March 21, 2012
One of my professors in veterinary school told me I was very brave when I told her I was taking a job at a hospital that deals mainly with rabbits and other exotic pets. I didn?t think much of her comment at the time, because I had been a veterinary assistant for two years prior and did not experience many problems during that time.
Fast-forward four years, and I have since seen out my contract with that hospital, completed a Master of ?Veterinary Studies in Conservation Medicine, and switched to working primarily with dogs and cats. This has placed me in a unique position to compare my experiences working with exotic pets, wildlife and traditional pets. I have found that ?bravery? was not the main attribute required in working with exotic pets. There are, however, several other attributes that will serve an exotic pet practitioner well:
- Curiosity
We?ve all heard the proverb ?curiosity killed the cat,? but in the case of exotic pets, curiosity is more likely to save a life. Many problems with exotic pets result from the lack of proper care and diet, and one thing I have learned working with exotics, is that detailed questions must be asked of any client owning an exotic pet, to ensure that their care of the pet is not what is causing the symptoms displayed by the pet itself. - Resourcefulness
When the care and diet provided are not suitable for the pet in question, providing the right advice becomes critical. It may be impossible to remember what every single species of exotic pets requires, but having the resources to look it up when required is invaluable. - Empathy
There is a school of thought that exotic pets do not form the same bond with their owners as dogs and cats do, but that could not be further from the truth. Many young children do not shed a tear when their family dog is being euthanized, but will do so for their own pet hamster. Rabbits display a wide variety of affectionate behaviors that their owners will spend a lot of time recounting during a consult. And guinea pigs make different noises under different circumstances, which their owners very quickly pick up on. Rat owners are also very committed to their pet?s health and well-being, and will go to any extent to save their beloved friend. What I have learned from working with exotic pets and their owners is that I need to draw on my own experiences owning such pets and realize that I am not the odd one out in experiencing an indescribable attachment to my small furry friend. Size truly does not matter when it comes to the pet-owner bond. - Gentleness
Most exotic pet species are prey in the wild and do not appreciate being roughly handled. Being gentle helps them relax and makes the physical examination much easier for the pet, the owner and the veterinarian. Gentleness also applies when surgery is performed on exotic pets. Many exotics are much smaller than traditional pets, and the veterinarian has to become accustomed to working in tight spaces, with critical organs in close proximity to the organs that are being worked with. Gentle tissue handling will result in much better surgical outcomes.
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