The Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics

03/24/2025

Winnie is a guinea pig who came in to have her eye rechecked by Dr. Storch. Unfortunately, Winnie injured her eye a few weeks ago, causing a painful ulcer on the surface. This is a condition we commonly see in rabbits and guinea pigs when they accidentally poke their eye with hay, a piece of debris becomes lodged in the eye, or they accidentally scratch their eye while scratching their ears or face. If you notice your pet blinking excessively or pawing at their eyes, or if you see excessive tearing or other discharge from the eye, it’s time to have them seen by their vet.

Winnie was an excellent patient, so with her cooperation and her family’s excellent care at home, her eye has completely healed! Way to go, Winnie!

Do you have an exotic pet in need of a vet? Check out our website for our services, and schedule a visit today!

https://avianexoticsvet.com

03/17/2025

Have a happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day!

We are feeling lucky to have such wonderful clients and patients to care for. We are open today for our regular hours; stop by or call us if you need us.

https://avianexoticsvet.com

03/15/2025

Happy Saturday!

It may be cold and gloomy outside, but we can always count on our animal companions and patients to warm up our hearts and bring a smile to our face! Pictured here are Gianna and Loki.

Everyone loves their pets, but an important aspect of showing your love for them is keeping up with their veterinary care, and that includes routine wellness checks. Bringing them to the vet for annual exams (or biannual for senior pets) is crucial to monitor their health and to catch any medical issues before they escalate. Exotic pets, in particular, can be good at hiding signs of illness until they are very sick, which can result in a poorer prognosis or more expensive vet bills.

The veterinarians at The Veterinary Center have advanced knowledge and training to provide a wide variety of medical and surgical services to birds and other exotic pets. To learn why exotic pets need exotic vets, visit: https://avianexoticsvet.com/blog/why-special-species-of-exotic-pets-require-specialized-veterinary-care/

03/10/2025

03/08/2025

The lovely Ms. Bun is a young rabbit who was brought in to The Veterinary Center for her first wellness visit. Don’t let her love for papaya and her carrot toy fool you—her diet does not consist of fruit! Fruit and sugary vegetables such as carrots should only be fed in very small amounts, if at all.

So, what should you feed a rabbit? For optimal dental and digestive health, rabbits (and other small pet herbivores) should have unlimited access to long-strand hay such as Timothy or Orchard grass hay. A rabbit’s diet can also be supplemented with a small amount of high quality pellets, and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, arugula, bokchoy, cilantro, etc. Make sure to always provide plenty of fresh drinking water.

Do you have a rabbit at home? Share with us!

03/05/2025

Happy Wednesday! Today we had a patient named Brio, who has learned multiple tricks! This is a great way to keep him mentally stimulated. Bravo, Brio!

02/25/2025

While we may normally think about population control when talking about spaying our pets, this procedure also has important health benefits:

Did you know that 70-80% of unspayed female rabbits develop uterine cancer by the age of 3 years? Did you also know that this cancer is completely preventable by spaying them?

Did you know that rats are prone to mammary, pituitary, and ovarian tumors, as well as uterine infections which can also affect other unspayed mammals? Did you know that all of this is preventable by spaying them?

This procedure can also have the same health benefits for other small mammals such as guinea pigs, chinchillas, and hamsters. While no surgical procedure is risk-free, we take every precaution to decrease the risk. Our team is highly trained and experienced in working with exotic pets, and we’ll be with your beloved companion every step of the way.

So what are you waiting for? Call us today to schedule your visit.

https://avianexoticsvet.com

02/20/2025

We think every day should be Love Your Pet Day, but did you know that today is the official day? If possible, give them an extra hug and kiss to celebrate!

Loving your pet also means providing the best possible care to support their physical and emotional health; this means providing a balanced and nutritious diet, enrichment appropriate for the species, playtime and quality interaction with their humans, and regular vet visits!

We are here for all of your exotic pet’s needs!

https://avianexoticsvet.com

02/15/2025

Fifteen years ago today, Dr. Laurie Hess opened the doors of the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics, despite the warnings of many friends and colleagues that an all-bird/exotic animal hospital would never make it, especially in the time of a recession. Well, 15 years later, we are thrilled to report that we are still here, we are AAHA-accredited, and our team has grown from a single doctor to 5 doctors, 5 LVTs, 5 vet assistants, 2 receptionists, a manager, and an assistant manager!

Last year, we completed our expansion to 2 floors to include a brand new boarding facility. We have added two exam rooms, new state-of-the-art equipment, and we continue to expand our services. Stay tuned for our Open House and celebration in the near future, so that you can see what we have been up to!

We are privileged to have been able to help so many incredible exotic pets for all these years. Thank you to all our clients for entrusting us with their care, thank you to our friends for your support, thank you to Dr. Hess for continuing to be our fearless leader, and thank you to the wonderful staff of the Veterinary Center for all your hard work and dedication!

https://avianexoticsvet.com

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine's Day to all our clients, patients, and friends!

Be sure to give some extra love to your exotic pet today! Pictured here are 3 of our patients, and our two spokesbirds, visiting our Kissing Booth. We also received a love telegram from Luna, one of our regular patients.

How are you and your special friends celebrating? Tag us in your pictures next to your exotic pets!

02/06/2025

ATTENTION ALL EXOTIC PET OWNERS!
BIRD FLU IS TRULY EVERYWHERE!

Bird flu is now known to sicken and kill not only birds of all kinds, but it can spread to mammals, even to our pets. In fact, cats are extremely susceptible. House cats and zoo cats already have died from this virus. We know that it is spread by migrating wild birds (like geese, ducks, and other species) that may not show any signs of illness. We don't yet know how it affects many species. We also know that bird flu can spread from infected animals to people (especially immunosuppressed humans). It has not spread from infected person to person. We are encouraging all pet owners to keep their animals inside (even in the upcoming warmer weather), and avoid handling any sick wildlife. We are taking extra precautions (wearing special protective gear and staying away from all other animals in the hospital) at the The Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics when we have to handle any animals that have been outside. So please - take this warning seriously - and protect yourself and your beloved pets.

H5 bird flu is causing outbreaks in wild birds and poultry, other animals and sporadic human cases.

02/06/2025

Due to the weather and road conditions, we are planning to open at noon today. Check back for updates.

Stay warm and drive safely if you need to go anywhere!

02/04/2025

Did you know February is National Dental Health Month?

Like dogs and cats, certain exotic pets (ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even bearded dragons) require routine dental care. Your exotic pets should have their teeth evaluated at least once a year by a veterinarian to look for early signs of dental problems and to keep their mouths healthy.

We are celebrating Dental Health Month by offering 10% off dental exams and procedures including tooth trims! What about our beaked friends? Well, we couldn’t leave them out, so the discount includes beak trims as well! 🦜 🐢

Call us today to schedule your visit!
https://avianexoticsvet.com

02/02/2025

Did you hear? Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today and predicts six more weeks of winter! 🥶

With these frigid temperatures, we hope you’re all staying warm at home with your pets. Don’t forget, cold or warm, rain or shine, The Veterinary Center is always here for you and your exotic pet’s needs!

Happy Sunday!

https://avianexoticsvet.com

It is Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil has made his choice! This year, Phil did see his shadow, which means we are in store for six more weeks of winter.

Read more here: https://7ny.tv/4hjBSUC

01/29/2025

Happy Lunar New Year! May the Year of the Snake bring you good health and prosperity.

01/25/2025

Jenn giving some love to a _________ of ferrets! What do you call a group of ferrets?

a) a clowder
b) a ferretry
c) a business
d) a herd
e) a pile of cuteness

01/24/2025

Did you know that our vets can perform surgery on even the tiniest patients? 🔎

Hamantha is an 8-month-old adorable hamster who was brought to the Veterinary Center due to a small mass on her paw. The mass was causing her so much discomfort that Hamantha wouldn’t stop scratching it, and even became aggressive. Dr. Storch recommended surgery to remove the mass, which she did swiftly and without any complications. Soon, Hamantha was up and ready to eat some snacks and to be reunited with her loving family!

Do you have an exotic pet in need of veterinary care? Check out our website to learn more about our services: https://avianexoticsvet.com