Small Pets
To live long and healthy lives, all pets require special care. Just like pet dogs and cats, small mammals and 'pocket pets' need veterinary care, balanced nutrition, human interaction, and appropriate management of their environment. Because they often live in cages or enclosed environments, even more attention must be paid to your special pets' housing than to that of the cats and dogs who share your home. Each species of unusual mammal has its own specific needs for housing, diet, and care. Even different types of rodents require different types of housing and diet. No matter the differences among them, all small mammals require both medical and surgical veterinary care. For example, your pet ferrets need vaccinations and non-breeding females must be spayed. The rabbit may require special skin care, and your guinea pig may need a unique diet. Even your pet rat may need individualized care to prevent respiratory problems.
Dr. Sawyer and his staff are highly skilled at treating and caring for many types of small mammals and are pleased to be able to offer care and guidance. He has exceptional experience in treating these animals and enjoys providing preventive care for pets and educational services for owners. To begin, Dr. Sawyer and his associates are available to offer pre-purchase advice, helping to find the best species of small mammal for your family. Additional advice is available for husbandry questions such as cage size, bedding, heating, and lighting. Nutritional counseling is offered for rabbits, ferrets, and 'pocket pets.' Surgical care is provided for spaying, neutering, and dental necessities. Behavioral advice can help with non-medical problems such as loneliness, aggression, and person-pet interactions. The doctor and his team firmly believe that preventive care helps deter disease problems from arising in small pets and will always make sure that the best routine and preventive well-care is available for your special mammals.
Health problems do arise in even the best cared-for small pets and PawSteps Veterinary Center is ready and able to help these pets. Services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. These services include thorough physical examinations, diagnostics such as radiographs, blood tests, and skin scrapings, and biopsy of growths. Surgeries are performed for such diverse occurrences as growth removal, dental disease, and internal problems. Additionally, medications and supplements tailored to the needs of these special animals are available. Moreover, nutritional counseling is given for those pets suffering from nutritional problems, such as dermatological or gastrointestinal disease. Behavioral counseling is offered for animals with medical problems caused by anxiety or lack of attention. In some cases, Dr. Sawyer may feel that your small mammal needs care from a specialist. We are happy to refer these pets to veterinarians that are board-certified or who have a focused interest in their specialty fields.
We treat the following small mammals at PawSteps Veterinary Center:
- Ferrets
- Rabbits
- 'Pocket Pets' such as – Guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, and chinchillas
