The Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics

01/04/2025

Bowie and Tina are two of our first patients of 2025! This adorable pair of lionhead rabbits came in this week for a wellness visit with Dr. Storch. Besides fresh herbs and cuddles, Bowie and Tina enjoy each other’s company and go everywhere together.

Lionhead rabbits require all the same care as other rabbit breeds including a spacious indoor enclosure, a balanced diet consisting mainly of hay, exercise and enrichment, and regular vet visits. Additionally, because of their characteristic mane, lionheads needs regular brushing to keep them from getting matted.

Do you have a rabbit or other exotic pet in need of care? Check out our website to learn more about our services and to schedule an appointment: https://avianexoticsvet.com

01/02/2025

Warning for all ferret owners who feed their pets raw food: several raw food brands are now implicated in the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) which is fatal to ferrets. Raw milk and other raw foods also have been implicated in the transmission of bird flu to humans and other animals. Be smart and protect your pets. Do not let ferrets outdoors or feed them any raw diets. Bird flu is dangerous to all our pets, not just birds. Please take this warning seriously!

Another brand of raw pet food has been found to contain bird flu and has made at least five house cats presumably sick with the virus, health officials say.

01/01/2025

Thank you to our clients and friends for a wonderful 2024! Happy New Year from all of us at VCBE! 🎉

12/30/2024

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or “bird flu” has been spreading across the US, infecting wild birds, poultry, and even mammals. A house cat recently died in Oregon after consuming raw frozen cat food that tested positive for bird flu.

To learn more about HPAI and how to protect yourself and your pets, listen to this podcast with our very own Dr. Hess:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/news/editorial/2024/09/11/20/31/podcast-avian-flu-with-dr-laurie-hess

12/24/2024

This is a reminder that even when we are closed, our are available for emergency phone consultations. If your or exotic pet gets sick or injured while we are closed, give us a call to be transferred to our emergency answering service.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at VCBE!

https://avianexoticsvet.com/emergency-services/

12/19/2024

Are you keeping your companion birds safe this holiday season?

This time of year can be an exciting and heart-warming, albeit stressful time for everyone. We find our hands full with holiday decorating, party planning, entertaining house guests, or traveling. With all this, we want to remind you to keep your exotic pets safe and healthy. Today, we are focusing on birds. To read the full article by Dr. Hess, click here: https://avianexoticsvet.com/blog/how-to-keep-your-bird-safe-during-the-holidays/

11/28/2024

Target wants you to know that we will be closed on Thursday, 11/28, in observance of Thanksgiving Day. As always, our veterinarians are available for emergency phone consultations 24/7. If your bird or exotic pet gets sick or injured while we are closed, call our hospital to be transferred to our emergency answering service. We will reopen on Friday, 11/29, for our regular hours.

A safe and happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

https://avianexoticsvet.com/emergency-services/

11/18/2024

Going away?
Ask us about boarding! (914) 864-1414

Why shouldn’t your pet have a vacation while you have yours?

We know how stressful it can be to go away and leave your animal in someone’s else’s care. At the Veterinary Center, you can rest assured that we treat all pets in our care as if they were our own. With our brand new, state-of-the art boarding center, with separate rooms for birds, small mammals, and reptiles/amphibians, we meet the specific needs of all different types of pets. Our clean, bright, temperature-controlled boarding rooms offer brand new cages, completely sanitized between guests, separated by optional dividers if your pet prefers privacy. Our staff attends to your pet’s needs morning and evening, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. With a large refrigerator and plenty of storage, we can offer your pet their favorite foods and treats from home. Plus, they are entertained during the day with playtime or their favorite shows on a wall-mounted TV. And all pets must have a check-up before boarding with us to minimize spread of illness. Just in case there is a problem, our staff, all fully-trained in exotic pet care, are here every day. All of this, so you can have peace of mind when you are away to enjoy your vacation while your pet enjoys theirs!

11/15/2024

Welcome, Zeus!

Zeus is a 1-year-old rabbit who came in this week for his first visit with Dr. Dewey. We learned that this adorable boy is adjusting well to life in his new home, and that he has a voracious appetite. His favorite foods include cilantro and strawberries.

Did you know that rabbits (and guinea pigs) can eat a variety of greens and vegetables? While the largest portion of their diet should consist of high-quality grass hay, leafy greens and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and immune-boosting phytonutrients. The general recommendation is to provide 1 cup of leafy greens or 2 tablespoons of vegetables per 2 pound of body weight daily. Fruit should only be fed as occasional treats, and greens that are high in calcium and oxalates should be fed sparingly or avoided if your pet has urinary issues. To learn more, visit https://oxbowanimalhealth.com/blog/what-are-the-best-vegetables-and-leafy-greens-for-rabbits/

To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, visit https://avianexoticsvet.com

11/11/2024

It's Practice Manager Appreciation Week, and we couldn't be more excited to brag about our fabulous practice manager, Rachael, and our incredible assistant manager, Jennifer! We are thrilled to recently have added these 2 amazing, creative, knowledgeable powerhouse women to our veterinary team. They are leading our staff on to bigger and better things at the Center. Please welcome them and appreciate all that they do to make pets' and their owners' experiences great at the Veterinary Center!

11/05/2024

We may not get the presidential election results today, but what we do get is the Halloween Costume Contest results… Congratulations to Dewey! 🥇

Dewey has won a free Wellness Consultation with our reptile expert, Dr. Marion. Please, call our office to claim your prize.

Thank you to everyone who participated and those who voted. We can’t wait to see your costumes next year!

10/31/2024

Here are our 2024 Halloween Costume Contest participants! Please, vote for your favorite by Liking/Loving their individual picture or commenting with their name. You can vote for more than one, but the picture with the most votes wins!

Happy Halloween! 🎃

10/30/2024

Today is the last day to enter our annual Halloween costume contest! If you’d like to participate, please send a photo of your exotic pet in their costume to [email protected] with the subject “Costume contest.” All entries must be received by 7pm. We will post all entries on our social media pages and the photo with the most votes wins!

10/28/2024

Did you know that rabbits have no paw pads? Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits have only fur protecting the bottom of their feet, some having a lot more than others! Domestic rabbits live out their lives walking on hardwood or tile floors, or standing on hard plastic or even wire cage bottoms (not recommended). Combined with having less fur underfoot, normal fur thinning due to aging, obesity, lack of mobility, or overgrown nails, this can leave them susceptible to developing painful foot sores.

Would you like to keep your rabbit’s feet healthy? Regularly check the bottoms for sores, paying close attention to the heel area. Provide sufficient padding in their enclosure or in areas they spend the most time in if they free roam. Regardless of what bedding you use, make sure that it is kept dry and clean. Keep nails short (some rabbits need nail trims every few months). Finally, make sure your rabbit maintains a healthy weight by making grass hays the largest part of their diet, cutting down on treats, and providing opportunities for exercise.

If your rabbit develops foot sores or heavy matting, seek veterinary help. At the Veterinary Center, we provide rabbit grooming along with medical services. Call us today or visit our website to learn more or schedule a visit: https://avianexoticsvet.com

10/24/2024

It’s that time of year! Time for our annual Halloween costume contest. If you’d like to participate, please send a photo of your exotic pet in their costume to [email protected] with the subject “Costume contest.” All entries must be received by October 29th. We will post all entries on our social media pages and the photo with the most votes will win a prize!

10/18/2024

As Vet Tech Week winds down, we would like to highlight Christina, our LVT-in-training, whose hard work and dedication to the Veterinary Center are always appreciated. Without our amazing team, we would not be able to provide exceptional care to our patients!

10/15/2024

It's National Veterinary Technician Week, and the The Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics wants to acknowledge the incredibly talented veterinary technicians we work with and without whom we could not provide the top-notch care we provide to exotic pets. So thank you to Kenia, Gabe, and Shannon - our stellar team of vet techs! If you're a client of the Vet Center, please give them a shout out here (or in person, if you visit!).

10/13/2024

🎈 It’s National Vet Tech Week! 🎈