Valley Exotics is the specialist clinical service for avian and exotic patients at Valley Veterinary Hospital. We are a diplomate-lead service and our vets and nurses work exclusively with exotic species.
Exotic Species
Examples of species we see day-in-day-out would include:
- Birds, including parrots, birds of prey, racing pigeons, poultry, waterfowl, canaries, finches, peafowl etc.
- Reptiles, including snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles etc.
- Small mammals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, sugar gliders, African pygmy hedgehogs, marmosets etc.
- We also see a small number of amphibians, invertebrates and pond/aquarium fish
- We do see some different species from local small zoos and animal collections, such as meerkats, armadillos, binturongs, fruit bats, ratites and wallabies although, we do not have facilities for treating large zoo animals.
We have a dedicated clinical department within Valley Veterinary Hospital which include:
- Separate clinical areas away from the dogs and cats
- Our own preparation area, operating theatre and isolation area
- A separate waiting area.
- Dedicated avian/reptile and small mammal wards. We house predators away from prey species.
- Air extracted kennels for birds, to minimise the risk of cross infection with airborne diseases between patients.
- Specialist moulded vivaria which are fitted with thermostatically controlled heating and UVB lighting for housing reptile inpatients.
- Small mammal ward which includes walk-in kennels, to allow rabbits and other small mammals ample space for the exercise they need.
- In-house laboratory, as well as the ability to send diagnostic samples externally to specialist labs.
- Imaging facilities which include x-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy and CT
- An exotic post mortem room and can perform post-mortem examinations to try to establish the cause of illness and death in patients which are sadly deceased.
We are always happy to provide help and support to referring vets with management or decision making regarding exotic species patients.
Valley Exotics is staffed by EBVS® and RCVS˚ recognised veterinary specialists and qualified exotic vets that are interns or residents and working under the direction/supervision/guidance of a recognised specialist. Several of our veterinary nurses have additional qualifications in the veterinary nursing of exotic species.
Valley Exotics is open Monday-Friday at Valley Veterinary Hospital from 9am-6pm. We are closed during weekends and bank holidays. Out of hours, 1st aid and emergency treatment and inpatient observation and care is provided by the Valley 24/7 emergency service.
We are happy to see both 1st opinion primary care and referral patients from other vets as well as offering vets advice with exotics cases under their care. If your pet is registered with a vet already and under their care, you can ask them to organise a referral to us.
We have our own dedicated Exotic Species Facebook page:
Get in Touch
Please contact us if you would like to discuss a case or refer an exotic species patient for veterinary care.