Exotic pets

Many people enjoy caring for and the company of exotic pets, from “small furries” such as rabbits and ferrets to birds, fish and reptiles.

We are delighted to have Dr Mark Rowland in our team, a respected and highly regarded leader in the field of exotics.

Mark founded the renowned exotics referral centre Trinity Veterinary Centre in 2009, which cared for thousands of pets across the south east of the country, and is an Advanced Practitioner in zoological medicine.

Now a member of the Pennard Vets team, he brings decades of experience and knowledge, meaning we are delighted to be able to offer a comprehensive service to owners across the Southeast.

Book an appointment with our exotics team today

What cases – and exotics species – can we see?

In a word: everything!

From guinea pigs to gyrfalcons, and degus to dragons – fish, birds, invertebrates or anything else you can think of – we have the skills and facilities to care for your pet.

Under Mark’s guidance we are upskilling our team and investing in new equipment to ensure we can provide a first class exotics service.

We also take referrals. If you are a member of another practice with your dogs and cats, but are looking for more specialised guidance with your exotic pets, please do speak to your regular vet to arrange a referral.

Bonus round: Three unusual cases

By Dr Mark Rowland

• The weirdest thing I’ve treated is somebody’s coral… it had a fungal infection, so I added treatment to the water that was perfectly safe to the coral, but killed the fungus.
• I had a student who kept a piranha. It was about seven years old when it was brought to me. We anaesthetised it, put it on oxygen, diagnosed it had a liver infection and put it on antibiotics in its meat – another successful patient.
• I’ve prescribed tablets for a flamingo with a foot infection. Persuading them to take medicine is difficult – look at their beaks! – and then I could see the tablets travelling down their neck after they were swallowed.