Pet Health | Exotic Animal Info
Over 90 percent of exam visits for exotic and small mammal species we see at our veterinary hospital are a result of poor husbandry. The following are some general guidelines for exotic and small mammal species. Please click on the links for more in depth information.
Rabbits
Rabbits are strict herbivores. We recommend rabbits have free-choice feeding of timothy hay. Rabbits can also be fed pellets along with timothy hay. Pellets should contain 15 to16 percent fiber and protein content of 16 percent. Fresh vegetables can be supplemented, but should not comprise any more than 5% of the total food intake per day. Good vegetable choices include dark, leafy greens, carrots, beets, and cabbage. Rabbits drink more water per pound of body weight than dogs or cats. Therefore, they need access to fresh water at all times to avoid dehydration.
Rabbits can be housed in a wire cage with a plastic bottom that is large enough to allow for hopping. The bottom can be covered with straw or shavings that are changed daily.
We recommend spaying your female rabbit if you are not planning to breed her. The reason is that uterine cancer is the most common cancer of female rabbits. We recommend spaying female rabbits between six and 12 months of age. We recommend neutering your male rabbit at six months to prevent both urine marking and aggressive behavior.
Rabbits are very sensitive to temperatures above 82 degrees F and require shade to conserve water and shelter themselves from heat. It is not good practice to keep guinea pigs and rabbits in the same household. Rabbits can carry Bordetella bronchiseptica without any ill effects, but this bacteria is pathogenic for guinea pigs.
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Ferrets
Ferrets are strict carnivores and require good-quality meat protein and a diet high in fat for energy. Because of their physiology they cannot utilize carbohydrates efficiently or digest fiber. Therefore, a good-quality dry kibble ferret food should have a crude protein content of 35 percent and fat content of 20 percent. Suitable supplemental foods to a dry kibble diet include muscle meat and egg.
Ferrets are intelligent, curious animals that require a minimum of two hours of exercise per day. They should be allowed to investigate boxes, bags and plastic pipes. We recommend that ferrets either be supervised or the playroom be "ferret proofed." This means that all holes to the outside or to areas from which the ferret cannot be retrieved must be blocked off. In addition, all access to any foam or latex rubber items, such as rubber bands, stereo speakers and headphones, and furniture should be eliminated from the play environment. Ingestion of rubber foreign bodies is the most frequent cause of life-threatening gastrointestinal obstruction.
Ferrets should be housed in a wire cage that measures two square-feet by 18 inches high when they cannot be supervised. Ferrets require a dark, enclosed sleeping area. Towels, old shirts, or ferret hammocks can be used for sleeping quarters.
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Reptiles
Some reptiles are carnivores, while others are herbivores. Use the links below to find out exactly what the dietary needs are of your reptile and do research before buying a reptile—it will save you time and money. By far the most common husbandry issue we see regarding reptiles is a diet low in calcium. Calcium must be supplied to reptiles to prevent nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, a condition that results in decreased bone density, lethargy, muscle tremors, and even death. Insects that are fed to your reptile should be "gut-loaded" with insect food two to three days before feeding to provide a more nutritious food to your reptile. If your reptile is a herbivore, feed it any dark green, leafy vegetable such as collard greens, mustard greens, kale or spinach. All insects and greens must be powdered using a reptile calcium powder. We prefer a calcium powder that is just calcium and does not have vitamin D to prevent your reptile from getting too much vitamin D, which is harmful.
UV light is needed in order to utilize the calcium that your reptile is ingesting. Like humans, reptiles synthesize vitamin D in their skin, which is formed after a reaction with UV light. The vitamin D then is essential in order to utilize calcium to keep the bones strong and the muscles working properly. With few exceptions, reptiles need a UV light that is on for 12 hours during the day. The light needs to emit both UV-A and UV-B light. The bulb needs to be changed every six months to ensure adequate UV light supply to your reptile.
Reptiles need a temperature gradient in their environment in order for their immune system to function properly. A typical range of temperatures is 75 degrees in the coolest part of the cage to 95 degrees under the basking lamp. We recommend a basking lamp as a heat source. Heat rocks or heating pads can malfunction and cause severe burns to your reptile. Check the links below for more specifics about temperature gradients.
For aquatic turtles, water quality is vital. A water filtration system should be in place. A full water change should be performed every 2-3 weeks.
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Guinea pigs
Guinea pigs, like humans, cannot synthesize their own vitamin C and, therefore, require a dietary source. Vitamin C must be added to the drinking water and the water must be changed daily because vitamin C deteriorates quickly. Other sources of this vitamin include parsley, spinach, green peppers, broccoli and oranges.
Cages may be constructed of plastic, metal or wire. Bedding must be replaced once a week if a glass aquarium is used. The flooring of the cage should be solid to prevent foot injuries. Newspaper, aspen wood shavings and straw may be used for bedding on solid floors. Guinea pigs are very susceptible to warm temperatures and should be housed at 70 to 75 degrees F.
It is not good practice to keep guinea pigs and rabbits in the same household. Rabbits can carry Bordetella bronchiseptica without any ill effects, but this bacteria is pathogenic for guinea pigs.
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Rodents (mice, rats, hamsters, and gerbils)
Rodents should be fed block or pelleted formulated diets. They should contain a minimum protein content of 16 percent and a fat content of four to five percent. Seed diets can be given as treats, but should not be fed as the sole diet because obesity will occur.
Cages can be constructed of plastic or wire with a plastic bottom to provide for adequate ventilation. Bedding should consist of recycled paper products or aspen or oak shavings. Water can be supplied through a water bottle and fresh water should be given daily. Rodents should be supplied with an exercise wheel and mazes or a series of tunnels to encourage exercise and prevent boredom.
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Birds
Birds should be fed mostly a pelleted diet that is species-appropriate. An all-seed diet or a diet too rich in seeds can lead to vitamin deficiencies and obesity. You can supplement your bird's diet with fruits and vegetables. Be sure not to feed your bird avocado, cherry pits, rhubarb or apple seeds.
Do not cook with pots and pans that have a Teflon coating, because the Teflon fumes are very toxic to your bird's respiratory system. Clinical signs of Teflon toxicity can range from difficulty breathing to sudden death. If you own a bird, it would be best to cook with pots and pans that do not contain Teflon.
Birds should be supervised while out of their cage to prevent injury and ingestion of foreign objects. Birds are very curious creatures and will eat metal objects, such as items containing zinc and lead, both of which are very toxic to avian species. Wing trims are an important part of your bird's well-being. It will prevent them from gaining access to high places in your home or flying away if he or she were to get outside. The wing feathers are trimmed in such a way to prevent lift and allow for easy gliding down to the ground.
A common occurrence in birds is a broken immature, developing feather also known as a "blood feather." This is considered an urgent situation because, especially in small species, a bird can lose a significant amount of blood through the vein of the feather. Veterinary attention should be sought quickly to alleviate the problem.
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