Common Health Concerns for Small Mammals and Exotics

Small animals don’t mean small responsibility. Exotic pets and small mammals can develop any number of health concerns that require veterinary intervention and sometimes changes to at-home care.

Reptile Vet Care

For proper exotic pet care, it’s important to understand your pet’s individual needs. A common health issue for reptiles is incorrect amounts of UVB light exposure. Some reptiles require high UVB light exposure for optimal health, while others can do with less as long as their diet is sufficient. Keep in mind that UVB lamps need to be tested regularly to ensure they are transmitting an appropriate level of UVB light.

Small Mammal Pet Care

Small mammal pet care is slightly different for every species but there are some common health ailments between them. For instance, rabbits and many rodents have constantly growing teeth, so a common health concern is when they become overgrown. Fibrous foods such as hay are essential for keeping their dental growth in check as the high fiber diet helps to naturally wear teeth down. Additionally, pet ferrets suffer from an unusually high rate of cancer, and early detection is the best means of survival. Signs may include weight loss, weakness, lethargy, hair loss, and vomiting.

As you can gather from the above information, regular pet wellness exams are essential for exotic pet care. Furthermore, all of these animals commonly (and expertly) mask signs of illness for as long as possible, so chances are, you may never notice anything is wrong until the condition is critical. With a vet visit to us, we’ll be able to assess them for any developing conditions, and also offer you home care advice regarding:

• Environment
• Nutrition
• Grooming (if needed)
• Exercise
• Socialization
• Safe Handling
• And much more

Call today to set up your small mammal or exotic pet’s wellness exam.