Small Mammal/Exotic Services

​Certainly, most of you who count rats, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs or ferrets as part of your family don't consider them ‘exotic'. However they are unique and require special care. We welcome these special pets!
Rabbits

• Rabbits are engaging pets and we enjoy seeing many of them at the AAH. Young rabbits should be assessed once purchased or adopted to evaluate them for congenital (present from birth) problems and to discuss matters of health, nutrition and housing. We then see rabbits once yearly until they are 6 years of age.
• Senior pets are seen twice yearly or more often if their condition warrants frequent care (as in dental disease).
• Rabbits can be susceptible to a variety of conditions including overgrown teeth, parasites and cancer. If your rabbit stops eating, has diarrhea, appears overly quiet, experiences discharge from the eyes and/or nose, please arrange for an appointment to see one of our Doctors.

Guinea Pigs

• Guinea Pigs are a popular pet and are affectionate and entertaining! At AAH, we like to meet guinea pigs soon after they enter a new home to evaluate for any health problems, discuss some of their special dietary needs and evaluate housing. Ask your veterinarian about lists we can provide detailing food choices. We then will see G.P.s once or twice a year depending on their health status.
• If a Guinea Pig doesn't eat, has a change in the color of their urine, has diarrhea or seems more tired than usual, please call to arrange an appointment with one of our Vets.

Ferrets

• We see 3 types of carnivores at Ajax Animal Hospital: Dogs, Cats and Ferrets.
• Ferrets are popular, affectionate and entertaining pets but they do have a number of health related issues that should be addressed early to help prolong the length of their lives.
• Between the ages of 8 weeks and 16 weeks, ferrets should receive their "kit" booster vaccines and be evaluated and treated for parasites. Ferrets are susceptible to Canine Distemper, Rabies, fleas, ear mites, intestinal worms and heartworm (please ask the vet for specific information). Most ferrets are already spayed or neutered at the time of purchase but if they are not, this surgery should be performed at 6 months of age.
• Adult ferrets are seen once yearly up to the age of 4 for examination and preventive care. Please bring a stool sample to be evaluated for parasites to this visit. Once they reach 4 years of age, ferrets are considered senior pets and an evaluation each 6 months is recommended.
• Common problems associated with ferrets include gastrointestinal disease (diarrhea), parasites and cancer. Ferrets are inquisitive creatures by nature and frequently ingest objects they shouldn't. Any loss of appetite or abnormal behavior should alert you to a potential problem and the need for veterinary consultation.

Small Rodents

• Hamsters, Gerbils, Degus, Chinchillas, Rats, and Mice are often visitors to our hospital. We even have special small containers so that we can safely weigh these pocket sized pets. These pets should receive examinations and during your consultation with the Vet, you can discuss their special dietary and housing needs to try to prevent problems before they start.
• Unfortunately, the first time that we see these pets is when they are critically ill. If regular health advice is carried out, we may be able to prevent some of their more common health problems such as dental disease, nutritional deficits, respiratory disease.
• We offer both medical and surgical services to these unique patients.

Please call to arrange an appointment if you have any questions about your pet.

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