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General care and management of other pets and wildlife
/content/chapter/10.22233/9781910443057.chap4
General care and management of other pets and wildlife
- Authors: Anna Meredith, Sharon Redrobe and Elizabeth Mullineaux
- From: BSAVA Manual of Practical Animal Care
- Item: Chapter 4, pp 53 - 87
- DOI: 10.22233/9781910443057.4
- Copyright: © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
- Publication Date: January 2007
Abstract
Pets other than cats and dogs are extremely popular and their numbers are on the increase. The rabbit is now the third most popular mammalian pet in the UK. In addition to small mammals, many people keep birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates as pets. In many veterinary practices, these so-called exotic pets make up a significant proportion of the patient caseload and some practices now offer specialist expertise in exotic pets. This chapter is designed to give information on the species of animals kept as exotic pets; the advantages and disadvantages of exotic pets; basic biology, anatomy and husbandry requirements of exotic pets; how to handle and determine the sex of exotic pets and wildlife safely and humanely; how to recognize the signs of pain and disease in exotic pets and wildlife; how to administer basic medication to exotic pets and wildlife.
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Figures
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A crossbred rabbit. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A crossbred rabbit.
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Handling a rabbit. It is important to support the body. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Handling a rabbit. It is important to support the body. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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An English guinea pig. (Courtesy of Paul Flecknell.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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An English guinea pig. (Courtesy of Paul Flecknell.)
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Perineal openings in male and female rodents. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Perineal openings in male and female rodents. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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Handling a guinea pig. It is important to support the hindquarters. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Handling a guinea pig. It is important to support the hindquarters. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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Chinchilla. (Courtesy of Anna Meredith.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Chinchilla. (Courtesy of Anna Meredith.)
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Rats are becoming increasingly popular as pets. (Courtesy of Paul Flecknell.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Rats are becoming increasingly popular as pets. (Courtesy of Paul Flecknell.)
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Handling a rat. The thumb is placed under the mandible to prevent biting. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Handling a rat. The thumb is placed under the mandible to prevent biting. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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Handling a mouse. (a) Grasping the base of the tail. (b) Grasping the scruff. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Handling a mouse. (a) Grasping the base of the tail. (b) Grasping the scruff. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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A docile hamster can be cupped between two hands. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A docile hamster can be cupped between two hands. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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A gerbil can be grasped by the scruff. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A gerbil can be grasped by the scruff. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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A tame ferret can be grasped around the shoulders with the other hand supporting the body. Additional measures are required for aggressive animals (see text). Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A tame ferret can be grasped around the shoulders with the other hand supporting the body. Additional measures are required for aggressive animals (see text). Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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A simplified bird skeleton. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A simplified bird skeleton. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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Two basic types of feather. (a) Down. (b) Contour or flight. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Two basic types of feather. (a) Down. (b) Contour or flight. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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The digestive tract of a bird. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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The digestive tract of a bird. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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The parts of a normal bird dropping. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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The parts of a normal bird dropping. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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The respiratory system of a bird. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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The respiratory system of a bird. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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A Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.)
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Holding a budgerigar in one hand. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Holding a budgerigar in one hand. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.)
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A Royal python. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A Royal python. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.)
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A green iguana in good condition. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe and reproduced from BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 4th edition.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A green iguana in good condition. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe and reproduced from BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 4th edition.)
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A box turtle. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A box turtle. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.)
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The epidermis of a reptile is folded to form the characteristic scales. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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The epidermis of a reptile is folded to form the characteristic scales. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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A vivarium suitable for a reptile. (Adapted from BSAVA Manual of Reptiles, 2nd edn.) Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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A vivarium suitable for a reptile. (Adapted from BSAVA Manual of Reptiles, 2nd edn.) Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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The internal organs of a snake. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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The internal organs of a snake. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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The tail of a male snake, showing the position of the hemipenes. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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The tail of a male snake, showing the position of the hemipenes. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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Holding the head of a snake. (Courtesy of Anna Meredith.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Holding the head of a snake. (Courtesy of Anna Meredith.)
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Femoral pores in a male green iguana. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Femoral pores in a male green iguana. (Courtesy of Sharon Redrobe.)
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Holding a Chinese water dragon. (Courtesy of Anna Meredith.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Holding a Chinese water dragon. (Courtesy of Anna Meredith.)
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Sexing tortoises. (a) Female: short tail; cloaca close to plastron. (b) Male: larger tail; cloaca further from plastron. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Sexing tortoises. (a) Female: short tail; cloaca close to plastron. (b) Male: larger tail; cloaca further from plastron. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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Alternative methods of handling chelonians. (Courtesy of Anna Meredith.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Alternative methods of handling chelonians. (Courtesy of Anna Meredith.)
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External features and internal organs of a fish. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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External features and internal organs of a fish. Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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(a) Wildlife casualties must be handled with great care to prevent further injury to themselves or the handler. (b) First aid techniques, such as cleaning a wing wound in this swan, are similar to those performed in domestic species. (Courtesy of the Secret World Wildlife Rescue.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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(a) Wildlife casualties must be handled with great care to prevent further injury to themselves or the handler. (b) First aid techniques, such as cleaning a wing wound in this swan, are similar to those performed in domestic species. (Courtesy of the Secret World Wildlife Rescue.)
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Hand-rearing of wildlife orphans, such as this wild rabbit, is time-consuming and requires specialist skills, but can be very rewarding. (Courtesy of the Secret World Wildlife Rescue.) © 2007 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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Hand-rearing of wildlife orphans, such as this wild rabbit, is time-consuming and requires specialist skills, but can be very rewarding. (Courtesy of the Secret World Wildlife Rescue.)