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0 Developing a good working relationship with a veterinarian can be a difficulty for any animal owner, however is an unique obstacle for the unique pet owner. The unique animal owner should find a veterinarian who wants to see their animal, understands something about their pet, and has the centers, equipment and materials to treat their pet.
I state this from experience, as although I am captivated with exotic animals, I have no special training in treating them medically. Thing might have changed a bit given that I went to school, but during my training, direct exposure to exotics was still extremely imited even though I looked for out additional exposure to exotic family pets in my option of scientific rotations.
Such experts can be difficult to come by, so the next best is somebody who has lots of experience treating exotic family pets. Ask a prospective vet about their training, qualifications, and subscriptions in specialized organizations such as the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) or the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). At the minimum, pick a veterinarian with a genuine interest in exotic types and who wants to find out about them and who will talk to an expert when needed.
Individual suggestion or word of mouth is probably the most effective method of discovering a veterinarian. Pals, breeders, or companies (e.g. the local herpetological society, other clubs) are good beginning points. Other places to find veterinarians include the yellow pages/phone directory sites (look for clinics that specifically promote that they deal with exotics), the state/provincial veterinary association directory, or even web pages that have veterinary directories (including the AAV and ARAV websites pointed out above). A number of types specific web pages have sections where readers can send contact details for veterinarians they have used.
Most importantly, do not wait until an emergency to find a vet. A veterinarian with whom you feel comfortable and who is comfy dealing with your animal will make the situation less demanding if your pet needs to get ill. An initial check up is well encouraged for any brand-new pet and this is a great chance to see how a vet manages your pet and how comfy they are with your pet, and also to see if you and the veterinarian make an excellent match – in some cases there is a personality clash and you won’t establish a great relationship with a certain veterinarian.
A veterinarian knowledgeable about exotics will invest a good deal of time going over the care and husbandry of a specific animal, as lots of problems with unique animals belong to inappropriate diet or husbandry. The veterinarian must also appear positive managing your pet.
There are several criteria which can be utilized to assess a practice in general and the following websites talk about these in information:
– How to Find a Veterinarian – advice from About’s Guide to Veterinary Medicine on finding and examining a vet, with a link to some online vet finder directories.
– How to Find an Avian Veterinarian – helpful tips for finding a vet- geared towards bird owners but likewise suitable to any exotic species.
For exotics there are more specific factors to consider, including:
– unique training or continuing education related to exotic pet medicine
– how often exotic types are seen in their practice
– special centers or equipment to deal with exotic pets
– experience (professional or individual) and familiarity with the husbandry and medication of a particular species
Discovering the best vet can be a challenge and might not appear that essential when your pet is healthy, but the effort will be well worth it if your family pet need to fall ill!
I say this from experience, as although I am amazed with unique animals, I have no unique training in treating them clinically. Thing may have changed a bit since I went to school, but throughout my training, exposure to exotics was still extremely imited even though I sought out additional direct exposure to unique pets in my option of medical rotations. Such experts can be difficult to come by, so the next finest is someone who has lots of experience dealing with exotic family pets. If your family pet ought to get ill, a veterinarian with whom you feel comfy and who is comfy dealing with your pet will make the scenario less stressful. An initial check up is well recommended for any new pet and this is an excellent chance to see how a vet handles your pet and how comfy they are with your animal, and likewise to see if you and the veterinarian make a good match – in some cases there is a character clash and you won’t establish an excellent connection with a particular vet.
