The dvm360® exotic animal medicine page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on the latest in veterinary exotic animal medicine. This page consists of videos, interviews, articles, podcasts, and research on the advancements and developments of therapies for exotic animal medicine, and more.
February 12th 2025
Originally found mostly in wild birds and poultry, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype D1.1, was discovered in dairy cattle last month
Gastrointestinal disease in ferrets and rabbits (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011Sacculus rotundus; spherical thick-walled enlargement at ileocecal junction. The adjacent cecum has a round patch of lymphoid tissue called the cecal tonsil. The increased thickness of these two lymphoid structures is due to aggregates of organized lymphoid tissue and macrophages in lamina propria and submucosa. Important to recognize this palpable thickening as normal.
Diagnostic and clinical techniques for turtles (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011Turtles appeared in the fossil record over 200 million years ago and were on earth long before mammals and other forms of present day reptiles. They occur in terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, semiaquatic, and marine environments.
Diagnostic and clinical techniques for invertebrates (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011Invertebrate animals comprise 95% of the animal kingdom's species, yet non-parasitic invertebrates are vastly underrepresented in the typical veterinary school curriculum. These notes and the accompanying lecture provide a brief introduction to some of the more prominent invertebrate groups (coelenterates, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, insects, the horseshoe crab, and spiders) and review the state of the science with regards to clinical techniques.
Introduction to invertebrate medicine (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011Invertebrate animals comprise 95% of the animal kingdom's species, yet non-parasitic invertebrates are vastly underrepresented in the typical veterinary school curriculum. These notes and the accompanying lecture provide a brief introduction to some of the more prominent invertebrate groups (coelenterates, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, insects, the horseshoe crab, and spiders) and review the state of the science with regards to clinical techniques.
A veterinarian's role in the 2010 gulf oil spill (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011A mid-morning e-mail query from Dr. Craig Harms alerted me to the possibility of impending deployment to the Gulf of Mexico area for oiled sea turtle triage, treatment, and rehabilitation. Apparently the veterinary support for the Audubon Nature Institute's effort was about to head home and a relief team was needed pronto to provide clinical continuity.
Psittacine pediatric diseases (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011In areas where outdoor breeding is common, psittacines may contract parasitic burdens of ascarids (Ascaridia sp.) that can be harmful or fatal. Fecal direct smears/floatation may demonstrate parasitic ova, however; negatives fecals will occur in some parasitized birds. In endemic areas, outdoor breeding birds and their offspring should be routinely dewormed for nematodes. See table below of pyrantel pamoate dosages.
Perioperative care of exotic mammals (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011State-of-the-art improvements in how we feed and provide medical and surgical care for exotic mammals has resulted in a greater lifespan for these beloved family pets. Many exotic mammal owners are dedicated to the health and well-being of their pets and expect the best in medical care including perioperative care. Utilizing the practice team to provide superior medical and surgical care is the goal.
Exotic mammal surgery–the common and uncommon (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011When performing surgery in ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs and rodents one must take into consideration the small size, rapid metabolic rate and unique physiology of these species. Perioperative supportive care including fluid therapy, prevention of hypothermia, and pain management are essential in ensuring the successful outcome of these small surgical patients. In general, ferrets are very hardy surgical patients and can withstand a high degree of surgical trauma, whereas rabbits and guinea pigs are sensitive surgical patients that require minimal tissue handling and close anesthetic and post operative monitoring.
Geriatric avian medicine (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011Over the past twenty-five years, avian husbandry and medicine have undergone drastic changes, including a significant increase in domestically raised pet birds and major advances in avian nutrition. Despite the potentially adverse psychological effects of incubator hatching and hand-raising (which is a separate but critical concern), these changes have resulted in birds that are living longer. Just as in human medicine, coping with the process of aging is a necessary consequence of greater longevity.
Exotic mammal geriatrics (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011The average life span for the domestic ferret is six to eight years, the domestic rabbit seven to ten years, the guinea pig three to four years and for the rat two to three years. Veterinarians consider the ferret and rabbit to be middle-aged at three years and geriatric at five or more years of age, while a two year old rat is already entering its senior years.
Introduction to pet fish medicine and surgery (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011The group of animals commonly referred to as "fish" is a paraphyletic group of some 30,000-plus described species (www.fishbase.org). That is, it includes all of the descendants of the common ancestor of the vertebrates (subphylum Vertebrata) with the exception of the tetrapods (subclass Tetrapoda–amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, totaling around 23,000 species), a fairly significant branch of the subclass Sarcopterygii alongside lungfish and coelacanths.
Updates on disease testing in birds (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011An excellent resource for information on the testing, treatment, zoonotic and legal implications of this disease can be found in the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) Psittacosis Compendium (www.nasphv.org).
Rabbit medicine overview (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011State-of-the-art improvements in how we feed and provide medical and surgical care for the pet rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has resulted in a greater lifespan for this beloved family pet. The rabbit is the most popular exotic patient seen in the author's small animal and exotics practice and many rabbit owners are dedicated to the health and well-being of their pets and expect the best in medical care.
Using cytology in exotic mammal diagnoses (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011Cytology is a diagnostic tool that may be utilized on a daily basis in veterinary practice as it allows for quick answers with minimum of expense. The goal as a veterinary practitioner with a special interest in cytology is not always to make a definitive diagnosis based on cytologic results, but to help narrow the number of diagnoses on the differential list and give information on prognosis and help direct the formulation of a diagnostic and treatment plan.
Thinking of adding exotic mammals to your case load? Equipment needs (Proceedings)
August 1st 2011For the dog and cat veterinarian, making the transition to include exotic companion mammals in the practice caseload is not difficult. The extent of special equipment needed varies with the degree to which the veterinarian plans to pursue this field of interest.
Endotracheal intubation of small exotic mammals (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011Intubation provides better airway control than a face mask and minimizes the risk of aspiration. This is especially important for complex and prolonged procedures, when complications such as respiratory obstruction and hypoventilation are more likely to occur. Rabbits and rodents are difficult to intubate.
Gastrointestinal stasis in small herbivores (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011Rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs are monogastric, hind-gut fermenters; all have a functional cecum and require a high-fiber diet. Fiber is broken down in the cecum by a variety of microorganisms which are nourished by a constant supply of water and nutrients from the stomach and small intestine.
Building your exotic animal caseload (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011Exotic animal medicine is an exciting and rapidly growing part of companion animal practice. Exotics represent roughly 25-30% of the companion animal market for veterinary services. Pet owners readily seek out veterinary care for birds, small exotic mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
Antimicrobial use in exotics (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011In order to use antimicrobial drugs in exotic patients effectively, one has to understand both the basic pharmacokinetics of these drugs, as well as certain key physiological features of the species being treated (e.g. a poikilotherm animal vs. a homeotherm). One mayor problem in the use of antimicrobial drugs approved for dogs and cats in exotic species, is the fact that there is little clinical data available on the use of these drugs in exotic patients.
Practical reptile care (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011As the popularity of reptiles has grown, so has the demand for quality veterinary care. Today, reptile medicine represents a viable subset of companion animal practice. Reptiles are stoic and have evolved to mask signs of illness, which makes them a challenge to diagnose and treat. For veterinarians and technicians who are willing to become proficient, however, reptile practice offers many rewards.
Acute and chronic renal Disease in reptiles (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011Kidney related diseases are a major cause of illness and death in captive lizards. Improper captive husbandry and diet are the most common predisposing causes of chronic renal failure - which is typically seen in adult lizards. Whereas acute onset of renal disease is often due to infectious or toxic causes (Including medications) and appears to effect any age animal and is typically more sporadic in occurrence.
Small herbivore dental disease (Proceedings)
May 1st 2011Rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas are all monogastric, hindgut-fermenting herbivores adapted to a course, high-fiber diet. They graze and browse almost continuously, chewing on plant material, gradually wearing their teeth down as a result. To compensate, the teeth (incisors and cheek teeth in these species) continue to erupt throughout life, at up to 2 mm per week.