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| | Exotic animals all have very unique requirements for living. Many of the disease processes are the result of inadequate husbandry. We recommend that you bring your pet in for a physical examination when you first get him, so we can assess his health status and get you off to a good start in caring for him. | |
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| | To benefit your pet's health, you will need to recreate your exotic pets' natural habitat, as much as possible, in their enclosure at home. Here at NorthPointe, we can discuss the specific needs of your pets and assist you in making choices that will help them live a longer and healthier life.
Important factors that contribute to the health of exotics include: - lighting (heat spot lamp and ultraviolet)
- light cycle
- heat source
- temperature
- humidity
- housing type and substrate
- vitamin supplements
- and more
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| | If your exotic pets do get sick, we recommend that you bring them in right away, as they don't tend to start showing their signs of sickness until they've already been ill for a long time. We treat many exotic diseases here at NorthPointe, such as: | |
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| | - metabolic bone disease in reptiles
- egg binding in turtles and birds
- malocclusion in rabbits
- and much more.
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| | If your pets seem different in any way, don't hesitate to call to have them checked out. A physical exam and other diagnostics such as blood work, intestinal parasite exams and possibly x-rays may be indicated. Whatever your pet's needs are, we are equipped for it at NorthPointe Animal Hospital.
If your exotic pet requires surgery, we have the necessary experience and equipment. In addition to extensive monitoring equipment, we also have a heated surgery table and heated oxygen cages for recovery. Some of the procedures we do include: - lump removals
- rabbit neuters
- shell and beak repair
- reptile and avian fracture repair
- guinea pig spays
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| | Because of the risk of Salmonella, we don't recommend that children under five years of age have reptiles as pets. But if they do, be sure to discuss with them good hand washing techniques for after they handle the pet: - First wet your hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Place the bar soap on a rack and allow it to drain.
- Next rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces.
- Continue for 10 - 15 seconds or about the length of a little tune. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.
- Rinse well and dry your hands. (National Center for Infectious Diseases)
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