Sexing (Gender Determination)

It is often necessary for people with multiple pets to know the sex of their animals, either to avoid breeding or to allow breeding to occur.

There are many different methods used to determine the sex, which depends entirely on the pet’s age and species.

Sexing Birds

Knowing a bird’s sex is beneficial for many reasons including managing behavioural and medical issues, particularly those involving the reproductive tract.

We recommend the use of DNA sexing for avian species as it is a safe, minimally invasive method that provides accurate results. It involves us collecting a blood sample placed on a filter paper and then sending that off to an external lab for analysis.

Endoscopic sexing (otherwise known as surgical sexing) is also an option however it is more invasive as well as costs more so isn’t used as commonly anymore.

Sexing Small Mammals

When it comes to identifying the sex of rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, mice, rats and native mammals, things are generally much more straightforward with your pets’ gender being able to be confirmed with a physical examination once they reach a certain age. We recommend a health check-up for all new pets and find this is often a good time for us to help confirm the gender of your pet.

Sexing Reptiles

For reptile owners, the need to know their reptiles’ gender is critical for understanding many behaviours and alerting them to possible reproductive-related diseases.

For reptilian species, there is a range of different techniques that can be used to sex your animals.

Reptile sexing methods include probing, illumination, popping, endoscopy, radiography, visual sexing using external characteristics, and ultrasonography, all of which can be performed in-house at our clinics.

We offer all the services listed on this page, and the type of sexing method used depends entirely on the age and species.

For further information on which method would be most appropriate for your pet please contact us directly.

Other Services

Faecal Testing

Faecal testing is a great way to screen your pet for internal parasites such as worms and coccidia, which, left untreated, can be life-threatening to many species. It can also be beneficial if your pet has diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal signs (including weight loss), as faecal tests can help determine what may be causing your pet to be unwell.

In most cases, we perform faecal testing on the spot, and you will have the results within 10-15 minutes of the sample being taken.

Early detection and intervention are essential for your exotic pet’s health. Faecal testing can provide a lot of information about the status of your pet’s gastrointestinal health.

Laboratory Testing and Diagnostic Imaging

Our clinics are very well equipped, and we have access to a fantastic range of laboratory and imaging equipment that make diagnosing what is going wrong with your exotic pet much easier.

Our laboratory equipment allows us to run various tests to evaluate how your pet’s organs are functioning. These tests can all be performed in-house, providing quick and accurate results.

Diagnostic imaging involves the use of radiographs, ultrasound endoscopy, CT or sometimes MRI to assess inside your pet’s body. Imaging is taken of internal structures such as bone, soft tissue and major organs as well as look for foreign objects, obstructions, and lesions.

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