How to Find a Vet for Your Exotic Pet

Whatever kind of pet you keep, be it cat, dog or corn snake, and however well you look after it, sooner or later you’re going to need a vet.

However, this can pose a bit more of a problem for the exotic pet keeper than the owner of a sick puppy; while the standards of veterinary training in the UK are very high indeed, not every vet is an expert on exotics. Add to this that the number of different species being kept just keeps on rising and it becomes pretty clear that finding a vet for your pet is not necessarily a straightforward job.

Although your local practice will almost certainly be able to help out with many routine health issues, when it comes to anything out of the ordinary, you may need to seek someone who specialises in exotics. So how do you find the vet for your pet?

Ask Around

One of the most obvious ways is to try asking around, since fellow exotic keepers will have probably faced the same problem, and should be able to help. Clearly, the best people to ask are those who keep the same species or type of pet as you do, but if that isn’t possible, then it’s well worth seeking advice from anyone who has found a vet to treat their exotic animals – however far removed from your own they may be, biologically speaking.

Don’t forget to ask your own vets too. While the vet you usually see may not be a specialist, another member of the practice might be – so don’t automatically assume that the expertise isn’t available locally. Failing that, they may be able to recommend a colleague at another practice who does have the necessary extra training in exotics, or refer you to one of the veterinary hospitals or universities.

Zoos and Animal Rescue

If there’s one place that needs a good exotic animal vet it has to be a zoo – and if there’s one anywhere near you, it’s got to be worth the cost of a phone call to see if they can point you in the right direction. If nothing else, you could end up with a good contact in the reptile house or aquarium – and when it comes to exotic animal husbandry and looking after sick creatures, these people can be invaluable sources of advice.

By the same token, many of the animal rescue centres and welfare charities – especially those which are specifically set up to deal with reptiles, amphibians or other exotics – should be able to offer you useful advice.

Exotic Pet Suppliers

The place where you bought your pet is another possible avenue to explore in your quest for a vet. Like zoos, reputable exotic pet suppliers themselves need a good vet from time to time; if you go down this route there is always the possible bonus that the vet who ends up looking after your animal will already know something about it and its medical history.

While nobody likes to think about their pet becoming sick, with exotic species it’s essential to face the prospect early on – because unlike the dog owner, you can’t simply stroll into the local vets and expect your pet to be cured. Some of the illnesses and ailments that affect unusual pets are as exotic as the animals themselves, and need specialist care.

Far better to have sorted out your vet calmly, when there’s nothing wrong than when there is and you yourself are feeling sick with worry about your pet. Having done that – you can relax; fingers crossed, you may never need that vet after all!