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August 2015 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
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Exotic animals need veterinary care
just like dogs and cats. Birds, small
mammals, and reptiles are great at
hiding illness. Because many of these
animals are prey species, they have to
be able to hide their illness well to be
able to survive in the wild. They may
not show signs of sickness until they
are in critical condition. What are
things that you can do to help keep
your exotic animal healthy and free of
sickness?
1. Twice yearly
veterinary physical
examinations:
By performing a physical exam
twice per year, your veterinarian may
be able to notice subtle changes in
your pet’s health status. This way,
diseases can be caught early. During
your appointment, a veterinarian can
also give you excellent nutrition and
behavior advice for your exotic pets.
2. Annual Bloodwork:
PET HEALTH
Exotic Veterinary Care
Working with animals requires
patience, understanding, and,
above all, compassion; both for
the animal and for
their owners
(859) 252-4917
www.villageanimalhospital.net
1801 Alexandria Dr., Suite 180 • Lexington, KY 40504
3. Appropriate
husbandry:
Many common diseases of exotic
animals can be prevented by provid-
By Dr. Reinhard, Village Animal Hospital
FREE NEW PATIENT EXAMS
Bloodwork can show changes in
your pet’s internal metabolic status.
Typical bloodwork performed is
a complete blood count to look at
red blood cells for any evidence of
anemia, white blood cells to look
for infection or inflammation within
the body, and platelet counts to
ensure appropriate blood clotting.
Also, a serum chemistry should be
performed to look at liver and kidney
function. Performing bloodwork will
also give you baseline normal values
for your animal so when they are sick,
we have comparison results. Some
special infectious disease testing
should be performed if you are adopting a new bird especially if you have
other birds at home. Also, a blood test
can tell you whether your bird is male
or female.