Surgery and Anaesthesia

Surgery is often necessary for a range of problems that occur in unusual pets. While any surgery or anaesthetic has risks, exotic species often have a higher anaesthetic risk than dogs and cats. We minimise the risks of anaesthesia as much as possible to ensure a comfortable, safe, and smooth procedure for your pet.

Anaesthesia

We have state-of-the-art anaesthetic monitoring equipment that allows us to monitor your pet’s heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, respiratory effort, expired carbon dioxide level, blood oxygenation level and temperature. We have specialised fluid pumps to ensure that your pet’s vascular system is supported while undergoing any procedure.

All our practices have specialised exotic animal ventilators that can breathe for animals as small as twenty grams! This is especially important for rabbits and reptiles as these species often go through apnoea periods (not breathing on their own) while under anaesthesia.

Many of our patients are very small, and we utilise active warming procedures during surgery to ensure that their body temperature does not drop too low. This decreases the surgical procedure’s impact on their bodies and gives them the best chance of a smooth recovery.

Surgery

We perform a whole myriad of surgeries here at The Unusual Pet Vets. From routine dental and sterilisations (neutering) to advanced orthopaedic repair of fractured bones – we have you covered.

The patients we see are unique and having the right equipment and surgical knowledge is important. We have the very best dental machines suitable for producing the low speeds required for small rabbit and guinea pig dental procedures and specialised surgical instruments to cater for all shapes and sizes of patient.

Our teams of veterinarians are some of the most knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to the surgical needs of all unusual and exotic pets. Whether your pet requires a routine surgical procedure or emergency surgery, you can trust that your exotic pet is in safe hands.

Other Services

Dentistry

Dental disease is commonly seen in exotic pets. Unlike dogs and cats, the signs can vary species to species, and they can be subtle. If left untreated, it can cause discomfort and severe health issues.

For this reason, regular dental checks are recommended for rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and dragons. Regular cleanings for the likes of ferrets and bearded dragons is also recommended to prevent and remove plaque and tartar build-up.

At The Unusual Pet Vets, we have specialised equipment that allows us to perform a range of dental procedures on exotic pets to prevent dental disease development and treat impacted, overgrown, infected and abscessed teeth.

Beak Corrections (Beak Trims)

A bird’s outer beak is made of keratin and grows continuously much like our fingernails. Birds generally wear down their beak naturally and do not usually require regular beak trimming. However, there are some cases where birds develop an abnormal beak, or their beak becomes overgrown, and correction is necessary to prevent health conditions.

If not corrected, an overgrown beak can prevent birds from performing daily tasks such as climbing, preening, and eating, as well as developmental problems, nutritional deficiency, illness, or it can also be due to trauma or injury.

If you are concerned about your bird’s beak, please get in touch with us.

Sterilisations (Desexing or Neutering)

Sterilisation (otherwise known as desexing or neutering) is recommended for many exotic pets. There are many health and behavioural benefits from sterilising your exotic pet. It is an important preventative health care measure and prevents any unwanted and unexpected pregnancies.

We recommend that rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and rats should all be routinely desexed to prevent a range of issues. In some cases, sterilising your reptile or bird is also indicated for the prevention of some diseases.

For more information, please contact your local Unusual Pet Vets team.

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