The world's most comprehensive exotic pet companion
Built by veterinarians. Free for 30 days. No account needed.

Your exotic pet deserves expert care.

Evidence-based guides written by veterinarians — not bloggers.

22+ Species EBVM Cited Vet Reviewed
Did You Know?

Featured Species

All Species

Rabbit

Gentle, complex, misunderstood
8-12 years

Parrot / Macaw

Brilliant, emotional, forever
Up to 80 years

Ferret

Chaos in a fur tube
6-10 years

Guinea Pig

Social, vocal, vitamin C lovers
5-8 years

Bearded Dragon

Desert sun worshipper
10-15 years

Tortoise

Ancient, patient, centennial
50-100+ years

Gecko / Lizard

Tiny dragon, big personality
10-20 years

Snake

Elegant, misunderstood, ancient
15-30+ years

Hedgehog

Spiky, nocturnal, adorable
4-7 years

Sugar Glider

Nocturnal gliding marsupial
12-15 years

Chinchilla

Cloud-soft, dust-bathing acrobat
15-20 years

Rat / Mouse

Genius in a tiny package
2-3 years

Most Searched This Week

Is my pet OK right now?

Answer a few quick questions. Our evidence-based triage tool will help you decide if your pet needs emergency care, a vet visit, or home monitoring.

Mango
Blue-and-Gold Macaw
Coco
Holland Lop Rabbit

First Aid Guides

Rabbit Emergencies
Emergency

GI Stasis

Signs: Not eating, no droppings for 6+ hours, hunched posture, teeth grinding (bruxism), bloated abdomen

1Keep rabbit warm at 29C/85F using a heating pad on low under half the enclosure
2Offer unlimited timothy hay and fresh water. Try critical care syringe feeding if not eating
3Seek veterinary care SAME DAY. Can be fatal within 24 hours
Do NOT massage the abdomen. Do NOT withhold food. Do NOT "wait and see" beyond 12 hours.
Harcourt-Brown F. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, 2nd ed. Elsevier, 2014.
Emergency

Heat Stroke

Signs: Panting, wet nose, lethargy, sprawled posture, red ears, seizures

1Move rabbit to coolest area immediately. Place damp (not cold) towels on ears
2Mist ears with room-temperature water. Ears are primary thermoregulation organ
3Rush to emergency vet. Fatal above 28C/82F body temperature
Do NOT immerse in cold water. Do NOT use ice. Rapid cooling causes shock.
Varga M. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013.
Urgent

Head Tilt (E. cuniculi)

Signs: Sudden head tilt, rolling, loss of balance, nystagmus (rapid eye movement)

1Place rabbit in a padded, confined space to prevent injury from rolling
2Keep environment dark and quiet to reduce vestibular stimulation
3Vet within 24 hours. Treatment with fenbendazole is often successful if started early
Do NOT assume the rabbit will "grow out of it." Early treatment dramatically improves prognosis.
Harcourt-Brown FM, Holloway HKR. J Small Anim Pract. 2003.
Urgent

Dental Malocclusion

Signs: Drooling, wet chin, dropping food, weight loss, facial abscess/swelling

1Offer softened critical care food via syringe to maintain caloric intake
2Ensure unlimited hay access. Hay fiber is the #1 prevention for dental disease
3Vet within 48h for full dental exam and skull radiographs
Do NOT attempt to trim teeth at home. Do NOT ignore "just drooling" as it often indicates severe spurs.
Harcourt-Brown F. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, 2nd ed. Elsevier, 2014.
Bird Emergencies
Emergency

Teflon / PTFE Toxicosis

Signs: Sudden respiratory distress, falling off perch, death within minutes of exposure

1Remove bird from area immediately. Open all windows for ventilation
2Place bird in fresh air, keep warm. Oxygen therapy if available
3Emergency vet immediately. Prognosis is often poor once symptomatic
Do NOT use non-stick cookware anywhere in a home with birds. PTFE fumes kill at concentrations undetectable to humans.
Lightfoot TL. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2006.
Emergency

Blood Feather Hemorrhage

Signs: Active bleeding from a broken pin feather, blood on cage/feathers

1Apply direct pressure with clean gauze to the bleeding feather shaft for 5 minutes
2If bleeding continues, apply styptic powder (cornstarch as alternative) to the shaft
3If still bleeding after 10 min, pull the feather shaft completely with hemostats and seek vet care
Do NOT ignore ongoing bleeding. Birds have very low blood volume. Loss of even 10% can be fatal.
Speer BL. Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery. Elsevier, 2016.
Urgent

Egg Binding (Dystocia)

Signs: Straining, sitting on cage floor, fluffed feathers, swollen abdomen, labored breathing

1Place bird in a warm, humid environment (30-32C/86-90F). Steam from a shower can help
2Offer calcium supplement (liquid calcium gluconate if available)
3Vet within 12 hours. Egg binding can compress organs and cut off circulation
Do NOT squeeze or manipulate the abdomen. Do NOT try to manually extract the egg.
Speer BL. Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery. Elsevier, 2016.
Urgent

Respiratory Distress

Signs: Tail bobbing, open-mouth breathing, clicking sounds, voice change, nasal discharge

1Move bird to warm (28-30C), draft-free area. Minimize handling and stress
2Provide humidity via nearby bowl of hot water (not directly on cage)
3Seek vet within 24h. Respiratory disease in birds escalates rapidly due to unique air sac system
Do NOT use any scented products, candles, or aerosols near the bird. Their respiratory system is extremely sensitive.
Speer BL. Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery. Elsevier, 2016.
Ferret Emergencies
Emergency

Insulinoma Hypoglycemic Crisis

Signs: Glazed eyes, drooling, pawing at mouth, rear leg weakness, seizures, collapse

1Rub honey, corn syrup, or sugar water on gums immediately. Do not force liquids into mouth if seizing
2Keep ferret warm and still. Wrap in towel, minimize stimulation
3Seek emergency vet care as soon as seizure resolves. Blood glucose test essential
Do NOT fast a ferret with known insulinoma. Do NOT give large sugar boluses (causes rebound hypoglycemia).
Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine. 4th ed. Elsevier, 2020.
Emergency

GI Foreign Body Obstruction

Signs: Vomiting, not eating, pawing at mouth, lethargy, diarrhea with mucus, abdominal pain

1Remove all rubber/foam toys immediately. Ferrets are notorious for ingesting non-food items
2Withhold food but offer water. Monitor for continued vomiting or lethargy
3Emergency vet immediately. Surgical removal is often required within 24 hours
Do NOT induce vomiting at home. Do NOT give laxatives. Foreign bodies require veterinary imaging and often surgery.
Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents. 4th ed. Elsevier, 2020.
Reptile Emergencies
Emergency

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)

Signs: Soft/rubbery jaw, tremors, inability to walk, bowed limbs, seizures

1Ensure proper UVB lighting is in place (10-12% output, within 12 inches). Replace bulbs every 6 months
2Offer calcium-dusted insects or calcium-rich greens. Liquid calcium if available
3Vet within 48h for blood calcium testing and injectable calcium if severe
Do NOT over-supplement vitamin D3 without vet guidance. Do NOT use compact/coil UVB bulbs for bearded dragons (insufficient output).
Mader DR. Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 2nd ed. Saunders Elsevier, 2006.
Urgent

Dysecdysis (Retained Shed)

Signs: Patches of old skin remaining, constricted toes/tail tip, retained eye caps (spectacles)

1Soak animal in lukewarm water (not hot) for 15-20 minutes to soften retained skin
2Increase humidity in enclosure (60-80% for most species during shed)
3If retained on toes, tail, or eyes for 48+ hours, vet visit needed to prevent necrosis
Do NOT forcibly pull retained shed. Do NOT ignore retained eye caps as they can cause blindness if layered.
Mader DR. Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 2nd ed. Saunders Elsevier, 2006.

Find an Exotic Vet

Demo Map View
All Species Rabbits Birds Reptiles Small Mammals
Verified ExoticCare

Woodland Exotic Animal Hospital

2341 Oak Valley Rd, Suite 100
Rabbits Birds Guinea Pigs Ferrets
1.2 mi Open Now
Verified ExoticCare

Riverside Avian & Reptile Clinic

876 Riverside Dr, Building B
Birds Reptiles Amphibians
3.4 mi Open Now

Eastside Exotic Veterinary Center

1590 Commerce Blvd
All Exotics Emergency 24/7
5.1 mi

Community

All Health Diet Behavior Housing
S
Dr. Sarah ChenDVM
Exotic Medicine Specialist

PSA: RHDV2 confirmed in wild rabbits in 3 new states this month

If you have not vaccinated your rabbit against RHDV2, please do so immediately. The virus is now confirmed in wild populations in Oregon, Washington, and Nevada...
142 replies2h ago
M
MacawMom_TX

Best pellet brand for blue-and-gold macaws? Harrison's vs Roudybush?

My vet recommended switching from a seed-heavy diet to pellets. I'm torn between Harrison's and Roudybush. Which do your macaws prefer?
67 replies5h ago
J
Dr. James ParkDVM
Board Certified ABVP (Avian)

Ferret insulinoma: early signs most owners miss

The classic "staring into space" episode is one of the most commonly missed early signs of insulinoma. Here's what to watch for before the seizures start...
98 replies8h ago
R
ReptileDad2024

My bearded dragon is glass surfing constantly - stressed or normal?

She's been pawing at the glass for hours each day. She's eating fine and her basking temp is 38C. Is this normal or should I be worried?
34 replies12h ago
L
LittlePigLover

C&C cage vs Midwest Guinea Habitat Plus - which is actually better?

I'm upgrading from a pet store cage (finally!) and need help choosing. I have 2 boars and want at least 10.5 sq ft of floor space...
51 replies1d ago
A
AnitaHedgehogs

My hedgehog refuses cat food - alternative protein sources?

She's been on Wellness Indoor cat food for 2 years and suddenly won't touch it. What are good alternatives that meet the 30% protein requirement?
28 replies1d ago

My Clinic

Your pet's health records, vaccination schedule, appointment history, and medication tracker — all in one place. Activate with your email to get started.

Activate My Clinic

Enter your email to set up your pet health dashboard. We'll create your profile and sync your records.

You have 30 days of full free access — explore everything, no limits
ExoticPet

Thank you for using ExoticPet.

Your 30-day free access has ended. Everything here is built by exotic animal veterinarians, for free, no ads, no data selling. A small subscription keeps it running.

This is the best exotic pet owner platform available anywhere. Every triage guide, first aid step, and care recommendation is peer-reviewed and cited. If it has been useful to you and your pet, please support the project.

  • Triage tool — species-specific, evidence-based
  • 16 first aid emergency guides with peer-reviewed citations
  • Complete species library — care, diet, toxic foods, conditions
  • Find an exotic vet near you with direct booking
  • My Clinic — your records, vaccines, appointments
  • Community forum with Verified Vet replies
$3.99
per month
less than a cup of coffee

No contracts  •  Cancel anytime  •  No ads  •  No data selling  •  Secure payment by Stripe

Request an Appointment

Your request will be sent directly to the clinic. A team member will confirm your appointment.