Dr. Martin's Background
Dr. Martin grew up on a dairy farm, which also involved caring for chickens, turkeys, geese, rabbits, and many other animals. His father built a large aviary and raised small birds such as parakeets, love birds, and cockatiels, which helped AJ learn how to care for all creatures, big and small.
Dr. Martin is able to provide care for your exotic pet, including annual examinations, sick exams, and diet/husbandry consultations. He is also able to perform surgeries on exotic animals (like the duck in the photo!).
With any exotic pet, it is important to do your research and understand their nutritional requirements, best husbandry practices, and signs to watch for that could indicate disease. Listed below are some of the more common categories of exotic pets Dr. Martin sees.
Birds
Parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, and parrots are some of the more common birds kept as pets. Chickens and ducks are becoming increasingly more popular as well. It is important to understand what your specific species of bird's requirements are for nutrition and environment, as well as what diseases they are predisposed to and signs to look out for at home. Common diseases seen in birds include bacterial and viral infections, parasites, hypothyroidism, and egg binding.
Resources for bird owners:
Rabbits
Some of the most popular rabbit breeds include Rex, Lops, Dutch, and Lionheads. Rabbits require just as much attention as any other pet, including a specific diet and daily meals, regular cleaning of their quarters, daily monitoring, environmental enrichment, and medical care from the veterinarian. Common issues seen with rabbits include abscesses, ear infections, anorexia, viral and bacterial infections, limb paralysis, and ear mites.
Resources for rabbit owners:
Reptiles
Reptiles, such as bearded dragons, geckos and other lizards, turtles, and tortoises all need veterinary care too! Whether you are thinking of getting a reptile as a pet, or you already have one, it is important to do your research on their requirements for light, temperature, and humidity, their behavior, their shedding and hibernation patterns, types of diseases (and whether you can contract them), what they should eat, and how big they are expected to grow. Some of the more common diseases we see in reptiles include retained spectacles, abscesses, bacterial or viral infections, cloacal prolapse, and nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Resources for reptile owners:
Rodents
Hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, and guinea pigs are the most common rodents kept as pets. Compared to dogs and cats, they have a shorter life span (2-5 years depending on the species). Most rodents eat a combination of pelleted hay, grains, seeds, vegetables, and fruit. The incisors (AKA the front teeth) grow continuously throughout their lives. Overgrown incisors are a common problem and can be prevented at home by providing your rodent with wood or chewing objects that they can gnaw on. Treatment of overgrown incisors may involve trimming, oftentimes under anesthesia.
Resources for rodent owners: