Promoting the exotic pet practice.

The marketing and promotion of an exotic pet veterinary practice allows the use of strategies that are not necessarily available in other veterinary disciplines. The advantage that an exotics practice enjoys is that it is able to capitalize not only on the unique nature of the species being attended but also on the specialized features of the hospital itself that make it specifically appropriate in caring for exotic pets. Before marketing, however, comes the responsibility that the practice live up to the claims made in promotional materials. A practice cannot ethically be presented as an "exotics" practice if it is nothing more than a dog and cat facility that is willing to attend to exotic pets. It is the competence of the veterinary staff and the appropriateness of the facility that determines the suitability of the practice for exotics management.     

Safety issues in the exotic pet practice.

Small animal practitioners are well versed in the potential zoonoses from dogs and cats. Although these account for the vast majority of documented cases of zoonotic disease in humans, there are documented as well as potential zoonotic diseases that the nontraditional companion animal is capable of transmitting. This article is a compilation of potential disease risks to veterinarians, staff, and owners of nontraditional companion animals. In addition, the article may serve as a training tool for veterinary practices.     

The mobile exotic animal pet practice.

Mobile practice is an exciting, interesting, and profitable means to deliver high-quality veterinary care to exotic animal-owning clients. The advantages and disadvantages should be considered carefully when considering this type of practice.     

Increasing efficiency and profitability of the exotic pet practice.

Recent surveys indicate the percentage of households owning exotic pets has increased dramatically. Practitioners interested in the development of an exotic animal practice can take advantage of the increased popularity of these pets and apply proven meth-ods that have benefited traditional companion animal practices.This article examines exotic animal practice in light of these changes and tries to determine ways to increase efficiency and profitability as they relate to this unique practice situation.     

Economic considerations of establishing an exotic pet practice

Written by a veterinarian involved in a private practice at a small animal hospital in Pennsylvania, this article describes a number of the exotic pet cases presented at the hospital and treated as part of the hospital's normal routine. Economic considerations of actively pursuing laboratory animal pets as patients are addressed as well.     

An overview of restraint and blood collection techniques in exotic pet practice

As more data about blood test results become available, blood sampling becomes increasingly important as a diagnostic tool. The increased availability of biochemistry analyzers that sample small volumes of blood has made it possible to get diagnostic profiles and hematology results from pets that have only small volumes of blood to contribute. This article describes techniques for restraint, phlebotomy, and sample preparation of several of the more popular exotic animals in the pet trade. The species covered include birds, lizards, chelonians, snakes, frogs, salamanders, fish, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and giant spiders (tarantulas).     

Equipping the exotic mammal practice.

Many tools used in small animal practice can be adapted for use with exotic mammals. For those veterinarians with a strong interest in exotic mammals, specific equipment and supply needs need to be taken under consideration. Initial investment need not be great to get started with special species, and as the practice develops more specialized equipment can be added. Starting with equipment that aids in patient husbandry, diagnostic sampling, and routine hospital medical and surgical care is very helpful in creating confidence and expertise with these species. As the practice case load grows more sophisticated, equipment can be added, allowing for better diagnostic workups, medical treatment, and surgical care. The right equipment for the right job makes for a more rewarding and efficient exotic mammal practice. The author describes equipment and products (Table 1) he routinely uses in his private practice, and has provided a list of available sources. Readers should keep in mind that this list is not all-inclusive, and that in many instances products discussed can be found from multiple veterinary distributors or vendors. The author does not promote or recommend one supplier or manufacturer over another.     

Orthopedic radiography in exotic animal practice.

Radiographic examination of exotic animal species provides significant diagnostic information to the practitioner so long as attention is paid to positioning and radiographic detail and if variations in normal radiographic anatomy are contemplated. Fracture of pneumatic bones (humerus or femur) in avian patients often results in subcutaneous emphysema, much like an open fracture. If fracture alignment is anatomical, there is generally little callous formation visible in avian and reptile patients; however, if malunion occurs, then certainly callous can be visualized. Aggressive or excessive periosteal proliferation in exotic species often predicts osteomyelitis. Practitioners can increase their diagnostic capabilities and thereby decrease any preconceived anxiety by applying the same general interpretive concepts used in the radiography of more routine small animal patients and by evaluating the resultant radiographs in a systematic manner. With the exception of certain anatomical differences and alterations in response to injury, exotic animal species suffer the same types of orthopedic disease do dogs and cats.     

Salmonella in free-living exotic and native turtles and in pet exotic turtles from SW Spain

We screened 78 native and 94 exotic turtles from natural ponds and 39 exotic pet turtles for presence of Salmonella, resulting with infection rates of 6.61%, 6.4%, and 5.1%, respectively. Concurrent shedding of multiple serotypes of the bacteria was only detected in one pet turtle. Eleven isolates were obtained in free-living turtles, including serotypes commonly found in reptiles and also the serotype Typhimurium, which is commonly related to human infections. In pet turtles, the five serotypes isolated were different to those isolated in free-living turtles and had been reported to cause reptile-associated salmonellosis in humans. These results confirm the risk of transmission of Salmonella from free-living and pet turtles to humans, demanding the necessity of regulation of pet turtle trade in Europe.     

The use of surgical lasers in exotic and avian practice.

Use of diode laser energy with fiberoptic endoscopic delivery in exotic animal and avian practice offers a minimally invasive method for performing specific surgical procedures. Trauma and blood loss are minimized, but the absorption characteristics of the diode laser wavelengths (805/980 nm) must be considered to avoid potential postoperative complications due to collateral photothermal coagulative necrosis.     

Urgent care of the pet rabbit.

Emergency and critical care principles are similar for all mammals; however, the physiology and natural behavior of rabbits create an animal that is easily stressed and requires specialized handling techniques. This article reviews diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, nutritional support, and pain management for urgent care of pet rabbits. Common differential diagnoses for emergencies are briefly reviewed by the clinical presentation. A table of drug dosages used for urgent care is provided.     

Overnutrition: an epidemic problem in pet animal practice?

This review demonstrates that manufactured pet foods contain more than adequate levels of all the essential nutrients needed by normal dogs and cats. Under normal circumstances, therefore, it is completely unnecessary to supplement the rations of these animals with protein, energy, fatty acids, vitamins, or minerals. We have tried to show that, in addition to being unnecessary, supplementation of the rations of normal animals may be quite dangerous, leading to serious--indeed, sometimes fatal--clinical consequences. Pet food manufacturers have responded to newer information regarding increased requirements for specific nutrients such as taurine and potassium. Thus, supplements of these nutrients, as well, are unnecessary in the absence of specific clinical indications. As practitioners, we should be wary of beneficial effects claimed for nutritional supplements. Anecdotal comments, in particular, should be discounted completely. Objective data, including statistical evaluation demonstrating efficacy, should be demanded before accepting claims for such products. Finally, the use of nutritional supplements should be restricted to those cases in which specific clinical problems dictate their use.     

Tumors of pet birds.

Neoplastic diseases are becoming more than a postmortem diagnosis due to the increasing knowledge base and improving quality of avian medicine. The expectation for better health care demands a diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy options. However, the published information regarding prognosis and therapy of specific neoplasms remains limited in avian medicine. With each case report or study that provides this information, there is an improvement in the level of care we can offer our companion avian species. This review will cover some basic information about specific tumor types and will reference the more recent reports in the avian literature. It is not intended to be all encompassing.     

Viruses of pet fish.

Investigation of a fish kill should begin with water quality analysis and use of standard necropsy techniques to rule out the role of parasites or bacteria. The presence of a virus does not mean necessarily that it is a pathogen. Another point to consider is the potential influence of water temperature on pathogenicity; this may be an important factor in developing disease. A list of laboratories that is approved by the USDA to conduct diagnostic testing of aquaculture species can be found at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nvsl/labcertification/aquaapplab.htm.