Behind Door No. 3: the Appeal of Exotic Pets Dinary Levels of Veterinary Care
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Center for Companion Animal Health, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Vol. 15, No. 2, Fall 2010 Greetings from CCAH Director Niels C. Pedersen Perceptions of avian and exotic pets are changing Dear CCAH supporters: same level of emotional and financial com- Please forgive me if your favorite avian mitment from their owners as a dog or cat. or exotic pet is not mentioned, but I can his edition of CCAH Update focuses assure you that our veterinarians see a on small companion animals other than I hope that you will enjoy this glimpse T into the world of avian and exotic pets range of pets that is unbelievable to the av- dogs and cats – avian and exotic pets. Based erage cat and dog owner. I hope that you on personal experience, I have come to view from the perspective of veterinarians who have dedicated their lives to keeping them enjoy this brief exposure to our Compan- pets not by species, but by their owners’ ion Avian and Exotic Pet Service. I invite perception of them. An individual pet enjoys healthy. Although avian and exotic pets can come from virtually every class of the you to learn more at www.vetmed.ucdavis. a primary, secondary or tertiary status in the edu/vmth/small_animal/cape/default.cfm home based on this perception. animal kingdom, we have concentrated this Update edition on those most likely on the Web. Primary pets can be likened to a family to be encountered in a modern veterinary member, a close companion or even a Niels C. Pedersen, DVM, a professor of practice. These are the species that are child substitute. Primary pets are afforded veterinary medicine and epidemiology, is obviously closest to the hearts of people, a level of veterinary care that is compa- director of the Center for Companion Ani- as judged by their willingness to seek the rable to the medical care given to family mal Health and director of the UC Davis best available veterinary care. members, and grief may be significant Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. upon their death. Secondary pets are fed and housed with respect and receive basic but not extraor- Behind door No. 3: The appeal of exotic pets dinary levels of veterinary care. Grief upon any veterinary offices have two the ability of a parrot to mimic sounds and their passing is not as intense. Mdoors – one for owners of dogs, the human speech. For some pet enthusiasts, A tertiary pet is much more expend- other for cats. But a third door is becom- the presence of exotic species may fulfill a able; it is well fed and cared for, but rarely ing increasingly necessary. Behind door need to coexist with the natural world. receives significant veterinary care, and number three you may find a remarkable “The natural behaviors of a species grief may be minimal. variety of avian, mammalian, aquatic, can be a point of fascination for many Many people see dogs as the princi- amphibian and reptilian species. exotic pet owners,” observed Dr. Joanne pal primary pet, cats the most common The American Pet Products Manufac- Paul-Murphy, a veterinary professor in the secondary pet, and animals like birds and turer Association (www.appma.org) has es- UC Davis Companion Avian and Exotic fish as tertiary pets. However, the status of timated that 11 million reptiles, 17 million Animal Service. “Tortoises, for example, various pets has changed with time, and birds and more than 18 million small mam- are not cuddly, don’t wag their tails or also varies greatly from one person or fam- mals are kept as pets in the United States. ordinarily run to greet you. But they are ily to another. Cats are much more likely About 15 percent of American households sweet, curious, intriguing and enjoyable to than ever before to be the primary pet, but are home to at least one exotic pet. watch and spend time with.” dogs still reign in this category. Likewise, Many owners of nonconventional pets She added that she has three pet tor- avian and exotic pets progressively have appreciate the beauty and behavior of toises that are very social. increased in popularity over the past two exotic animals – the brilliant coloring of a decades, and many of them now enjoy the snake’s scales, the eating habits of a frog or Continued on page 2 Appeal of exotic pets from page 1 UC Davis veterinarian E. Scott Weber III, an expert in aquatic animal health, “When I go out in the backyard they says that koi enthusiasts become as at- literally run over to greet me. I can put out tached to their fish as dog and cat fanciers a plate of food, but they are more inter- do to their furry friends. ested in getting attention from me. I pet “Koi hobbyists become extremely their heads and their shells and they relax. attached to their fish. Some train their They have wonderful personalities,” Dr. fish or exhibit them at shows. Some koi Paul-Murphy said. She added that many become so comfortable with their own- bird species are intelligent. ers that they feed from their hands and “Birds can actually talk to their owners. allow themselves to be touched,” said Dr. Because of that, I think birds can function Weber, who has known owners who have as service animals for people who need to invested as much as $100,000 in elaborate have a friend to talk to,” Professor Paul- koi pond construction. Murphy observed. Regardless of the species or the reasons Dr. Michelle Hawkins, chief of the people choose to live with them, each has UC Davis Companion Avian and Exotic distinct needs that require knowledge and Animal Service, observes that the bonds understanding. between people and exotic species have Koi enthusiasts become as attached to their evolved and matured. New wellness and welfare fish as dog and cat fanciers do to their furry “A century ago, many people who friends. program opens kept caged birds regarded them as part of The Companion Avian and Exotic Animal the furniture and home ornamentation, cage in the backyard during daylight hours Service has just launched a new service: without forming much of a human-animal in good weather. the Exotic Animal Wellness and Welfare bond. That has changed dramatically as “At sunset they squawk for us to bring Program, which incorporates pet owner these pets are now commonly considered them inside for the night,” said Hayes, education with pet health care. a primary member of the household,” who also has two dogs who have estab- Hawkins said. “The Wellness and Welfare Program is lished an “understanding” with the birds. a service encompassing wellness examina- Pet owner Jack Hayes has two birds “In their only encounter, Tyson bit Sam on tions and programs regarding all aspects of that are integral members of his house- the nose, and Sam now has a healthy re- preventive health care for exotic pets,” said hold. His 25-year-old female harlequin spect for anything with wings,” Hayes said. Dr. Hawkins. “Our service also focuses macaw, Tyson, and 24-year-old miniature UC Davis veterinarian David Sanchez- on providing quality of life consultation macaw, Tana, stay in a 6-by-5-by-4-foot Migallon Guzman says that animal lovers and therapy for debilitated and geriatric find the intelligence, behavior and re- animals.” sponses of animals captivating. Pet owners check in at the CCAH “Many owners are fascinated by interac- reception desk for Exotic Animal Wellness tions with their pets, with the ability of and Welfare appointments. animals to respond to their stimulations,” Veterinary acupuncture is among the said Dr. Guzman, a clinical faculty mem- Fall 2010 • CCAH Update is published by the innovative services that CCAH has intro- ber with the Companion Avian and Exotic duced for exotic animals, as well as for School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Animal Service. California, Davis. dogs and cats. Exotic Animal Wellness and The Center for Companion Animal Health (CCAH) Welfare Program is dedicated to advancing studies in veterinary faculty veterinarian medicine – encompassing new ways to prevent, Marilyn Koski trained diagnose and treat diseases including cancers, in veterinary acu- genetic and immune disorders, infectious dis- puncture at the Chi eases, kidney and heart diseases, and nutritional Institute of Chinese disorders in companion animals. Medicine in Gaines- Bennie I. Osburn, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dean, ville, Fla. School of Veterinary Medicine “The new Wellness Niels C. Pedersen, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director, CCAH and Welfare Program promotes client edu- Center for Companion Animal Health cation and improved 530-752-7024 or 530-752-7295 communication by Fax 530-752-7701 encouraging veteri- www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ccah Dr. Joanne Paul-Murphy examines a tortoise. Photo by Don Preisler. narians and students 2 CCAH Update, UC Davis, Fall 2010 plained. “I encourage people to conduct a lot of • Lighting: While some animals thrive research about lighting, substrate, water in a darkened environment, others may quality and nutritional needs before set- need plenty of exposure to sunlight, or ting up a new aquatic tank,” Professor special lighting of a particular wave- Weber said. He has begun developing length. Dr. Guzman noted that inade- an aquatic animal medicine program to quacy of ultraviolet light can lead to nu- expand instructional and health care offer- trient deficiencies in a variety of species. ings at UC Davis for pet aquatic animals. “Reptiles need a spectrum of light that Dr. Weber observed that many aquatic includes specific ultraviolet wavelengths animals that are sold as pets are caught in in order for them to synthesize their the wild.