Exotic Animal Care

You can help keep your ferret healthy by bringing him or her in for an exam once a year. That way, we can monitor any changes that occur in your pet and help prevent or catch diseases early, when they’re easier to treat. As ferrets age, they may need additional testing and dental care.

Ferrets can benefit from preventive care, requiring certain vaccinations and parasite prevention based on lifestyle, which we can discuss with you during your visit. Hormonal therapy is now included in said preventive care, as the incidence of adrenal disorder can be decreased significantly. As most ferrets are sterilized (and deglanded for males) before sale, this is rarely an owner’s responsibility. However should circumstances be exceptional we can help you at HudsonVeterinaryHospital.

Common problems associated with ferrets include gastrointestinal disease, endocrinological problems and cancer. In addition, ferrets are inquisitive creatures by nature and frequently ingest objects they shouldn’t. Regular blood tests can help determine whether your ferret has any problems with the kidneys, liver, or pancreas.

Please contact us right away if your ferret develops any unusual symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, lack of appetite, trouble breathing, black ear wax, discharge from the eyes or nose, lumps, swelling, or an increase in aggression or sexual behaviour (especially in neutered males).

Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from veterinary attention. Teeth, which grow continuously in rodents, often require trimming. .Parasites such as lice, mites, and fleas can infest your pet. In addition, these companion animals can suffer from other health issues, often prevented with adequate husbandry which we are well-positioned to counsel you on using the most current medical information.

Call us if your pet stops eating, loses weight, appears quieter than normal, has discharge from the eyes or nose, or develops a lump on its body. We can provide treatment that fits within your budget.

Hedgehogs are prone to many illnesses such as obesity and dental problems, as well as a variety of skin and quill issues. Contact us for information about the best environmental conditions and to address any health concerns which may arise. Please note that it may be necessary to anesthetize your hedgehog to perform a full physical exam, this is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Rabbits are susceptible to a variety of diseases and conditions, including overgrown teeth, hairballs, respiratory and ocular disease, and gastrointestinal disorders. They also tend to hide signs of illness or pain.

Contact us if your rabbit:

• Has discharge from the eyes or nose, runny stool, or a gurgling stomach
• Begins drooling, scratching at the ears, or sneezing
• Starts tilting his or her head
• Develops bald patches in his or her fur
• Stops eating, appears quieter than normal, or shows other abnormal behaviour

In addition, your rabbit can benefit from regular dental checkups. We can help make sure problems with your rabbit’s teeth don’t turn into serious, potentially life-threatening conditions.

We also strongly suggest that you have your rabbit spayed or neutered. Not only can rabbits potentially give birth once a month, but they can also have up to 14 babies at a time! Even in households with a single rabbit, spaying or neutering has benefits: It can protect your rabbit from several types of cancer and reduce or eliminate aggression, as well as other undesirable behaviour, such as spraying, mounting, destructive chewing, and biting. Spaying or neutering will not change your rabbit’s personality.

If you have any questions about how to care for your rabbit, we can discuss diet, housing, grooming, and even litterbox training.

Snakes can suffer from a variety of diseases, some of which can cause serious respiratory, gastrointestinal, and liver problems. They also commonly harbour internal and external parasites, including hookworms, roundworms, mites, and ticks.

We recommend that you bring your new snake in for an initial exam so we can make sure it’s healthy. If your snake needs future veterinary attention, we’ll also have a baseline to compare against. Although snakes don’t need vaccinations, they can benefit from routine exams. Annual veterinary visits can even help your snake live longer.

We can share our knowledge of appropriate enclosures, temperature and humidity, lighting, substrates (ground covering), cleaning, and skin shedding. Besides having feeding requirements that are species specific, snakes can become stressed and may not eat. If this happens, please contact us so we can help. We can also determine the sex of your snake.

A healthy snake should flick its tongue and be alert and active, showing interest in its environment; its scales should be smooth and dry. Call us immediately if you notice any of the following signs of illness: vomiting or regurgitation, diarrhea, loss of appetite or weight, weakness or loss of energy, wheezing, mucus or bubbling around the nostrils, changes around the mouth (inflammation, purplish-red spots, dry and diseased tissue), and changes in the skin (reddening, slow-healing sores, swelling, discharge).

Nutrition-related disorders and diseases are common in iguanas and other lizards. We can help you avoid these problems. Call us to set up a nutritional consultation so we can discuss how to help keep your lizard healthy.

We also offer an initial checkup for new lizard owners to help identify current or potential medical problems and, if necessary, begin treatment. In addition, we can provide you with information on appropriate enclosures, environmental requirements, sanitation, and disease prevention.

Although a lot of information regarding exotic animals is widely available on the Internet, it is often difficult to determine what sources to trust. Not only can we provide medical assessments and perform surgical procedures, but we can also help you prevent many diseases related to improper nutrition, which are common in these animals. Please schedule an appointment so we can discuss your exotic pet’s overall needs. In addition, we supply a wide range of high-quality, scientifically-proven foods and supplements for these unique animals.