JERBOA VET

Jerboa Veterinarian Serving Ohio

Dr. Riggs has over 30 years experience caring for exotic animals including jerboas. We provide full service jerboa veterinarian care. Jerboas are tiny desert rodents that are easily identifiable by their long hind legs, short forelegs, and long tail with tuft of fur on the tip. These are fun exotic pets to own but do require proper care in order to thrive. They have been referred to as the desert kangaroo because of their hopping motion. They can travel up to six feet in a single jump making it very difficult to capture them if they get away from their owner! We are experienced in treating Jerboas and provide the following veterinary services

Examples of Tests Offered:

  • COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC): A CBC is great laboratory tool that allows a veterinarian to “peek” inside your bird. By assessing the variety of blood parameters we can detect infections, viral diseases, blood parasites, response to disease, and states of anemia to name a few. This test can be done in our office at the time of your bird’s exam to aid in our ability to assess your pet’s health.
  • BLOOD PROFILING: A blood profile or serum chemistry series is a group of blood tests used to assess various organ functions or disease states. Kidney function, liver abnormalities, pancreatic disease are but a few of the conditions a blood profile can help evaluate.
  • SEROLOGIC TESTING/SPECIFIC DISEASE TESTS:
    Serologic tests use a combination of technologies (including state-of-the-art DNA probe tests) to screen your pet for the presence of various contagious diseases. Some examples of common tests used are:
  • CHLAMYDIA TESTING: Chlamydia, or parrot fever, is a contagious bacterial disease of birds that is also potentially contagious to humans. A variety of symptoms can be displayed and some birds can be healthy acting carriers. Although a culture is the “gold standard” for testing, a number of different tests are available to use in different situations to screen for this important disease.
  • PBFD: Psittacine beak and feather disease is a viral disease capable of infecting a wide variety of bird species. This potentially fatal disease can progress slowly or rapidly and involve a range of feather and beak lesions. Although no cure is currently available, this test can be used to help screen for the presence or absence of this disease in your pet.
  • POLYOMA: Polyoma virus is another potentially devastating disease of pet birds that has a variety of presentations and outcomes. Lesions can involve feathers or cause widespread tissue destruction and acute illness. Testing as well as a vaccine is available for this disease.
  • PACHECO’S: Pacheco’s disease is a highly infective herpes virus of birds. Disease can be rapid, widespread, and fatal or sporadic with asymptomatic carriers. DNA testing is now available to help detect and prevent this catastrophic disease.

Jerboa Wellness Exams

As part of your pets wellness examination, we’ll consult with you about your concerns and discuss specific needs of your Jerboa such as diet. We will visually examine teeth, ears, eyes, mouth, and skin for signs of illness. If we find anything abnormal, we may do testing to diagnose possible illness.

Jerboa Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Surgical Procedures

Jerboa Nutritional Consultation

Our goal is to keep your jerboa healthy and prevent illness. If your pet is injured or ill, rest assured that we have the tools necessary to diagnose the problem and offer state-of-the-art treatment. From blood testing and radiographs to ultrasound and endoscopy, we have the means to track down your pets’ problems. Once the problem is uncovered we have the expertise, equipment, and the years of experience needed to provide the therapy or surgical procedures required to help our patients.

Jerboas are omnivores and eat a variety of foods. They require a specialized and balanced diet high in vegetables to remain healthy. We will go over your jerboas current diet and offer suggestions and possible improvements to keep him in peak condition.

Jerboa Emergency Care

Our office is open for your jerboa’s health care needs Monday through Friday 8:00-6:00 and Saturday 8:00-4:00. If emergency care is required after these hours, you can rely on our 24 hour emergency facility- the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. Metro is located at 1053 S. Cleveland-Massilon Rd. in Copley (330-666-2976) and is there to assist with any of our client’s problems. At Metro we have veterinarians and technicians on duty 24 hours daily to address your needs. Metro’s staff doctors rotate through our clinic on a regular basis to assure that they are comfortable addressing the problems of our exotic owning clients.

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