Companion Exotic Animal Medicine & Surgery Service

House Officers

Staff

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to have a referral from a private practice veterinarian to be able to make an appointment with the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service?
• No, the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service provides primary care as well as care on a referral basis. You or your primary veterinarian can make an appointment by calling the Small Animal Hospital at (530) 752-1393. If your pet has previous medical records, please have them sent via email to [email protected] so our team can thoroughly prepare for your pet’s appointment.
• Can I make an appointment with one of the specialty groups (e.g., ophthalmology, cardiology, dentistry) for my companion exotic pet?
• Our service works closely with all the specialty groups at the VMTH. Our trained staff coordinates the appointment with the specialty group and provides the appropriate handling and care of your pet during the specialty examination. Please make the appointment for your pet with the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service and we will ensure that the appointment is then coordinated with the specialty service. Please notify us when making the appointment of the specific needs of your pet.
• What can I expect at an appointment?
• You will be greeted by a student or veterinary technician who will take a history. Please provide as much detail as possible about your pet, including diet (specific brands/products) and husbandry information, so our team can obtain a complete understanding of your pet’s healthcare needs. The clinician will then perform a physical examination of your pet and provide you with basic diagnostic and treatment options, if needed. We can run basic blood tests, obtain radiographs and ultrasound studies, and perform minor surgical procedures on an outpatient basis.
  
  Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Our examination room is in a quiet area of the hospital to provide a secure and comfortable atmosphere for your pet. We understand that many of our exotic pet patients are uncomfortable around common domestic pets so our examination rooms are never used for dog or cat patients. Your pet’s physical exam may be performed in our treatment area, or you may request to be present for your pet’s exam in the examination room.
  
  It takes time to discuss important husbandry and health issues, and you can expect at least one hour for your appointments. Your pet’s health needs will be discussed in detail. Written information from your appointment will be provided in the form of a physical printout and/or electronic communication via email or the Client Portal after your visit.
• How long will an appointment take?
• The duration of your pet’s appointment will vary depending upon the diagnostic tests performed and the treatment that may be necessary. An uncomplicated appointment may take approximately one hour. Some other diagnostic tests (for example, radiographs) may take longer depending upon the type of diagnostic test required and upon the number of other patients in the hospital that require this test.
  
  If all planned diagnostics or treatments cannot be completed during your appointment, a follow up appointment may be scheduled.
• How often will I speak to someone at the hospital if my pet is hospitalized?
• The clinician or the student working closely with your pet will contact you daily to give you an update on your pet’s progress. You may also contact the hospital at (530) 752-1393 to speak with the care team working with your pet.
• If my pet is hospitalized, will my pet be housed with other species of animals?
• Our hospital wards are designed to accommodate the unique needs of our exotic patients. For example, we have separate wards for our avian and reptile patients that provide appropriate temperature and humidity requirements. Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rats, and other small exotic mammals also have their own ward. Our exotic patients are kept in their unique wards unless more intensive monitoring necessitates hospitalization in our Small Animal Intensive Care Unit or Intensive Care Ward, which are shared with dogs and cats.
• Will I see the same veterinarian each time I bring my pet to the VMTH?
• You can request a specific veterinarian when you make your appointment and, when possible, we will accommodate your needs. Due to the dynamic nature of the service and our large team, we cannot always fulfill these requests. We make every effort to ensure consistent patient care, even if the same clinician does not see you and your pet.
• How can I get copies of my pet's records?
• The front desk staff can provide you with a copy of your pet’s medical records once it has been fully reviewed by the clinician (generally within 7-10 business days). Please specify if you would like also copies of imaging studies performed on your pet (e.g., radiographs, ultrasound, CT).
• How can I get a refill of a prescription?
• When you call the hospital, select the phone option to refill prescriptions. The pharmacy will contact your doctor if there is any question about refills. Medications can be picked up from our pharmacy or shipped to your home, for a fee. Information about the pharmacy’s location and hours is available on their website.
• Can the veterinarians from the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service provide the primary care for the animals of my nonprofit organization?
• Yes, we can provide all aspects of veterinary care for the animals cared for by your nonprofit organization. We can provide services for your organization’s animals at the VMTH or we can visit your facility and provide (limited) onsite care. We can offer protocols for husbandry, nutrition and preventative care, as well as providing regular health checks of your animals. Individual animals requiring diagnostic work-ups or medical treatment will receive the same high level of care available to all patients presented to our service. Please contact us to discuss the potential veterinary needs of the animals under your nonprofit organization’s care.
• I found an injured wild animal, who can I call to provide medical assistance?

• The Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service provides medical care for some sick and injured wildlife during daytime hours. Raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures, and owls) should be brought directly to the California Raptor Center for care. Skunks, deer, bats, raccoons, opossums, and venomous snakes will not be accepted. Healthy baby birds that have fallen out of a nest are also not accepted by the service. Please note that we are only able to provide veterinary evaluation of injured wildlife between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm.
  
  For other wildlife, place the injured animal in a carrier or box to ensure your safety and the safety of the animal during transport to the hospital. When you bring a sick or injured wild animal to us, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire about where the animal was found. This will help us to have the animal released when recovered back to the area where it was found.
   

  The VMTH provides medical care for these animals; you are not responsible for the medical bills. We encourage donations to the wildlife fund at the VMTH to help support the care and treatment of wildlife by the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service.
  
  To protect yourself against rabies, do not touch sick or injured wild mammals such as skunks, bats, foxes, coyotes or raccoons, but instead contact your local animal control department or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to transport the mammal for medical care. The animal control officers and the wildlife rehabilitators are specially trained to deal with potentially dangerous animals and have specialized equipment to prevent injury or exposure to rabies. We work closely with animal control and wildlife rehabilitators to provide medical care to sick and injured animals that they rescue.

• How can I learn more about companion exotic pets?
• • American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): Selecting a pet for your family
  • Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV): Bird Owner Resources
  • Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV): Exotic Mammal Handouts & Resources and Tools
  • Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV): For Owners
  • Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version): Introduction to Fish