The purchase/acquisition of a pet, exotic or not, is accompanied by great joy and the certainty that it is healthy and will remain so forever!


Although these feelings are understandably overwhelming, unfortunately we often don't take into account unforeseen factors, such as illnesses and accidents, that can happen to a living organism, just as they can easily happen to us!


To avoid such situations, but also for our proper guidance, it is advisable to visit within the first week of acquiring our animal, a veterinarian with expertise on the specific species.


In addition to the clinical examination of our animal, the veterinarian will inform us of any diseases that our animal may have, but may not yet have manifested and for which it can be tested. Some of these are:


Parrots:


- Psittacosis: a bacterial anthrozoonosis carried in secretions.


- Beak and feather virus (PBFD): carried in feather powder and faeces.


- Polyoma virus: carried in feather powder and faeces.


- Stomach glandular disease virus (PDD): transport with excretions


- Scabies: parasitic disease transmitted by direct contact


Canaries:


- Coccidiosis: parasitic disease transmitted by faeces


- Psittacosis: bacterial anthrozoonosis carried by excretions.


- Yeast infection: carried by excretions and faeces.


Rabbit:


- Encephalitozoonosis: parasitic disease carried in urine and through the womb to babies.


- Coccidiosis: parasitic disease carried in faeces.


- Scabies: parasitic disease transmitted by direct contact.


Turtle:


- Protozoa and worms: parasitic diseases carried by faeces.


The vet will still give us information on:


- the sex of our animal: in some animals the sex is seen in adulthood and not earlier, such as in Budgerigar parakeets the skin colour on the beak takes its final colouring after 6 months!


- the life expectancy: e.g. the Zacos parrot can live up to 50 years, the rabbit 6-8 years, the water turtle 30 years!


- the size/length it will reach if the pet is not an adult: e.g. the royal python can reach 1.5 metres in length, as can the green iguana!


- the rational diet (vegetarian, omnivorous, carnivorous), how much should be consumed daily and what should be avoided: e.g. foods with salt, sugars and certain types of food such as avocado in parrots can cause organic damage and even death!


- environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, hours of light/night).


- the size of the cage in which the animal will be housed: the cage should be large enough so that the animal does not hit the walls when it turns or spreads its wings inside it, in accordance with welfare rules!


- the cleanliness and hygiene that should be followed: washing and good drying of the cage/aquarium, 1-2 times a week, the feeders and waterers every other day.


Finally, from the veterinarian we can find out if the particular species is vaccinated and what the preventive deworming is.


As in humans, an annual preventive check, after the first visit, is a good thing to carry out, because in this way the vet will have a picture of our animal every year and will be able to identify possible pathological conditions, compared to the previous year, such as whether the animal is stunted, normal or obese, which a keeper may not have noticed!


Christina Doukaki,


Specialist in avian pathology and surgery 

and other small exotic animals.