Any pet owner should seek out a veterinarian if they notice a change in their pet’s appetite, activity level, or overall health. With exotic pets, this can be a particularly time-sensitive issue.
All animals are good at hiding disease. Their instincts are all about “don’t advertise my illness, it might make me look vulnerable”. And whether you have a domesticated pet like a dog, cat, ferret or rabbit, or a wild animal like a parrot, lizard or hedgehog, that instinct is strong.
We humans LOVE to tell everyone about our aches, pains and belly aches. Not our pets! So if Godzilla the lop-eared rabbit is a little off her game today, make that call pronto. Einstein the African Grey ALWAYS sings that song in the morning, but this morning is super quiet and subdued? Get on the horn. TubeMouse the ferret has had diarrhea this morning? Start dialing. And see a vet who is familiar with the species you keep. If you don’t already have a vet, you might be making a few calls to find someone who knows your type of pet, but it’ll be worth it!