As the popularity of exotic pets continues to increase, many general clinical veterinarians are seeing more of these unusual animals in their clinics – but how well is your clinic set up to receive them? If you are considering seeing small exotic mammals, it makes sense to ensure you have the basic tools to diagnose and treat these tiny patients in your clinic. Read below for five tips to make sure your clinic is set up for small exotic mammals.
Hands-On Medicine
Small exotic mammals can be difficult to handle and restrain for medical procedures and diagnostic tests. Some pets, such as hedgehogs or sugar gliders, are difficult to examine without sedation or anesthesia, so brush up on safe protocols to use in your clinic. For the smaller creatures, a heating pad on low can help keep body temperature up during extended examinations. Most of these animals, especially chinchillas and rabbits, should never be scruffed or have the skin pulled tightly, as it can slip their fur or damage their delicate skin. Rats, gerbils, and other tailed mammals can have severe damage or even lose their tails if picked up by the tail. Review safe handling techniques for all species you think you may see. There are many good online sources for handling small mammals, and the information contained in the Improve Veterinary Education Exotic Animal Certificate Program can ensure you are handling these pets appropriately.
Escape-Proof Housing
Small exotic mammals are often masters of escape. This, combined with their small size - makes keeping them in regular kennels a challenge. Ensure you have an enclosure that can contain a small mammal safely and efficiently. A glass terrarium, a rodent kennel, or even a clear plastic tote can make great spaces to house these special patients. A small hide for these animals can make their time in the clinic a lot less stressful. If you have a critical patient, an incubator can be indispensable to keep them warm and contained while hospitalized. Avoid using a heating pad inside the kennel as many small mammals will chew things inside their enclosure.
Feeding for Health
Each small mammal species has widely different nutritional requirements and making sure you have appropriate feed for any animal you need to hospitalize is vital. Rabbits and guinea pigs must have hay available all the time and should never be fasted for surgery or anesthesia. Pellets may entice some rabbits to eat, but they are not necessary for good rabbit health, while guinea pig pellets contain the all-important vitamin C.
A nutritionally complete powdered food source that is easy to store and can be mixed with water is helpful for animals who become anorexic, as it can be syringe fed or put in a feeding tube if needed. Many of these diets, such as Oxbow’s Critical Care, come in both herbivore and carnivore preparations. Several small mammals are insectivores, such as sugar gliders and hedgehogs, so make sure you have a source of fresh or even dried insects, such as mealworms. Many dried diets for various animals are easy to obtain and store in the event you don’t see certain animals frequently. Some exotic small mammals will drink from a sipper bottle, while some prefer a dish. Be sure to have both options available to ensure your patients are drinking well while in your clinic.
Update Your Pharmacy and Math Skills
It is imperative to have a good understanding of therapeutic options for your small exotic mammal patients. Many of the medications we use in cats and dogs are either ineffective or unsafe for our smaller creatures. Often, even if they are safe, they are not available in a dosage form appropriate for animals who weigh only a few grams. A good exotic formulary, such as Carpenter’s, can be very helpful in determining the type and dose of medications for many different animals. Ensure your math skills are up to par, as many medications can be compounded within your clinic (if allowed in your jurisdiction) or diluted to achieve an appropriate method of delivery. Look into topical treatments that are safe in the species you intend to treat, as many of the ones used in cats and dogs are toxic to rabbits and other small creatures.
A Few Extra Tools
Although most small exotic mammals can be examined with standard veterinary tools, there are a few smaller tools that you will find helpful to add to your inventory. A gram scale for the tiny mammals is invaluable when you have patients less than 20g. Many cat scales can measure these small masses, but an error of 1-2 grams can make a huge difference in a tiny patient. Small forceps, scissors, hemostats, and stethoscopes can help when you need to assess or treat small exotic mammals. Insulin syringes can help measure tiny doses and aspirate small masses. Small gauge catheters such as 24g or 26g can accommodate most small animals. An otoscope cone can be a great tool to examine the cheek teeth in rabbits and guinea pigs. Dedicate one for that purpose only, and then you don’t have to worry when they chew on it a little. A small uncuffed endotracheal tube or even 8Fr red rubber catheters can be used in the smaller patients under anesthesia. A tiny face cone can be used if intubation is not possible.
Small Changes for Your Tiny Patients
Overall, it takes only a little extra effort to ensure your small exotic mammal patients are safe and comfortable within your clinic. If you intend to see these special patients on a regular basis, consider an Online Exotic Certificate to provide the best care for the smallest creatures.
