Exotic pet care

Exotic pets are seen at Grayhawk by Dr. Christina McBroom, who lists exotic pet medicine and husbandry among her professional interests. She is the only veterinarian at either hospital who sees them, so exotic appointments are arranged on the telephone rather than online.

The species we see

Rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, pet birds, tortoises, non-venomous snakes, lizards and ferrets.

Why waiting is riskier with an exotic pet

Most exotic pets are prey species. Rabbits, guinea pigs and small birds in particular are built to conceal weakness rather than display it, and that instinct does not switch off in a living room. By the time a rabbit looks quiet to you, or a bird sits fluffed on the floor of its cage, the illness behind it has usually been under way for some time.

These are the signs worth a same-day call. A rabbit that has stopped eating, or whose droppings have gone small or scarce. A bird sitting fluffed and quiet, or spending time on the floor of the cage. A bearded dragon or other reptile that is not basking in its usual spot, or has gone off food. A guinea pig or chinchilla that has become still and unusually tolerant of handling.

What happens during an exotic pet visit

The visit is a physical exam adapted to the species, and then a review of husbandry: diet, enclosure size and substrate, temperature and humidity gradients for reptiles, out-of-cage time for birds, enrichment for small mammals.

Handling a bird, a rabbit or a reptile

A stressed bird shows it as feather damaging behavior, a change in vocalization, or going still and quiet.

Restraint is kept short. Exotic patients go into their own exam room, away from the dog traffic, and reptiles go back to an appropriate temperature quickly.

Before your first visit

Bring three things: the completed history form, photographs of the enclosure, and a written list of the diet, covering what you offer and separately what your pet actually eats.

Two history forms are specific to exotic patients, and filling one in beforehand gives the doctor the husbandry picture in advance. Both are here: the Avian History Form and the Reptile Husbandry Form. If your exotic pet is new to us, you can also start as a new client here.

What an exotic pet exam costs

The exam is $99. Anything recommended during the visit, like bloodwork or a fecal test, is discussed and priced with you before it happens.

All published prices