If you are looking for or already have a reptile, rabbit, bird, or other small mammal, one of the best things you can do is make sure it has the best chance of being healthy. By establishing a relationship with an exotic veterinarian that is experienced with these unique animals, you should be able to have many of your pets' needs met. Here are a few points to consider in providing the best care for your exotic pet.

NUTRITION
Malnutrition is one of the problems most often seen in exotic pets, and offering the correct diet is critical for your pet's health. Many exotic pets on poor and/or nutrient deficient diets have resulted in the development of illnesses. Whether it is a rabbit, bird, chinchilla, ferret, iguana or any pet at all, what they eat can very well determine how healthy they are and, in some cases, how long they live.

Rabbits and guinea pigs, for instance, require an unlimited supply of timothy hay because of their high fiber requirement for normal gastrointestinal function. They also need certain fresh vegetables and fruits, but there are limits on what should be fed and how much should be fed. Ferrets have a very specific formulated food that they should be fed and other small mammals or rodents have specific requirements as well.

Reptiles also have very specific dietary requirements. There are some reptiles that are herbivores (eat plants only), carnivores (eat animals only), omnivores (eat both plant and animal matter), or insectivores (eat insects). Care should be taken when feeding herbivorous reptiles as exposure to animal based proteins (in dog food or cat food) can damage their kidneys resulting in an illness that is often life-threatening. Finding the particular dietary needs of your reptile can lead to a healthier, more active pet.

HUSBANDRY
Another important factor in keeping an exotic pet properly is husbandry, or how and where your pet lives. They should be in a clean environment that is also very safe and secure. Any time the pet is let out of its home and handled, he/she should be supervised for the entire duration of their "adventure".

Pets should also be brought to a place where they do not have to worry about other animals (dogs, cats, or other exotics) being able to bother (or even injure) them. Exotic pets can get a little too close to a cat or dog (or even a bird) and can get badly hurt during the encounter.

Some exotic pets, especially birds, hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets like to chew on or eat things that they are not supposed to eat, which can cause them to become ill. Outside their cage or enclosure, all pets should be closely monitored – but what about the inside?

The cage itself should be clean and free of any rust or sharp points. It should also be secure so that your pet cannot get out on its own. There should be plenty of easily accessible areas for fresh food and water. The types of toys and other accessories that your pet has should also be approved for each particular pet and checked routinely to see when and if it needs to be replaced.

Even the type of bedding (or substrate) is extremely important. Simple is usually better, and newspaper or recycled paper products make excellent choices for many exotic pets. Check with your exotic veterinarian about the proper substrate for your pet. There are a lot of things on the market that are sold for exotic pets that may be dangerous for them. A veterinarian should approve anything used in your pet's environment.

Most of the exotic pets have certain temperatures, humidity, and sunlight (or UV light) requirements. Requirements differ between species. For example, if an environment is too cold, some reptiles cannot digest their food properly, even if they continue to eat. If too hot, some pets (such as guinea pigs and rabbits) can become very ill from the stress of the heat and can even suffer a heat stroke. Proper humidity in a pet's environment is very beneficial to promote, for instance, normal shedding of a reptile. Temperatures and humidity levels should be measured and it is usually very easy to do so with one of the many thermometers/hygrometers available.