Today is the full moon.
Give your monthly preventatives!
Note: If you have another way to remember to give your preventatives, that’s okay too! Do what works for you. I thought it might be fun for us to all give it together.
What was the best thing about PRIDE?
Meeting Dr. Mo! Dr. Mo Beck loves all the little critters that aren’t dogs and cats.
Bring your bearded dragons, tortoises, birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbils and degus (a relative of the guinea pig and chinchilla). Come one and come all!
These are the ones that leave me running for my pink book about treating rabbits and rodents. No more trimethoprim-sulfur and subcutaneous fluids and referrals if they don’t get better, we now have someone who knows and loves all the creatures that aren’t dogs and cats. (And I don’t have to tear my hair out trying to figure it out or feel guilty for sending them elsewhere.)
We are thrilled to host him here at Southern Rhode Island Animal Hospital on Wednesdays from noon to four starting in September.
(He is available other days of the week at other animal hospitals around the state.) We made a commitment to him and his team for the next four months to make sure that there is enough interest to be able to continue and to (hopefully) expand the hours he’s available. We need your help in spreading the word that he’s here. He’s knowledgeable, and he’s ready to treat pets that aren’t dogs or cats. When we opened we had a million calls asking if we treated rabbits, guinea pigs or ducks. I would let folks know that I would do my best, but that I was not an expert in the care of farm birds and pocket pets. Now we have an EXPERT! Come and see him and tell your friends!
Beck Veterinary Services (BVS) is a mobile exotics veterinary practice that provides specialized veterinary care for exotics, as well as educational programs. Dr. Mo Beck is an exotics veterinarian who is dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality exotics care for pets across the state.
What Does “Exotic Pet Care” Mean?
Exotic pets include a wide variety of species that require different approaches to medicine, husbandry, and handling. These can include:
- Birds (parrots, pigeons, farm birds, and more)
- Reptiles (snakes, lizards, and turtles)
- Small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, hedgehogs, small rodents, and more)
- Amphibians and fish
- Other non-traditional companion animals (anything that isn’t a dog or cat!)
Dr Mo provides wellness care, diagnostics, surgical services, and emergency support (where available).
Why Do Exotic Pets Need Specialized Veterinary Care?
Exotic animals often have very different anatomy, nutrition, and environmental needs than dogs and cats. That’s why we’ve partnered with BVS for specialized skills, equipment, and resources to better support these unique companions.
When your pet needs a wellness check, nutritional advice, or treatment for illness or injury, the BVS team will provide compassionate, knowledgeable care tailored to their species.
If you have questions or would like to book a visit for your exotic pet, please reach out to BVS at 401-213-9041 (call or text). BVS is happy to discuss your pet’s unique needs and ensure they get the care they need. They are honored to be your partner in keeping all of your pets healthy—furred, feathered, scaled, or otherwise. They can’t wait to meet your beloved exotic pets!
Last month I was in Nashville with my cousin attending a VETGIRL conference and seeing the sights. I think this was the best continuing education that I have ever attended. It was done like a series of TED talks with a lot of information from really good speakers. All of the current changes in protocols for disease treatment were summarized from major veterinary journals and delivered in bite sized, usable pieces. I stayed at an AirBNB and, on arriving, we locked ourselves in the stairwell within minutes of entering the building – I was trying to stay healthy and take the stairs instead of the elevator! It was during the heat wave with no air conditioning in the stairwell and when I called the number for the AirBNB I had to leave a message…
Cases at the clinic? We’ve had a series of intoxications. No fun.
- One young enthusiastic lab chewed open the bottle of ibuprofen he found in a bookbag.
- A curious cat sampled his owner’s medication that had been transferred to a pill box.
- A dog ate some grapes.
For dogs we have the best stuff to make them vomit. It is called Clevor and it’s eye drops that cause vomiting within a few minutes of their application. They can be rinsed out afterwards and we can give medications to reverse the nausea once the dog has vomited the offensive toxin.
Getting cats to vomit is trickier as they lack the receptors that make the Clevor work so well in dogs. (There were jokes about exposing them to an expensive carpet!)
This is the number for poison control: (855) 764-7661
There is an $89 dollar charge. You call immediately after the ingestion. The case number and recommendations can be accessed by our clinic (or the emergency clinic) in your pet’s treatment.
If we have microchipped your pet and you have registered with HomeAgain, you have access to a 24/7 medical hotline that may also be able to assist with poison control at no additional cost.
Stay out of the toxins!
Send Dr Mo some business!
Happy End of Summer!
Happy full moon gazing!
Remember your monthly heartworm and/or flea and tick prevention!