I often wonder how veterinarians serve animals considered in exotic. The relatively few encounters has to be a limiting factor. But, my eyes were opened by this article about preparing a practice specifically for the exotic companion mammal sub-group. The numbers of alternative pet types is growing and with it a new specialty from the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians.
Source: Veterinary Team Brief, November/December 2015.
Birds, small mammals, and reptiles are growing in popularity as pets, with mammals such as rabbits, ferrets, and rodents representing the largest nontraditional group typically presented for veterinary care.
INSIGHTS: Specialty designation is now available for interested practitioners by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners’ Exotic Companion Mammal specialty (ABVP-ECM), the European College of Zoological Medicine’s Small Mammal specialty (ECZM-Small Mammals), and the American College of Zoological Medicine’s combined Zoological Companion Animal Medicine (ACZM-ZCAM) specialty, which covers mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.