An exotic animal veterinarian is familiarly defined as a veterinarian who treats all animals other than cats and dogs. But what really are exotic animals?
Exotic animals is a veterinary specialty, such as traumatology or cardiology that can also be called: non-conventional animals. In this specialty all reptiles, birds and small mammals such as rabbits, ferrets and rodents are treated. Pigs and goats can also be treated.
The role of the exotic animal veterinarian
Years ago it was difficult to find a veterinarian to treat a canary, a parakeet or a rabbit. More and more people have these animals at home, but more importantly, the social awareness that having a pet implies a responsibility to attend to their medical needs.
Veterinarians faced with this demand had to study about these animals beyond the production medicine that existed until then.
For 30 years, medicine in these animals has evolved exponentially, to the point of even having a 24-hour veterinary hospital for exotic animals. Something unthinkable not so many years ago.
Animals we keep as pets today
Although the specialty of exotic animals includes many different species, some are the most common in homes today:
- Rabbit : it is the patient that we see the most in consultation.
- Ferret – A small carnivore that has won the hearts of many households.
- Rodents : such as guinea pigs, chinchillas, rats, mice…
All of them very intelligent and affectionate animals that little by little become part of their families and find their place among humans and other animals.
If we look a little further, among the birds the most frequent are the psittacines or commonly parrots. Funny, extremely intelligent animals that require very demanding care that unfortunately not many give them. For this reason, veterinarians give workshops with parrots so that owners learn to work with them and give them a good quality of life.
Other birds that we can find are canaries, mandarin diamonds, pigeons and even chickens. More and more people have these peculiar birds at home.
The last group of animals that people have in their homes are reptiles . The latter are surely the ones that require the most demanding care and requirements. From bearded dragons, iguanas, snakes and geckos to turtles and lizards. All of them need specific and necessary conditions that without them can have great consequences for the animal.
What work does an exotic animal veterinarian do?
The role of an exotic animal veterinarian is as varied as there is. Constant training is the first and most important thing. Techniques, procedures, medicines and other novelties to use in these species come out daily.
You start the day not knowing what you are going to find: fix a parrot’s beak, file a rabbit’s teeth, operate on a ferret’s liver, anesthetize a fish or bottle feed a lion.
The truth is that, personally, I am in love with my work and every day there are new things. Life in my 24h Exotic Animals hospital is different every day. Sometimes we look like a Noah’s ark.
Another job, apart from spending consultations in the hospital, can be to care for animals in sanctuaries, places where rescued farm animals live and are fostered until the end of their lives. Many times we treat farm animals in these cases, since veterinarians assigned to see farm animals do not know how to anesthetize a pig, or they cannot castrate a sheep. Why? Since these veterinarians treat animals that are for consumption and production and in this area unfortunately it is not considered to anesthetize a pig because “it does not pay”.
Another of our tasks is also to collaborate with the administration to guarantee the good health of animals and people and also to prevent the illegal trafficking of species. On more than one occasion we have had to make zoological centers for school farms or supervise animal health at fairs or events in which animals participate.
Training is also part of our mission. In our 24-hour exotic animal hospital we provide training to students, veterinarians and veterinary assistants, but the most beautiful thing is when they call us to give educational classes to children and adolescents in schools.
In addition, it is important that exotic animal veterinarians participate in solidarity initiatives, since these animals coexist with us in many aspects. For example, helping pigeons and parrots that live in our squares.
