Mark A. Mitchell, DVM, PhD, MS, DECZM (Herpetology)

Insectivores and herbivores alike need variety to get maximum nutrients

Endocrine diseases in ferrets have been attributed to genetics, early-age neutering, diet, and photoperiod.

When an exotic small mammal presents for a problem associated with the integument, it may be hard not to try to focus on that specific system.

The rise in popularity of herpetoculture over the past two decades has led to an increased number of reptiles being imported and captive reared to meet the demands of herpetoculturists.

Diagnostic imaging is an underutilized resource in herpetological medicine.

Many of the exotic species we deal with have evolved to mask their illness to avoid predation.

Nontraditional mammalian species, such as ferrets, lagomorphs, marsupials, hedgehogs, and rodents, are stoic by nature and have evolved to mask their illness to avoid predation.

The majority of the exotic pet cases presented to veterinarians are dehydrated as a result of a chronic disease.

With the growing popularity of exotic pets in the United States, the incidence of zoonotic diseases attributed to these pets should be expected to rise.

Marsupials have some of the most unique anatomic and physiologic features among members of the Class Mammalia.

The majority of the reptile cases presented to veterinarians are dehydrated as a result of a chronic disease.

Parasites are a common finding in wild-caught and captive small exotic mammals.

Clinicians working with "exotic species" should establish consistent anesthetic and analgesic protocols to manage cases that require diagnostic or surgical procedures.

Many of the exotic species we deal with have evolved to mask their illness to avoid predation.

Ferrets remain popular pets in the United States.

There are two ways to approach a disease issue in fish: 1) ante-mortem tests and 2) post-mortem tests.

Bearded dragons (Pogona spp.) are omnivorous lizards that are native to Australia.