Veterinary Services in Libertyville, IL
Exotic Medicine in Libertyville, IL
GTAH is pleased to offer exotic pet vet care—Dr. Marina Jaworsky has a special interest in exotic animal medicine and has a lot of experience with their care.
Veterinary Services for Exotic Pets
Each exotic pet has its own unique needs to stay healthy. At GreenTree Animal Hospital, we understand the importance of knowing these individual needs is essential in ensuring your furry, scaley, prickly, or slimy friend lives a happy, healthy life. Our compassionate, skillful staff is here to help when you need us most. We look forward to seeing you soon!
For specific species information, please refer to our FAQs page.
Wellness and Preventative Healthcare
Pet owners easily recognize signs of illness for cats and dogs, but these clues can be elusive in exotic animals. Exotic animals are typically prey animals, which means they are naturally included to hide any sign of illness or injury to avoid appearing vulnerable in the wild. Due to their secretive nature, it can be hard to tell when they are ill until the disease is advanced or more difficult to treat. Semi-annual wellness exams and basic diagnostic testing are the foundations needed to identifying health concerns before overt illness occurs. Semi-annual wellness exams, blood screenings, and parasites testing allow us to catch underlying illnesses, decrease organ function, parasites, or infection even before your pet shows signs of being sick.
Many exotic species have specific dietary and housing requirements, and poor health and significant diseases can result when they aren’t met. We will provide you with the specific information you need to keep your pet happy and healthy.
Medical Services for Sick Pets
Just like people, sometimes pets get sick. We are here to help when your pet is showing signs of illness. If your pet is hiding more than usual, lethargic, not eating, has abnormal stool, changes in quantity of urine or stool, or any other changes in behavior or habits, please contact us to schedule an appointment.
Things We Can Discuss During Exams
- Habitat – it is essential that their environment in your home matches as closely as possible to their natural environment in the wild. Reptiles, for example, require a UVAB light and temperature gradient in their enclosure and thrive in humid (but not too humid!) conditions. Meanwhile, chinchillas, like desert animals, thrive in a dryer climate. It is important to do your research into your specific species’ requirements so you can provide them an environment that is both comfortable, safe and encourages natural behaviors.
- Diet – Each animal’s diet should meet their nutritional needs, whether on a pelleted diet or one that more closely resembles their natural diet.
- Socialization – Not all pets are social butterflies. Make sure you match your pet’s situation with their natural socialization behavior. Some animals do best on their own, while others need companionship.
- Handling – Handling refers to human interaction with your pet. Many small mammals adjust well to routine handling and recognize their handler’s scent. Reptiles do not crave as much handling as mammals do. Make sure you understand your pet’s specific handling preferences.