Now in its fourth edition, Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician is a comprehensive yet clear introduction to exotic animal practice for veterinary technicians in the classroom and clinical settings alike. With an emphasis on the exotic species most likely to find their way to a veterinary practice, the book offers coverage of birds, reptiles, amphibians, exotic companion mammals, and wildlife. It also features discussions of anatomy, restraint, common diseases, radiology, anesthesia and analgesia, clinical skills, surgical assisting, and parasitology.

This edition offers new updates throughout, including new chapters related to critical care feeding of exotic companion mammals, reptile infectious diseases, and exotic animal rehabilitation. It also provides full-color photos, including radiographs.

Designed to provide technicians with all the information necessary to confidently and competently treat exotic patients, Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician offers easy-to-follow descriptions of common procedures and techniques. A companion website delivers review questions and images from the book in PowerPoint format.

Topics covered in Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician include:

Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician is an essential reference for veterinary technician students, along with veterinary technicians working in an exotic practice, or veterinary technicians who work in a small animal practice where adding exotic patients is being considered.

Contributors xxxiii

Preface xxxvii

Acknowledgments xxxix

Disclaimer xli

About the Companion Website xliii

 

1 Exotic Animals in Clinical Practice 3
Bonnie Ballard

 

2 Exotic Anesthesia and Analgesia 11
Jody Nugent-Deal

3 Anesthetic Equipment and Monitoring for Exotic Patients 35
Katrina Lafferty

4 Physical Rehabilitation 49
Jodi Seidel

 

5 Psittacine and Passerine Birds 63
Cheryl B. Greenacre and Janet L. Pezzi-Jones

6 Psittacine Behavior, Husbandry, and Enrichment 99
April Romagnano, Tarah Hadley, Ashley McGaha, and Jan Hooimeijer

7 Aviary Design and Management 113
April Romagnano

8 Sex Differentiation and Reproduction 119
April Romagnano and Tarah Hadley

 

9 Lizards 127
Stacey Leonatti Wilkinson and Brad Wilson

10 Snakes 177
Ryan Cheek

11 Chelonians 231
Sarah Camlic, Ryan Cheek, Pia Bartolini, and Samuel Rivera

12 Herpetoculture and Reproduction 273
David Martinez-Jimenez

13 Infectious Diseases of Reptiles 297
Pia Bartolini

 

14 Amphibians 323
Brad Wilson

15 Fish 369
Sandy Skeba and Bonnie Ballard

 

Section VI Exotic Companion Mammals 397
16 Ferrets 399
Colleen Roman

17 Rabbits 421
Vanessa K. Lee, Douglas K. Taylor, and Deborah Mook

18 Mice, Rats, Gerbils, and Hamsters 465
April Romagnano

19 Chinchillas 483
Ashley McGaha

20 Guinea Pigs 493
Liz Vetrano

21 Degus 511
Stacey Leonatti Wilkinson

22 Hedgehogs 519
Ashley McGaha

23 Skunks 529
Serina Scott and Samuel Rivera

24 Sugar Gliders 535
Nia Chau and Samuel Rivera

25 Prairie Dogs 547
Stacey Leonatti Wilkinson and Samuel Rivera

26 Critical Care Feeding 555
Micah Kohles

 

Section VII Hematology 561
27 Avian and Reptile Hematology 563
Denise I. Bounous

 

28 The Role of a Veterinary Technician in a Zoo 571
Sandy Skeba

29 The Role of a Veterinary Technician at a Public Aquarium 587

30 The Role of the Veterinary Technician in Wildlife Rehabilitation 595
Melanie Haire

 

Appendix 1 State/Federal Wildlife Permit Offices 629

Appendix 2 Wildlife Admissions/Exam/Care Forms 633

Appendix 3 Handling and Restraint of Wildlife Species 637
Florina S. Tseng DVM

Appendix 4 Tail Wrapping 643

Appendix 5 Guide to Identification of Hatchling and Nestling Songbirds 645

Appendix 6 Average Body Weights of Selected North American Songbirds 649

Appendix 7 Species Care Sheets 651

Appendix 8 Biological Data of Selected North American Wild Mammals 659

Appendix 9 Glossary of Medical Conditions and Treatments 661

Appendix 10 Wildlife Product Sources 665

Appendix 11 Additional Resources 669

Appendix 12 Supplies Necessary for an Exotic Practice 673

Appendix 13 Animal Training Documentation 675

Appendix 14 Animal Data Transfer Form 677

Appendix 15 Operating Protocols: Animal Training Request Form 683

Appendix 16 Operating Protocols: Enrichment and Evaluation Form 685

 

Index 687

has worked in veterinary medicine since 1974. As program director, she developed the Veterinary Technology Program at Gwinnett Technical College in 1997. In 2018, she retired from Gwinnett Technical College and now works with the Escambia County Sea Turtle Patrol.

 

has taught veterinary technology at Gwinnett Technical College since 2007, first as an adjunct instructor, then a full-time instructor for eleven years before becoming the program director in 2018. He has 25 years’ experience in exotics and emergency/critical care.