Unusual pets and birds

Robert Johnson talks about the opportunities and challenges for veterinarians treating unusual pets and birds

What sorts of jobs are available for an unusual pet and avian vet?

Robert Johnson

Veterinarians with an interest in unusual pet and avian medicine will not only find employment in designated avian or unusual pet practices but general practice as well. Increasingly, as their case load increases, larger veterinary hospitals are requiring the services of a vet who is interested in these less common pets. Zoo and wildlife veterinarians also often have a background in either of these disciplines.

No specific extra training is required other than a genuine interest in the area. However, training, both of an informal and formal nature is useful in preparing a practitioner for unusual and avian practice. A background in aviculture or herpetoculture is useful, as is access to a good library and online services such as www.vin.com. In Australia formal training is available from the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in the form of memberships in (i) Avian Health and (ii) Medicine of Unusual Pet Medicine and Surgery. Keen clinicians can progress to fellowship level. The Unusual and Exotic Pets special interest group of the AVA offers practitioners the opportunity to meet together at its annual conference and to exchange ideas via email. Educational resources are also available through the group. Avian veterinarians have access to a similar email communication operated by the Australasian Committee of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Overseas training is also available in the USA, UK and Europe for veterinarians with an interest in birds or unusual pets.

An enthusiastic interest in unusual and avian pets is required in order to be successful. It helps to be a lateral thinker, have an enquiring mind and a genuine interest in the biology of the species that you are treating.

The ability to take a first principle medicine and surgery approach that was taught at university using more common animal models and apply it to other species is invaluable.

It is great fun being an unusual pet practitioner, often not knowing what is going to come through the door next. A usual day may involve treating a dystocic python, a rabbit with a head tilt and a parrot with a behavioural disorder. Each day sees you using a great range of diagnostic skills including microbiology, imaging and blood testing. Often more diagnostic workups are needed as these pets can sometimes have only subtle clinical signs.

How many vets can say that in an average day they may treat over 10 different species? Unusual pet and avian veterinarians are often involved in wildlife and zoo practice as well. Because of their diversity of experience their expertise may be called upon to participate in such diverse areas as conservation biology, animal care and ethics committees, quarantine and research.

Follow your passion. Join a friendly practice and advertise (both formally and informally) your interest in your chosen discipline. Attend conferences and seek advice and then sooner or later you will end up giving advice yourself!

After that first scary step in practice you may develop an interest in a specific area such as reptile medicine or small mammal anaesthesia. Veterinarians may choose to stay in practice or progress to further study or research. Unusual pet practice is still at the pioneering stage and is full of opportunities for young veterinarians (and not so young!). 

Join the Unusual and Exotic Pets special interest group

Join the special interest group Australian Avian Veterinary Medicine Association