Handling Exotic Mammals

Course overview

Small mammals and other nontraditional pets present unique handling challenges that directly affect diagnostic quality, patient welfare, and team safety. In this rapid, case focused microcourse, learners compare low-stress restraint options and red-flag contraindications across common exotics seen in general practice such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, small rodents, hedgehogs, chinchillas, and prairie dogs then close with practical guidance on wildlife kept as pets: legal, zoonotic, and triage considerations. Emphasis is placed on species-specific stress signals, thermoregulation, safe anatomy, escalation to chemical restraint, and bite and zoonosis risk mitigation so clinical tasks such as exam, sampling, imaging, administration can be completed safely and effectively.