Exotic Pet Care
At Adana we have the special expertise and experience needed to provide veterinary care for many furry, exotic pet species. We see furry exotic pets such as rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets, guinea pigs, rats and mice etc. They all have their special requirements for housing, feeding, handling, grooming and behavioral health. It is common for medical problems in “exotic” species to be unrecognized since they tend to mask any signs of illness.
We currently do not see birds, reptiles, snakes or sugar gliders until further notice.
Routine preventative veterinary care (annual wellness examinations and laboratory screening as appropriate for the species) can help to ensure that optimal care of these animals will minimize the risk of medical problems.
Medical and surgical care
In addition to preventative care, we provide medical care for sick and injured furry exotic pets. This can include husbandry review/modification, laboratory testing (bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal testing), x-rays, prescription medications, surgery, laser therapy and more. We are experienced and comfortable in safely performing routine spay and neuter procedures for rabbits, and neutering of guinea pigs as well.
Minimizing stress when transporting your exotic pet
We strive to minimize the stress of our exotic patients as much as possible during their visit, starting with how the patient is transported to our office. It is crucial to protect your exotic pet from temperature extremes during travel. In the winter start by warming up your car in advance.
When bringing your pet for an appointment, please transport him/her in an appropriate sized secure carrier. A towel or blanket should be used to cover any cage or carrier that may be drafty or allow for too much visual stimulation that may be stressful to an animal. Absorbent bedding should be placed in the bottom of the carrier as appropriate for the species. Do not provide water during transport, as it may spill.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Prevention
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a deadly disease, caused by a virus, that can infect rabbits and affects the liver and blood vessels. As of September 2022 the virus has been reported recently in domestic rabbits in NY, CT and NJ, and has killed thousands of domestic and wild rabbits in many western states. Per USDA reporting in June, 2022 the affected states currently include Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. The virus can remain in the environment for up to 3.5 months and is capable of surviving both freezing and very hot temperatures. The current strain, RHDV-2, may be a concern for rabbit owners because it is easily spread through direct contact with an infected rabbit, their feces, or other bodily fluids, as well as through contaminated items such as bedding and clothes. If you ever take your rabbit outside in a pen or if you pick greens or dandelions outside, you rabbit is at risk. See below for vaccination options at Adana.
RHD kills quickly, giving little warning. Rabbits often die without showing any symptoms. Any sudden death, especially in an otherwise healthy rabbit, is suspicious and should be reported to your veterinarian as a possible case of RHD.
Treatment is limited to supportive and palliative care. There are no antiviral drugs available at this time. For prevention of the disease, a vaccine is now approved for emergency use as research continues.
The vaccine is administered by injection in a 2-dose regimen, with the second (booster) dose following 21-28 days after the initial dose. Without the booster the first vaccine will not work.
Duration of vaccine efficacy is still to be determined but is expected to be 1 year.

At Adana we follow the development and spread of this disease very closely. As one of the only rabbit veterinarians in our counties, Adana carries the RHDV-2 vaccine, it is offered for pet or show rabbits. Please call the office for scheduling details, preference will be given to established clients and their rabbits due to vaccine availability.