One of the most important issues that every exotic animal owner should take into serious consideration in order to achieve the well-being of their animal is the issue of nutrition.
Nutrition is a key part of both human and animal health. If it is deficient in nutrients necessary for the body, then the body's defenses are inadequate to any invasions by pathogenic microorganisms and is much more easily fired upon, resulting in a breakdown.
Each exotic animal has different and distinct needs compared to others. Primarily, we need to know the category to which it belongs e.g. vegetarian, omnivore, carnivore. Also, it is important to follow and respect the nutritional needs of our animal and not try to change them and incorporate them into our own habits (e.g. if an owner is a vegetarian and has chosen a ferret as a pet, then the pet cannot be fed on grasses, because quite simply, this animal is clearly a carnivore). Such a change in the animal's diet can be dangerous for the animal's body, with tragic consequences for it!
So, knowing our animal's eating habits, the next step is to choose a rational daily diet that meets the animal's needs for vitamins, energy, trace elements and other necessary ingredients, so that there is always a homeostasis in the animal's body.
The purchase of a packaged food should always be based on the needs of the organism at the current stage of our pet. The needs are different for a growing chick/young animal, others for an adult in the reproductive phase and others for an adult in the non-reproductive phase or a senior animal. Also in some animals such as birds, there is a phase of pterorrhizal phase where also there
special care is needed in terms of nutrition, as the synthesis of new feathers needs a lot of protein!
Buying food should always be done with care. Dry food should be packaged, tightly closed or, if in bulk, freshly opened and properly stored in closed containers. This ensures its nutritional value and we are confident in our pet's proper nutrition.
Dry food should be followed by fresh fruit and vegetables to animals which are recommended or freshly cut pieces of boiled or clean meat, purchased from a known butcher for our meat-eating/eating pets.
Seed or nut mixes should always be offered alongside foods (e.g. fresh vegetables/fruits, egg-feed, grass) that contain the elements where they are lacking, so that there is a balance. Due to the fact that many of these exotic animals sort out the seeds/fruits from the mixture offered to them, they lose many of the nutrients their bodies need and ingest others in excess, resulting in body imbalances. An example of this is obesity. On the other hand this can be solved by replacing this mixture with the supply of kibble/concentrate or pellet food, which is compressed food of either grains/cereals with dried fruits/vegetables/grass or dried meat mix, depending on the species.
Something equally important is the separation of foods that are toxic to these particular animals. Foods such as avocado, chocolate, French fries, salted foods, etc. can cause pathological changes to various organs in their bodies, such as kidney failure or even death.
For each exotic species there are many websites that inform the interested caretaker about what the animal needs and does not need nutritionally. Often, however, the internet can provide incomplete information on topics such as the toxicity of certain foods. For this reason it would be advisable to consult and cross check with the qualified veterinarian of choice.
Water is also a very basic nutritional element in all organisms! Fresh, clean water should always be provided every day, to all animals, whether they come from arid regions of the world or from the sea or lakes.
Water is an essential element of the organism and is needed in all functions of the organism!
Proper nutrition, along with an appropriate living environment, specifically designed for each exotic animal is the Alpha and Omega for the well-being and longevity of this animal in our possession.
By providing the above, combined with the love we provide, we will have succeeded in having a healthy pet that can in turn return the warmth and beauty we seek, whether it be a lyrical chirp, a "baby" talk or a happy, playful creature!
Christina Doukaki
DVM
