Snakes and Turtles And Rats – Oh, My!

Lessons on caring for rare and exotic pets.

By Sandy Levitz Lunner

Over the years, Dr. Elton Vyfhuis acquired a menagerie of furry, feathery and cold-blooded pets. From childhood to now, his animal friends have included a mischievous kitty, unpredictable dog, hamster, a type of bird known as budgerigar, five chickens, two rabbits, two more cats, nine more dogs and several snakes.

The early years helped set him on his career path. While studying veterinary medicine in the mid1990s at Tuskegee University in Alabama, hands-on clinical experience with a variety of animal species helped define his philosophy of veterinary care.

“Dogs, cats, birds, snakes — yes there are slight differences,” he explained. “But, an animal is an animal, and if I can help one, I can help them all.”

“Dr. V,” as he’s known by his staff and many of his clients, was perched on a tall stool in one of the colorful exam rooms at Paws, Purrs and Exotics, a veterinary clinic and hospital he opened in Old Town a year ago with fellow Tuskegee grad Nia Perkins, DVM. He shared that growing up, animals were respected, but they weren’t really considered part of the family. “My parents are from Guyana where they were accustomed to animals walking the street and you just fed them and gave them water,” he said.

That view changed after his aunt asked him to take care of her beloved Chow mix while she was on vacation.

“House dogs were a new thing to my parents,” Vyfhuis said. “Now, my parents think of animals as part of the family.

“So over the years we had parakeets, rabbits, hamsters, chickens, snakes — and all of that supported my desire to learn how to treat these types of animals”

He also thinks it may be in his genes.

“My grandfather used to import exotic birds and now I take care of them,” he added, flashing a warm smile.

One of the doctor’s bird clients is Alexandria resident John Ampela, proud papa of a parrot. His love of birds goes back to growing up with a variety of feathered pets, starting with a parakeet.

“I was smitten from the beginning,” he said.

Next was a cockatiel, and finally a larger Blue Fronted Amazon, considered a midsized parrot. Ampela loved each one of the birds he grew up with, but went for many years without. He missed having one around. That is until Duster arrived on the scene.

“Duster — nickname “Bubba” — is a Senegal parrot, a smaller variety,” Ampela said, “but not small in spirit.”

Ampela noted that parrots are very social creatures, used to being part of a flock, and from those characteristics stem some of the joys of having a Duster as a pet.

“We eat together, watch TV together, and he screams in protest when I leave the house,” he said. “Duster always wants to be around because that’s how he’s wired.

“We’ve gone on nine-hour car rides to visit friends and family. He’s a real trooper.”

According to Ampela, Duster enjoys individualized attention and often sits on Ampela’s stomach, “so I can pet him. He’s sort of like a ‘lap bird.’ He even likes to take showers.”

Despite the delights of living with Duster, Ampela admits there are some challenges to having a bird as a pet.

“Cleaning the cage is a constant battle,” he said. “Then there are the days I come home and he’s gotten into something and chewed it to smithereens! Cost me 100 bucks once for a laptop cable, but I was just glad he was OK.

“And there’s the unsolicited bite every now and then,” Ampela added. “Duster is, after all, a wild animal brought into captivity but still driven by instinct.” Birds can also be demanding pets due to their need for social interaction and attention, according to Ampela. He cautions potential parrot owners not to underestimate the responsibility and social demands that birds require.

“Going on vacation means you either bring them along or have a trusted friend or boarding facility take proper care of them.”

Another consideration for would-be parrot parents, according to Vyfhuis, is that birds can be among the most challenging pets to treat.

“They’re very sensitive and nervous. I keep a mirror next to the examination table because it can help calm a bird down — it’s like seeing another bird,” he said; it works as long as the bird does not feel the need to dominate.

Still, he says, some treatment is usually better than none at all.

“Someone brought a bird in with a hole in its chest — probably from a second aggressive bird the owner had. It couldn’t breathe,” Vyfhuis said.

“There really wasn’t much I could do but recommend minimal treatment with mostly over-the-counter medications. Amazingly the bird is doing OK.”

Vhyfuis encourages people to do a lot of research before they buy a pet so they have a realistic picture of what they’re getting into and what will be required of them to keep that animal happy and healthy.

He’s also on a personal mission to clear up the misconception that snakes are slimy. They are not.

“We have relationships with a couple of the schools around here — Jefferson Houston Elementary and T.C. Williams High,” the doctor said. “I like to bring snakes to the kids so they can touch them and see what they’re really like. And I teach them they have to wash their hands after touching reptiles because of things like salmonella.”

Some things with exotics are similar to traditional pets, but there are also differences. According to Vyfhuis, they have some of the same organs, but the organs don’t necessarily work the same way.

“A snake’s liver is different from other animals, and I can’t give it antibiotics for an infection,” he said as an example. “But, a snake won’t have a limpy leg that I have to try to diagnose with cats or dogs. They have no ears, so we don’t have to worry about ear infections. They have limited eye issues. Birds don’t have teeth so there are no dental issues. So, there’s just a minimal amount I have to treat to get exotic pets to optimal shape.”

Exams for exotics can be a little more expensive than those for more traditional pets. That’s because it takes more time to do the exam, but Vyfhuis also spends time educating his clients about their new pets. “A lot of potential problems can be nipped in the bud when they learn about proper care and signs than can show something is wrong.”

And, he encourages clients to e-mail him with symptoms their pets seem to be experiencing. He is often able to suggest treatments in a return e-mail or ask them follow- up questions to help determine if the pet needs to be seen.

“It’s not really about the money,” he added, “but, I hope they will still bring the animal back annually for an exam. As long as the pet is healthy, that’s what matters most. It makes for a happy household.” He also likes to make sure that the pet you have doesn’t carry other pets, meaning parasites.

“People need to know they can get sick from some animal fecal or intestinal parasites and bacteria,” he said. “An annual stool sample can identify problems, and once treated, those pesky parasites can be eliminated.”

He says it’s a good idea to take a new pet to a veterinarian for a wellness check because pet stores often don’t fully examine an animal before they hand it over to its new owner.

“You think you’re getting a healthy animal, and then something doesn’t seem quite right,” Vyfhuis said. “Soon you notice your new rabbit isn’t chewing or passing stools or urine. Now you may have a serious problem. A trip to the vet first might have picked up the problem before it became serious.”

This summer, Paws, Purrs and Exotics is boarding Petrie, a gecko that belongs to one of their clients, Leslie Marcus, a science teacher at F.C. Hammond Middle School in Alexandria. She purchased the gecko for her classroom, in part because they are low maintenance. Marcus, who is traveling during her summer break, talked during a telephone interview about Petrie’s contribution to her classroom.

“The students love him,” she said. “Sometimes they come in the classroom and rush to the back instead of going to their seats. They are fascinated by him.”

Marcus feels having Petrie in her classroom is a way to teach students about the importance of animal care. She notes that many students don’t have pets at home, so this at least gives them some exposure. She’s able to use Petrie as a live example of animal adaptations and habits. And, she even sometimes lets students help feed Petrie his live mealworms and crickets.

Although Petrie was purchased with education in mind, Marcus admits to having developed affection for him over the past three years. “I would say I’m attached to him,” she admitted with a laugh. “The kids are, too. Some are a bit squeamish. But one girl remarked he looked like a sleeping baby curled up with his eyes closed.”

Vyfhuis says he thinks that animals find their human caretaker rather than the other way around. “Sometimes they pick you, and that ends up being the best situation for both.”

SIDEBAR

Some Advice

Dr. Elton Vyfhuis comments on multi-species households.

Are there any special considerations multi-species households need to keep in mind in terms of behavior?

Vyfhuis: Be careful with the various species. Some dogs attack cats. Some cats don’t get along with dogs. Some cats will eat birds. Also, many parasites can go from one species to another, and not all pets show symptoms when infected with some parasites — or other conditions for that matter.

Usually, there are species that don’t get together, such as cats and birds. However, I do have several clients that may beg to differ. One owner in particular has over 20 birds and one cat who she swears co-habitats with the birds even to the point of going in their cages.

Training has a lot to do with things as well. Animals can be trained to live together.

How about healthwise? Can they give each other diseases?

Vyfhuis: There are many health factors to consider with inter-species co-habitation. Parasites — both internal and external. Infectious, respiratory ailments can be passed across species. Then there are the zoonotic conditions, meaning they can be spread to one of the most developed animals on the planet — human beings. Examples of such conditions include rabies, and lyme disease, even though it is the tick that actually spreads it.

Are there any species that shouldn’t live together?

Vyfhuis: Greyhounds and cats notoriously don’t do well in the same living quarters. Predator and prey usually can’t live together, such as snakes and rodents. Then there is the whole vaccination issue to consider to prevent conditions from traveling from one pet to the other. For example, a dog can carry and succumb to Distemper. Likewise, a ferret can carry and succumb to Distemper. Vaccinations to both can prevent both from getting the condition and possibly passing to the other species.

Are there any additional considerations to bringing additional species of pets into the household?

Vyfhuis: People often like to keep animals that they rescue from the wild as pets. I had a client that rescued two pigeons which are really kind of like rats with wings. We did a stool sample, found a number of parasites. This client didn’t have other animals in his house, but there would have been health issues if he had. And he could have contracted some diseases himself. Now he’s learned how to take care of them and he brings them in for check-ups from time to time.

But it’s really best not to bring animals in from the wild.

Why?

Vyfhuis: First of all, the animal may not be legal to have in your state. Before someone makes a wild animal their pet, they really should make sure it’s legal. If not and you’ve made that animal your pet, it’s too tame to release and illegal to have. Now look what you’ve done. It will not be a good outcome for you or the pet.

If someone is determined to keep a found animal, what should they do?

Vyfhuis: If it’s a pet and it’s legal in their state and it can fit through the front door, I will examine and treat them.

Elton G. Vyfhuis, DVM earned his degree in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in Alabama in 1998. He is co-owner with fellow Tuskegee graduate Dr. Nia Perkins of Paws, Purrs and Exotics Animal Hospital at 133 South Peyton St. in Old Town. For more information, visit the website at: www.pawspurrsandexotics.com.

— Sandy Levitz Lunner 

Over the years, Dr. Elton Vyfhuis acquired a menagerie of furry, feathery and cold-blooded pets. From childhood to now, his animal friends have included a mischievous kitty, unpredictable dog, hamster, a type of bird known as budgerigar, five chickens, two rabbits, two more cats, nine more dogs and several snakes.

The early years helped set him on his career path. While studying veterinary medicine in the mid1990s at Tuskegee University in Alabama, hands-on clinical experience with a variety of animal species helped define his philosophy of veterinary care.

“Dogs, cats, birds, snakes — yes there are slight differences,” he explained. “But, an animal is an animal, and if I can help one, I can help them all.”

“Dr. V,” as he’s known by his staff and many of his clients, was perched on a tall stool in one of the colorful exam rooms at Paws, Purrs and Exotics, a veterinary clinic and hospital he opened in Old Town a year ago with fellow Tuskegee grad Nia Perkins, DVM. He shared that growing up, animals were respected, but they weren’t really considered part of the family. “My parents are from Guyana where they were accustomed to animals walking the street and you just fed them and gave them water,” he said.

That view changed after his aunt asked him to take care of her beloved Chow mix while she was on vacation.

“House dogs were a new thing to my parents,” Vyfhuis said. “Now, my parents think of animals as part of the family.

“So over the years we had parakeets, rabbits, hamsters, chickens, snakes — and all of that supported my desire to learn how to treat these types of animals”

He also thinks it may be in his genes.

“My grandfather used to import exotic birds and now I take care of them,” he added, flashing a warm smile.

One of the doctor’s bird clients is Alexandria resident John Ampela, proud papa of a parrot. His love of birds goes back to growing up with a variety of feathered pets, starting with a parakeet.

“I was smitten from the beginning,” he said.

Next was a cockatiel, and finally a larger Blue Fronted Amazon, considered a midsized parrot. Ampela loved each one of the birds he grew up with, but went for many years without. He missed having one around. That is until Duster arrived on the scene.

“Duster — nickname “Bubba” — is a Senegal parrot, a smaller variety,” Ampela said, “but not small in spirit.”

Ampela noted that parrots are very social creatures, used to being part of a flock, and from those characteristics stem some of the joys of having a Duster as a pet.

“We eat together, watch TV together, and he screams in protest when I leave the house,” he said. “Duster always wants to be around because that’s how he’s wired.

“We’ve gone on nine-hour car rides to visit friends and family. He’s a real trooper.”

According to Ampela, Duster enjoys individualized attention and often sits on Ampela’s stomach, “so I can pet him. He’s sort of like a ‘lap bird.’ He even likes to take showers.”

Despite the delights of living with Duster, Ampela admits there are some challenges to having a bird as a pet.

“Cleaning the cage is a constant battle,” he said. “Then there are the days I come home and he’s gotten into something and chewed it to smithereens! Cost me 100 bucks once for a laptop cable, but I was just glad he was OK.

“And there’s the unsolicited bite every now and then,” Ampela added. “Duster is, after all, a wild animal brought into captivity but still driven by instinct.” Birds can also be demanding pets due to their need for social interaction and attention, according to Ampela. He cautions potential parrot owners not to underestimate the responsibility and social demands that birds require.

“Going on vacation means you either bring them along or have a trusted friend or boarding facility take proper care of them.”

Another consideration for would-be parrot parents, according to Vyfhuis, is that birds can be among the most challenging pets to treat.

“They’re very sensitive and nervous. I keep a mirror next to the examination table because it can help calm a bird down — it’s like seeing another bird,” he said; it works as long as the bird does not feel the need to dominate.

Still, he says, some treatment is usually better than none at all.

“Someone brought a bird in with a hole in its chest — probably from a second aggressive bird the owner had. It couldn’t breathe,” Vyfhuis said.

“There really wasn’t much I could do but recommend minimal treatment with mostly over-the-counter medications. Amazingly the bird is doing OK.”

Vhyfuis encourages people to do a lot of research before they buy a pet so they have a realistic picture of what they’re getting into and what will be required of them to keep that animal happy and healthy.

He’s also on a personal mission to clear up the misconception that snakes are slimy. They are not.

“We have relationships with a couple of the schools around here — Jefferson Houston Elementary and T.C. Williams High,” the doctor said. “I like to bring snakes to the kids so they can touch them and see what they’re really like. And I teach them they have to wash their hands after touching reptiles because of things like salmonella.”

Some things with exotics are similar to traditional pets, but there are also differences. According to Vyfhuis, they have some of the same organs, but the organs don’t necessarily work the same way.

“A snake’s liver is different from other animals, and I can’t give it antibiotics for an infection,” he said as an example. “But, a snake won’t have a limpy leg that I have to try to diagnose with cats or dogs. They have no ears, so we don’t have to worry about ear infections. They have limited eye issues. Birds don’t have teeth so there are no dental issues. So, there’s just a minimal amount I have to treat to get exotic pets to optimal shape.”

Exams for exotics can be a little more expensive than those for more traditional pets. That’s because it takes more time to do the exam, but Vyfhuis also spends time educating his clients about their new pets. “A lot of potential problems can be nipped in the bud when they learn about proper care and signs than can show something is wrong.”

And, he encourages clients to e-mail him with symptoms their pets seem to be experiencing. He is often able to suggest treatments in a return e-mail or ask them follow- up questions to help determine if the pet needs to be seen.

“It’s not really about the money,” he added, “but, I hope they will still bring the animal back annually for an exam. As long as the pet is healthy, that’s what matters most. It makes for a happy household.” He also likes to make sure that the pet you have doesn’t carry other pets, meaning parasites.

“People need to know they can get sick from some animal fecal or intestinal parasites and bacteria,” he said. “An annual stool sample can identify problems, and once treated, those pesky parasites can be eliminated.”

He says it’s a good idea to take a new pet to a veterinarian for a wellness check because pet stores often don’t fully examine an animal before they hand it over to its new owner.

“You think you’re getting a healthy animal, and then something doesn’t seem quite right,” Vyfhuis said. “Soon you notice your new rabbit isn’t chewing or passing stools or urine. Now you may have a serious problem. A trip to the vet first might have picked up the problem before it became serious.”

This summer, Paws, Purrs and Exotics is boarding Petrie, a gecko that belongs to one of their clients, Leslie Marcus, a science teacher at F.C. Hammond Middle School in Alexandria. She purchased the gecko for her classroom, in part because they are low maintenance. Marcus, who is traveling during her summer break, talked during a telephone interview about Petrie’s contribution to her classroom.

“The students love him,” she said. “Sometimes they come in the classroom and rush to the back instead of going to their seats. They are fascinated by him.”

Marcus feels having Petrie in her classroom is a way to teach students about the importance of animal care. She notes that many students don’t have pets at home, so this at least gives them some exposure. She’s able to use Petrie as a live example of animal adaptations and habits. And, she even sometimes lets students help feed Petrie his live mealworms and crickets.

Although Petrie was purchased with education in mind, Marcus admits to having developed affection for him over the past three years. “I would say I’m attached to him,” she admitted with a laugh. “The kids are, too. Some are a bit squeamish. But one girl remarked he looked like a sleeping baby curled up with his eyes closed.”

Vyfhuis says he thinks that animals find their human caretaker rather than the other way around. “Sometimes they pick you, and that ends up being the best situation for both.”

SIDEBAR

Some Advice

Dr. Elton Vyfhuis comments on multi-species households.

Are there any special considerations multi-species households need to keep in mind in terms of behavior?

Vyfhuis: Be careful with the various species. Some dogs attack cats. Some cats don’t get along with dogs. Some cats will eat birds. Also, many parasites can go from one species to another, and not all pets show symptoms when infected with some parasites — or other conditions for that matter.

Usually, there are species that don’t get together, such as cats and birds. However, I do have several clients that may beg to differ. One owner in particular has over 20 birds and one cat who she swears co-habitats with the birds even to the point of going in their cages.

Training has a lot to do with things as well. Animals can be trained to live together.

How about healthwise? Can they give each other diseases?

Vyfhuis: There are many health factors to consider with inter-species co-habitation. Parasites — both internal and external. Infectious, respiratory ailments can be passed across species. Then there are the zoonotic conditions, meaning they can be spread to one of the most developed animals on the planet — human beings. Examples of such conditions include rabies, and lyme disease, even though it is the tick that actually spreads it.

Are there any species that shouldn’t live together?

Vyfhuis: Greyhounds and cats notoriously don’t do well in the same living quarters. Predator and prey usually can’t live together, such as snakes and rodents. Then there is the whole vaccination issue to consider to prevent conditions from traveling from one pet to the other. For example, a dog can carry and succumb to Distemper. Likewise, a ferret can carry and succumb to Distemper. Vaccinations to both can prevent both from getting the condition and possibly passing to the other species.

Are there any additional considerations to bringing additional species of pets into the household?

Vyfhuis: People often like to keep animals that they rescue from the wild as pets. I had a client that rescued two pigeons which are really kind of like rats with wings. We did a stool sample, found a number of parasites. This client didn’t have other animals in his house, but there would have been health issues if he had. And he could have contracted some diseases himself. Now he’s learned how to take care of them and he brings them in for check-ups from time to time.

But it’s really best not to bring animals in from the wild.

Why?

Vyfhuis: First of all, the animal may not be legal to have in your state. Before someone makes a wild animal their pet, they really should make sure it’s legal. If not and you’ve made that animal your pet, it’s too tame to release and illegal to have. Now look what you’ve done. It will not be a good outcome for you or the pet.

If someone is determined to keep a found animal, what should they do?

Vyfhuis: If it’s a pet and it’s legal in their state and it can fit through the front door, I will examine and treat them.

Elton G. Vyfhuis, DVM earned his degree in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in Alabama in 1998. He is co-owner with fellow Tuskegee graduate Dr. Nia Perkins of Paws, Purrs and Exotics Animal Hospital at 133 South Peyton St. in Old Town. For more information, visit the website at: www.pawspurrsandexotics.com.

— Sandy Levitz Lunner

Source: Alexandria Gazette Packet – July 29, 2010