Exotic Pet Care from Elkins Park Veterinary Hospital

Our Hospital Treats All of Your Pets

All of our pets deserve the best life possible. Though most people own dogs and cats, if you are an owner of an exotic pet, Elkins Park Veterinary Hospital is more than happy to treat them both in terms of preventive health care and emergency medicine and surgery. Our team of veterinarians are lovers of all animals and look forward to meeting your exotic pet. Our hospital has been serving the Elkins Park pet community for over 35 years and has extensive experience with animals of all kinds.

Contact us today at (215) 866-2300 to schedule your exotic pet care appointment with our team!

Deciding on an Exotic Animal

First, when you decide you want an exotic animal, research it by going online and talking to pet stores, breeders, and current owners. A pet is a lifetime obligation, so you need to be prepared in terms of time, financial, and emotional commitments.

Second, when you purchase or adopt an exotic animal, set up a new pet examination to make sure that it is healthy and that you are providing the correct care. Exotic animals need much more specialized care when it comes to caging, lighting, feeding, and more.

Finally, it is tough enough to determine if your dog or cat is sick. Can you imagine how difficult it is for owners of turtles, rats, parrots, or ferrets?

Always observe your pets’ habits and look for changes that include the following:

• Increase or decrease in weight
• Change in personality
• Limping, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Labored breathing

Exotic pets tend to hide their illnesses, so keep a close watch. If their behavior seems abnormal, call to set up an evaluation. Some exotics need preventive vaccinations or spaying/neutering to reduce disease risk or prevent behavioral problems. Most exotic pets should have a stool sample checked for parasites, as they can be contagious to people in your home. And of course, all animals can bite, so take precautions when handling.

What Exotic Pets Are Accepted?

Elkins Park Veterinary Hospital accepts a wide variety of exotic species, but we will not see wild animals, fish, venomous animals, or zoo-type pets without permits. You should always check the legality of each species in your state and municipality. Please adhere to the following species if possible:

• Ferrets
• Guinea pigs
• Rabbits
• Mice
• Rats
• Chinchillas
• Sugar gliders
• Hedgehogs
• Snakes
• Lizards
• Turtles
• Frogs/toads
• Birds

For further information about our exotic pet care in Elkins Park, reach out to our veterinarian team.