For advertising information visit www.samplerpublications.com or call 859.225.4466 | August 2015
&
31
Birds, small mammals, and reptiles are
great at hiding illness.
ing your exotic animal with the appropriate husbandry including proper diet, housing, and temperature requirements. Any
time you adopt a new exotic animal, you should consult with
your veterinarian to determine the appropriate way to care for
your exotic animal. You can also research reliable books and
websites, which can be an excellent source for husbandry information. Diseases can be more prevalent in exotic animals
fed inappropriate diets or not in ideal housing situations.
For example, a snake kept at temperatures too low can be
predisposed to developing respiratory infections. Guinea
pigs and rabbits fed too many pellets and not enough
good quality hay can be predisposed to dental problems, bladder stones, and intestinal problems.
If you give your exotic animal the care that it needs,
it can live a long healthy life. It is important to know
when adopting or purchasing an exotic animal that
there is a lot that goes into caring for these special
creatures to keep them healthy. Always do your
research and work closely with your veterinarian
when acquiring a new pet.
Fun Facts About Exotics:
1. Guinea pigs like humans cannot produce their
own Vitamin C so they need this in their diet or
they may get scurvy! Excellent sources of Vitamin
C include kale and red bell peppers.
2. When a rabbit jumps into the air and twists its body
around playfully, this is called a “binky”. This is a sign
that they are happy and playful.
3. Reptiles have much slower metabolisms than mammals.
Some snake species, for example the Anaconda, can go
months without eating!
4. A group of ferrets is called a “business”.
5. Rats can make excellent pets. They are smart and can be
very social. They live an average of 2-3 years.
6. Sugar gliders have a gliding membrane connecting their
legs that allow them to glide through the trees. They have
been known to glide over 100 feet.
7. A hedgehog has an average of about 5000-6000 quills!
For this reason, all the staff at
Village Animal Hospital have a
common bond: a daily goal to
give our clients and their pets
the most up-to-date and best
possible medical care
• Wellness Care Plans
• Routine Medical Care
• Vaccinations
• Holistic Care Services
• Ultrasound
Each one of
our staff is
committed
to this goal,
making Village
Animal Hospital
a wonderful
environment to
work in
• Radiology
• In-House Laboratory
• Surgical
• Dental
• House Calls
• Hospice
• Euthanasia
• Other services
also provided
We hope you
will feel this
commitment
from us when
you visit, and
come to trust us
with all of your
pet care needs!