Emergency and Urgent Vet Care for Exotic Pets in Charleston, SC

Stabilizing your pet before transport for emergency care is essential. Here are our recommendations:

• Keep your pet in a quiet, warm, dark enclosure to minimize their stress.
• If your pet is bleeding, place them in a quiet, dark enclosure and monitor them closely. If the bleeding stops, leave your pet alone until we can examine them. If bleeding persists, gently wrap your pet in a towel and apply direct pressure to the bleeding area for several minutes. Applying a small amount of styptic powder or ice to the area can also be helpful.
• If your pet seems to be cold, try to warm them using one of the following techniques:
  • Gently wrap them in a warm towel
  • Place a hot water bottle or heat-producing light near (not on) your pet
  • Place a heating pad wrapped in a protective cover on its lowest setting and place it under half or a third of the enclosure floor (never place your pet directly on a heating pad)
• If your pet is poorly responsive but still able to swallow, try rubbing a small amount of Karo syrup on their gums.
• If your pet has fractures or other injuries, place them in a Hospital Box or other small container to minimize further damage.

This temporary “at-home” solution can keep sick/injured pets stable for ER transport.

1. Take a plastic clear container (i.e. Tupperware or Rubbermaid) that is large enough for your pet. A parakeet can use roughly a shoebox-sized container. A vented top is recommended so the heat will be retained while permitting airflow; you do not want to overheat your pet.

2. Place a heating pad under the box and set it on low to medium. Place your hand on the pad to make sure it is not too hot. Ideally, you can use a thermometer and you want the ambient temperature to be roughly 90 degrees Fahrenheit for birds or the appropriate temperature range for your pet. In the daytime you can place a lamp over the box to generate heat. Make sure the light is turned off in the evening so your pet can rest.

3. Place some paper towels in the bottom of the box to use as a substrate. This way you can monitor your pet’s fecal output and urination. If there is decreased fecal output, this means your pet may not have eaten for a while.

4. Place small dishes or paper plates inside the box for water, feed and vegetables as appropriate for your pet. This way you can monitor your pet’s food intake and water consumption. Remember that a pet may pick at the food but it does not necessarily mean that he/she is eating it.

5. You can use an eyedropper or syringe to supplement your pet with some fluids/calories once he/she seems more stable. Ensure, Pedialyte, or baby foods appropriate for your pet are some products that you can use. Make sure that these items are warmed up in a warm water bath, not a microwave, prior to administration. You can give a parakeet approximately 1cc or ml, a cockatiel about 3-5cc and so on.

It is always important to be prepared in case of an emergency. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Seeing a non-specialized vet
• Dismissing medical signs as non-medical
• Failing to get the proper diagnostic procedures done
• Accepting veterinary diagnosis/treatment without question or research
• Viewing secondary signs of illness as the primary cause
• Giving your pet the wrong medication, insufficient dosage or duration