Avian & Exotic

The respiratory system of birds is significantly different, both physiologically and anatomically, from that of mammals.

A simple ventral midline celiotomy provides limited exposure to most abdominal organs in birds.

Davis, Calif. -- Scott Weber, DVM, MS, former head veterinarian at the New England Aquarium in Boston, leads the new Aquatic Animal Health Team at UC-Davis? William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Although, of course, ferrets are not just small cats or dogs, the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in ferrets does mirror that used in cats and dogs, and ferrets often develop similar heart problems.

Talk to reptile owners about adequate sun access.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's New Iberia Research Center was cited for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

A new resource for exotic animal enthusiasts has been launched by the MU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Davis, Calif. -- The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine has launched a new "One Health" program to conserve the world's remaining 740 mountain gorillas.

A new law that could ban ownership of nonnative animals is being debated in Washington.

Endocrine diseases in ferrets have been attributed to genetics, early-age neutering, diet, and photoperiod.

To date there have been very few pharmacokinetic studies published in reptiles, and with only only limited numbers of antibiotics.

When an exotic small mammal presents for a problem associated with the integument, it may be hard not to try to focus on that specific system.

There is no question that the most common health problems associated with captive reptiles are diet related.

In general, all reptiles are covered with scales.

The rise in popularity of herpetoculture over the past two decades has led to an increased number of reptiles being imported and captive reared to meet the demands of herpetoculturists.

Diagnostic imaging is an underutilized resource in herpetological medicine.

"Bad laboratory data are worse than no laboratory data at all."

It has been well established that the majority of bacterial pathogens affecting reptile patients are of the gram negative type.

Many of the exotic species we deal with have evolved to mask their illness to avoid predation.

Nontraditional mammalian species, such as ferrets, lagomorphs, marsupials, hedgehogs, and rodents, are stoic by nature and have evolved to mask their illness to avoid predation.

The majority of the exotic pet cases presented to veterinarians are dehydrated as a result of a chronic disease.

Reptiles take a very long time to get sick. Likewise, amphibians tend to hide disease for prolonged periods.

One of the main reasons for neutering exotic pet mammals is to control reproduction.

Foreign body ingestion is particularly a problem in ferrets less than one year of age.

In general, ferrets are hardy and make excellent surgical candidates.