Case Study: This Snake Bit Off More than It Could Chew

Rat snake with a large foreign object stuck in its body

This lovely wild rat snake was brought to us by a rescue organization after getting itself into quite the predicament. It had a large foreign body in its stomach that it was unable to pass. The snake was active and alert and otherwise was in good spirits, so surgical removal of the mystery object was…

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Case Study: A Delicate EGGstraction

Macaw feels much better after a stuck egg is removed

This macaw was out of state with her family when she started acting abnormally on a Friday. Her owners searched for a qualified vet, but no one was able to help. They were able to get her into an emergency clinic and had an x-ray which confirmed there was an egg present. She has never…

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Case Study: Guinea Pig Loses 1/3 of Her Body Weight in 1 Hour!

Ovarian cysts are very common in female guinea pigs, and we recommend spaying them around 3 months of age to prevent reproductive issues from developing. By the time she was 10 months old, this female guinea pig had already developed two extremely large ovarian cysts. She was scheduled for surgery with us and presented with…

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Seniors Rule!

Rabbit Radiograph with stone

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We recommend senior pets have annual to biannual bloodwork performed to keep tabs on any changes in organ function and annual imaging performed to catch issues of concern that may not register with bloodwork alone. An 80-year-old tortoise was found to have an enormous bladder…

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A Ferret with Something Extra

Male ferret with testicles

Neutering a ferret is not something we do every day, because the ferrets sold in pet stores have already been spayed or neutered before being offered for sale. This little guy came from an interesting rescue background and somehow never was neutered. Until today. He started marking “his” territory in his rescue home with urine,…

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Know Your Normal

Post-surgical bun in incubator recovering nicely

Knowing what is normal for your exotic pet is key to spotting illness, as these pets will do everything in their power to hide weakness and illness until they are absolutely drained of resources and often at death’s door. Any change from normal behavior should raise a red flag for you and be treated as…

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Spring has Sprung!

After a dreary cold winter, it is so nice to enjoy our Southern Spring before the heat of summer sets in. When the weather is beautiful we want to share it with our pets, but we need to do so safely. Unseen threats are all around us including disease, parasites, chemical pesticides and fertilizers and…

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Case Study: A Tail and Two Stones

Feisty iguana post-surgery

This 14 year old female iguana was brought  into our clinic for suspected tail rot. In an older iguana, death of the tail tip is very concerning. No matter the underlying cause, the dead part of the tail had to be removed which meant surgery. Before that, we needed to figure out the cause of…

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The ABCs of UVB

Why does my pet need an Ultraviolet light (UVB)? Vitamin D is an essential “fat-soluble vitamin”, required by many vertebrate species. It helps the body metabolize and absorb calcium Protective against various disease conditions like Metabolic Bone Disease, Dental Disease Can also contribute to reproductive success of many egg-laying animals UVB synthesizes vitamin D3 Windows,…

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Tooth or Consequences

Chinchilla Dental Procedure

February is Pet Dental Health Month, and while it is common for dogs and cats to visit their veterinarian for regular dental examinations and cleanings, the dental health of exotic pets is often overlooked until there is an obvious issue, such as lack of appetite, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or visible irritation or abscesses.…

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