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
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
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.
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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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
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
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