common requirements for exotic animals. However, this may be challenging and even impossible to do by yourself, depending on the type of pet you have. You can request help with both of these when you take your exotic animal to the vet. You can also inquire as to whether or not anesthetics are needed for grooming or nail trimming. In that case, your pet’s veterinarian can help.
4. Vaccinations
Routine vaccinations are essential for some exotic species, but not all. How often and when you need to vaccinate your exotic pet is totally up to the species you’re raising. For example, rabies vaccinations are required for several rodents; however, not all of them. On the contrary, vaccinations are barely given to reptiles.
Visit an avian veterinary or any exotic vet about the vaccines needed for your new exotic pet before taking it home. Additionally, the vet can tell you if the recommended vaccinations aren’t always necessary.
5. Preventative Care
Exotic pets require basic care practices to guarantee their health. To stay healthy, some types need regular checkups at the vet. Through innovative diagnostic tests at a veterinary diagnostic laboratory, they can determine particular problems and have frank discussions about common problems with your pet to help prevent illness. They should also carry out parasite tests on pets. Humans can contract intestinal parasites from birds.
6. Signs of Illness
It goes without stating that if your exotic pet displays signs of illness, you need to take it to the veterinarian. However, it can be challenging to tell if certain pets are ill. For example, snakes are prone to upper respiratory infections. Still, it can be hard to identify the symptoms in your pet. That’s why it is essential to seek advice from a vet focusing on internal medicine, like Everhart Animal Hospital, to find out about your pet’s internal condition.
