“Exotic” pets (like birds, rabbits and reptiles) are often thought of as easy pets to keep because they don’t take up much space and don’t need to be walked every day, but keeping these pets happy and healthy is more complicated than you might think.
Friends
Most exotic pets are highly social animals and need companionship to feel comfortable and safe. Lonely pets can develop behavioural problems as a way to cope with stress, including feather plucking/over-grooming and destructive chewing/digging.
Food
There are lots of foods marketed towards exotic pets, but it’s important to make sure they’re getting a complete and balanced diet. Unfortunately there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ meal for exotic pets, and they need a wide variety of foods to keep them healthy.
Fun
Exotic pets need just as much mental stimulation as dogs and cats, sometimes more. Thinking about how they would act in the wild is a great way to come up with new ways to keep them entertained: things like hiding their food so they have to forage for it, or giving them new environments to explore.
Freedom
They may be small, but exotic pets still need space to move. Again, thinking about how they behave in the wild gives you a good guide to what they need in captivity, and having adequate room for them to behave naturally is vital to their wellbeing.
Of course these are just some of the things to consider if you’re thinking of getting one of the more unusual pets. We’re here to give you all the information you need, so book in for a consult today!