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Exotic & Non-Traditional
Pets
All
creatures great & small!
 Traditional
pets like dogs (man’s best friend) or pussycats (America’s
most popular pet) do tend to steal most of the limelight,
and veterinary science has traditionally focused mostly
on the care of livestock, dogs and cats. Even today, veterinary
schools provide comparatively little formal training in
the medicine of unusual animals.
But
we’re a little different at Chastain Veterinary Medical
Group!
 Each
of the doctors at the Chastain Veterinary Medical Group
hospitals has dedicated a significant amount of time,
study and post-graduate
learning
to mastering
the art and science of the care and treatment of non-traditional
pets.
Yep! We
believe that all pets need the same top-quality health
care even if they are a little different. (We know and
we understand! Some of our very own pets slither or squawk
their way into this category!) So we won’t scream at your
parrot, hiss at your snake, bark at your prairedogs or
“Tut! Tut!” your turtle.
We have an avid interest in
their well being and have invested significant time and
effort learning about their special needs.
We are experienced in the
care of:
- Small mammals -
guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, mice and
rats.
- Domesticated rabbits.
- Companion birds -
like budgies (parakeets), cockatiels, parrots, Canaries,
finches and domesticated doves.
- Pet chickens,
pigeons, doves, ducks and geese.
- Ferrets.
- Sugar Gliders.
- Hedgehogs.
- Reptiles –
non-poisonous snakes, lizards (Iguana’s, Bearded Dragons,
Water Dragons, Geckos, Chameleons etc.), turtles, tortoises,
and terrapins.
If you are considering keeping
any of these species as pets – or if you already have one
in need of care – give us a call!
Please bear in mind that there
are a few we simply are not equipped to handle. For health,
safety or logistical reasons we cannot accept any of the
following for examination or treatment:
- Skunks,
raccoons, foxes, bats, and other prominent carriers
of rabies. The American Veterinary
Medical Associations (AVMA) discourages the keeping
of these sorts of pets.
- Primates
(Monkeys) - These delightful animals
are surprisingly strong for their size, clever enough
to open simple doors and enclosure locks, and may
harbor several very serious diseases transmissible
to humans including AIDS (HIV), tuberculosis, Brucellosis,
and Herpes Virus.
- Large
cats (bobcats, tigers, etc.), venomous reptiles,
adult ratites (ostrich, emus, etc), and fish. Each
of these critters requires unique and complex handling
and husbandry protocols that we are not equipped
to implement.
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