Articles

Does My Exotic Pet Need Emergency Medical Care?

Are you home with your exotic pet and noticing something is wrong? Are you wondering if you need to go to an emergency room or if it can wait till the morning? Are you wondering if there is anything you can do at home? The following document will help answer some of these confusing, often frightening, topics. Read More

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Tips for Bonding Bunnies!

At the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine, it is our philosophy that rabbits require companionship of at least one other rabbit to keep them happy and comfortable in our care. Rabbits are very social by nature, living in large social groupings. It would be very unusual for a rabbit to live alone, and our goal is to educate clients about safe ways to have more than one rabbit. Sometimes, when rabbits first meet, there are some territorial confrontations and dominance arguments that manifest as fighting. Read More

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Should I microchip my exotic pet?

A pet microchip is a radio-frequency identification transponder made up of a few components encased within a slender sterile capsule, about the size of a grain of rice, which is used for implants in animals. They are placed either under the skin, or in the muscle. Each chip stores a unique ID number that is used to retrieve a pet owner’s contact information. Read More

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Why Is My Ferret Pawing at His/Her Mouth?

One of the more common reasons people bring their pet ferrets to see us is because they see them pawing at their mouths, often sticking their toes and feet into their mouths as if they were trying to scratch the roof of their mouths. This behavior can be seen with a few medical conditions which we outlined for you below. Read More

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Encephalitozoon Cuniculi

If you notice that your rabbit has a head tilt, is walking crooked or clumsy, has a noticeable eye problem, has any sort of neurologic symptom such as severe weakness or seizures, or urinary issues, they may be showing signs of an infectious disease called Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Read More

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Top Toxins to Pet Birds

Exposure to toxins is a serious problem in companion birds due to several factors including their size, anatomy and physiology, and inquisitive nature. Often owners are unaware that certain substances can be toxic to their birds or unsure of the source of the toxin in their home. Read More

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What Do I Do? My Bird Laid An Egg… What Do I Do?

It is usually quite the surprise to parrot owners when their pet lays an egg, especially if they thought it was a male, or if it lives without a mate. Just like with production chickens laying eggs for consumption, any single bird will become reproductively active and can lay an unfertilized egg during its life in captivity. Read More

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Why did my bird suddenly die?

One of the most heartbreaking scenarios is when a client calls to inform us their beloved companion bird suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Usually this phone call comes with some of the most difficult questions: Why? Read More

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What should you expect at your first/annual wellness exam with your bird?

Bringing your bird to an avian veterinarian every year is vital to the long-term health of your pet. Even if your bird appears to be perfectly healthy, there is tremendous value in allowing our doctors and staff to perform a physical exam and to educate you on the best ways to care for your bird. Read More

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Why does my rabbit have head tilt?

Here at The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine, we treat many rabbits with varying degrees of a head tilt. Sometimes the symptoms are mild and the rabbit’s head will slightly tilt to one side. Other symptoms are severe and rabbits will roll and spin in circles, not able to distinguish what is up or down. Read More

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Spaying or Neutering Your Pet Skunk

Skunks are becoming increasingly popular as companion pets in the Unites States. There are many factors to consider before committing to a pet skunk, and one of the most important is the serious problem of biting and the potential for aggression if left intact (not spayed or neutered). Read More

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Wellness Tips & Signs of Illness: Ferrets

While ferrets are technically illegal in New York City, this law does not prohibit veterinarians from treating them. In fact here at the Center, a large percentage of the pets we treat are illegal to own in this City. Read More

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Zoonotic disease

Anyone who is considering becoming or is currently a companion animal owner should be aware of the potential risk of zoonoses, which are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from non-human animals to humans (or the reverse, in some cases!). Read More

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Metabolic Bone Disease In Reptiles

What is Metabolic Bone Disease? Also called fibrous osteodystrophy, osteomalacia, secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, or rickets, Metabolic Bone Disease is perhaps the most commonly seen nutritional problem in reptiles. MBD is the result of a calcium/phosphorous imbalance in the body which causes a weakening of … [Read more...]

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Easter and Bunnies…

Most people, particularly children, love to look at adorable little bunnies in pet stores. During the Easter season we are inundated with commercials and advertising featuring rabbits, as well as candies and bunny-themed Easter events. Unfortunately, admiring rabbits and giving in to children’s pleas are two very different things. Read More

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Wellness Tips & Signs of Illness: Small Rodents: Hamsters, Gerbils, Rats, Mice

Small rodents should all be evaluated for a post purchase exam immediately after you purchase or adopt your new companion. During this exam, our doctors and staff will examine your pet for any obvious signs of physical illness, teach you how to properly feed and care for your rodent in ways the pet stores can not, and offer you appropriate testing to ensure your new investment is happy and healthy. Read More

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Management of Dental Abscesses in Rabbits

Dental abscesses are common in rabbits and treatment of these abscesses can be challenging. Abscesses can be detected as a hard lump or swelling typically on either the maxilla (cheek) or the mandible (jaw). Less commonly it can be found in locations such as behind the eye, in the neck or in the sinuses which can carry a poorer prognosis. Read More

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Wellness Tips & Signs of Illness: Reptiles

While many reptiles are technically illegal in New York City, this law does not prohibit veterinarians from treating them. In fact here at the Center, a large percentage of the pets we treat are illegal to own in this City. Read More

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Transporting Exotic Pets in Winter

Baby it’s cold outside…Winter is quickly approaching and with it comes the lower temperatures which cause many exotic pet owners to worry about how to transport their beloved pets to us safely. Read More

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Wellness Tips & Signs of Illness: Rabbits

Rabbits should all be evaluated for a post purchase exam immediately after you purchase or adopt your new companion. During this exam, our doctors and staff will examine your pet for any obvious signs of physical illness, teach you how to properly feed and care for your rabbit in ways the pet stores can not, and offer you appropriate testing to ensure your new investment is happy and healthy. Read More

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Dangers of Heat-Stroke in Exotic Pets

While the summer days in New York City can be grueling for people, it can be much harder on our exotic pets. Bird, rodents, rabbits, and even reptiles are all highly susceptible to elevated temperatures. During this most recent heat-wave, we have seen birds, guinea-pigs, rabbits, and a chameleon present for emergency heat related illnesses. Read More

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Does my ferret have adrenal disease?

All ferrets have a small gland that sits in front of the left and right kidney and their main function is to produce hormones. When a ferret suffers from adrenal disease, these glands become hyperactive and start producing an excess of hormones, especially sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. One or both adrenal glands can be affected and diseased glands are frequently increased in size and in some cases can become cancerous. Read More

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Does Your Ferret Have Insulinoma?

Insulinoma is a benign growth in the pancreas that causes the body to release too much insulin, resulting in persistently low blood glucose/sugar. Signs of insulinoma are lethargy, poor appetite, weak hindlegs, falling over, hypersalivation and even seizures.
Insulinoma can be managed with medication or in certain situations, with surgery. The medication that we use is called Prednisolone (Pediapred). Read More

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To Trim or Not to Trim

When I first started owning and working with birds, I was taught that all pet birds should have their flight feathers trimmed to prevent injury as well as to encourage the human-bird bond. But over the years I have discovered that the decision to trim a bird’s wings is quite controversial, and in many instances we are doing a disservice to our clients and their pet birds if we automatically trim. Read More

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Anemia in Avian and Exotic Pets

Anemia is a relatively common finding in avian and exotic pet medicine. Anemia is defined as a reduction in the number of red blood cells in the circulation. A veterinarian may suspect anemia by noticing pale mucous membranes, however blood tests such as a compete blood count (CBC) or packed cell volume (PCV) are required to determine the actual degree of anemia. Read More

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Wellness Tips & Signs of Illness: Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs should all be evaluated for a post purchase exam immediately after you purchase or adopt your new companion. During this exam, our doctors and staff will examine your pet for any obvious signs of physical illness, teach you how to properly feed and care for your guinea pig in ways the pet stores can not, and offer you appropriate testing to ensure your new investment is happy and healthy. Read More

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Wellness Tips & Signs of Illness: Birds

Pet birds should all be evaluated for a post purchase exam immediately after you purchase or adopt your new avian companion. During this exam, our doctors and staff will examine your pet for any obvious signs of physical illness, teach you how to properly feed and care for your specific species of bird in ways the pet store or breeder cannot, and offer you appropriate testing to ensure your new investment is happy and healthy. Read More

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Feather Picking

Feather picking (feather destructive behavior) is a relatively common condition among pet birds which tends to predominate in African gray parrots, Quakers and various cockatoo species; however the condition can occur in any pet bird. Read More