By definition, an exotic veterinary laboratory is a laboratory that receives specimens from a range of species, from exotic or more unusual pets, to zoo, rare farm species or wild animals. These specimens could be from animals that weigh several hundred kilograms, to less than a hundred grams! Specimens could include blood samples, faeces, urine, tissue or aspirated samples, through to whole animals for postmortem and further testing. Samples can vary massively in size, making the decision on which test(s) to run a very important one.
Exotic pets, in a veterinary sense, encompass anything that is not classed as being domesticated, in fact anything that is not a dog, cat, horse or farm animal.
All the rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, mice, hamsters and rats that are owned in the UK, fall within this bracket, along with other more unusual mammals, including sugar gliders, meerkats and skunks. All the snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles and amphibians that we keep, either in private homes or as part of a zoo collection are also included. And all the birds that are owned, including parrots, finches, birds of prey, ratites, peacocks and poultry, are classed as exotic animals and pets. Not forgetting the many hundreds of species of animals that are kept in zoos, wildlife parks and rehabilitation centres.
To make sure any animal is getting the best care, it is important to engage with the right people who know how to look after, and best treat, these more unusual species. It is also of utmost importance that when samples are analysed, that they are done so by technicians that are familiar with the array of different species that are kept in the UK.
Different species might have different kinds of red blood cells, different numbers or kinds of white blood cells; there might be certain bacteria that are pathogenic to certain species, but are commensals in others; there might be some gastrointestinal parasites that will quite happily live in one animal, and yet cause serious disease in another; or maybe certain medications that will kill some species, and yet other animals can take them without any problem.
So, why should you send your samples to a laboratory for testing?
Exotic animals have a knack of hiding signs of disease really well. They can show very subtle signs, like a lizard not basking, a rabbit chewing something different, or a parrot not singing its normal tune! These animals can hide signs of disease so well, that when they eventually become ‘ill’ it is because they can’t hide that there is something wrong anymore, so, unlike a cat or dog, there is often not the time to trial treatment and see if it works. Instead, samples and other investigations need to be carried out so that targeted treatment can be instigated as soon as possible.
Faecal screening is an important part of individual animal health plans, along with herd health in many zoo species. High numbers of faecal parasites can spread quickly between individuals, causing disease, immunosuppression and in some cases, being life threatening. In house testing doesn’t always highlight every parasite that can cause morbidity in different species, with more accurate results being obtained when pooled samples are sent to an external veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
Why send your samples to an exotic laboratory?
As alluded to, the number of exotic species that are kept, and the differences between them, and the samples that can be obtained, are huge. For these reasons, it is important to send your samples to the right place.
An exotics animal laboratory should have staff who are knowledgeable about the species that samples are being collected from. They should know which pathogens are most likely to causes disease, and therefore which tests to run on the right samples. And they should know the differences encountered between species.
The animals that are having samples taken from are often showing signs of illness, which, for many of these species, means that they are really ill. For these animals speed is of the essence. Getting an early diagnosis within 24 hours of sampling, could be the difference between life and death.
Knowing that the results are reliable, because the testing has been carried out by experienced, trustworthy staff, with the backup of exotic animal vets that have a wealth of experience between them, gives peace of mind to pet owners, animals keepers and vets alike.
Why choose PALS?
Pinmoore Animal Laboratory Services pride ourselves with giving the best service to all of our clients. We know that we are the leading exotic animal laboratory in the UK for veterinary diagnostic for a number of reasons.
From a friendly, personalised service, to experienced knowledgeable lab technicians and exotic animal vets, who are available to help and advise on cases and sample results, PALS really is a unique exotic veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
With the majority of tests being carried out in house, we have a quick turnaround of results, meaning the animals under your care get the right treatment, as quick as possible and, therefore, the earliest diagnosis and best chance of a positive outcome.
The analysers we use can work with small sample sizes, so, even in the tiniest of patients, you will get reliable results without having to compromise on which tests are requested.
Our competitive prices also mean that limiting the number of tests your client has to choose is not always necessary, as we know that the most information can be gained as quick as possible is the key to success in many exotic animal species.