How Kings helps you organise species-appropriate care
The right information before arrival
We ask you to identify the species and describe the concern when arranging the visit. This helps us discuss suitable appointment arrangements and avoid treating the needs of a rabbit, bird or reptile as interchangeable.
Connect health with daily care
We welcome enclosure photographs, food details and relevant environmental measurements. These give the veterinarian useful context for the assessment and help make any discussion about feeding, housing or treatment specific to the animal you care for.
Clarity about the next step
We explain proposed investigations and care within the receiving team’s scope, including when referral may be appropriate. You can ask about handling, transport, estimates and follow-up before assuming that every species or procedure is available at every branch.
What to expect
We start with your observations, your pet’s history and a species-specific assessment. Diet, housing, handling and environment are part of the clinical picture. The veterinarian explains the findings, suitable investigations and treatment options, including referral when your pet needs care beyond the receiving team’s facilities or experience.
Small mammals: rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters
Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats and chinchillas have different nutritional, dental and handling needs. A consultation can address weight changes, reduced appetite, drooling, changes in droppings, skin concerns and everyday care. For guinea pigs, an appropriate dietary vitamin C source is especially important. Bring the exact food and supplement information so advice can be tailored to your pet.
Pet birds: budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds and parrots
Tell us the species, recent weight changes, appetite, activity, breathing and any change in droppings. Cage setup, perches, contact with other birds and diet all help the assessment. The veterinarian discusses an examination and any useful samples or imaging based on the findings. A seed-only diet or a sudden dietary change should be discussed with the treating clinician, rather than corrected abruptly while a bird is unwell.
Reptiles: tortoises, turtles, geckos and bearded dragons
For reptiles, the enclosure is an important part of the medical history. Bring the species, diet, supplements, UVB lighting details, humidity and temperatures at the warm and cool ends. A consultation can explore poor appetite, shedding, shell, skin or mobility concerns. The clinician will assess whether husbandry changes, tests, treatment or referral are appropriate. Individual species need different conditions; there is no single safe temperature or diet for all reptiles.
A professional plan, explained clearly
When you enquire, the team checks who can see that species, where the appointment will take place and whether the concern is urgent. At the visit, the veterinarian explains the clinical assessment, why a test or treatment may help, its limits and the next decision. If a procedure or specialist referral is needed, we discuss the suitable pathway before arranging it. We do not assume that every clinician or branch can provide every exotic-pet procedure.
When to call urgently
Call promptly if your rabbit or guinea pig stops eating or is passing fewer droppings. Breathing difficulty, collapse, major trauma, seizures or uncontrolled bleeding in any exotic pet need urgent veterinary contact. Tell the receiving branch the exact species before travelling so the team can guide you to appropriate care. Do not wait for a routine appointment or an online reply when your pet is seriously unwell.
Make a small-pet history precise
For a small mammal or bird, “eating less” can be hard to interpret if several animals share food. Explain how you know which pet ate, what was offered and whether droppings have changed. If you routinely weigh your pet safely, bring the dated record rather than an estimate from memory. Do not delay an urgent call to collect perfect information. The team needs the species and the change from normal first, then can guide the next steps.
Show the environment, not just the enclosure
Useful photographs include food bowls, perches or resting areas, bedding and the position of lighting or heating equipment. For a reptile, record measured conditions and how they are measured rather than saying the enclosure “feels warm”. Bring product names for supplements and equipment when possible. The veterinarian can decide which details matter for the species. Avoid changing several aspects of the setup or adding treatments at once before the discussion, unless you have been given urgent instructions.
Plan handling around the individual animal
Tell reception about escape risk, biting, previous stress during transport or an animal that is difficult to handle. Ask what carrier and arrival arrangements are suitable for the exact species; do not assume a dog or cat travel routine is transferable. For a bird, describe whether the usual cage can be transported safely. Confirm clinician and branch availability before travelling, and ask whether a referral is more appropriate if a procedure or species-specific need falls outside the receiving team’s scope.
Before your appointment
Send the species, approximate age, symptoms, current medicines and any previous reports when arranging the visit. Bring photos of the enclosure and details of the usual food, supplements, lighting and measured temperatures where relevant. Ask the team how to transport your particular pet safely and whether any sample would be useful.
After your visit
You should leave with a practical plan for the individual species: prescribed treatment, feeding and enclosure advice, what to monitor, when to return and how to reach the branch if your pet deteriorates. Ask the clinician to demonstrate any home-care technique you will need. Do not use medicines prescribed for another pet.
Costs & what to ask
Consultation, species, handling needs, laboratory tests, imaging, sedation or anaesthesia, medicines and follow-up may affect the estimate. We can discuss the proposed next steps and their costs before planned treatment. Availability for the species and any procedure must be confirmed when booking.
Contact your chosen branch for current pricing and availability. Ask what is included in your estimate before confirming treatment.
Your questions, answered
Which exotic pets can I ask Kings to see?
Common enquiries include rabbits; guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats and chinchillas; budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds and parrots; and tortoises, turtles, geckos and bearded dragons. This list helps you describe your pet and does not mean every species or procedure is available at every branch. Contact Kings with the exact species and concern to confirm a suitable clinician and appointment.
How will Kings approach my exotic pet’s treatment?
The starting point is a species-specific history and examination, including diet and the home environment. The veterinarian explains the likely problems, which investigations could clarify them and what treatment or supportive care is appropriate. You can ask about handling, monitoring, the estimate and the follow-up plan. If your pet needs facilities or specialist expertise outside the receiving branch’s scope, the team discusses referral.
My rabbit or guinea pig is eating less. Can I wait?
Please call a veterinarian promptly when appetite falls, eating stops or droppings become fewer. These signs can reflect dental, digestive or other illness and should not be dismissed as fussiness. Tell the team when your pet last ate and passed normal droppings. Follow the clinician’s advice about feeding and transport; do not force-feed or give leftover medication without an assessment.
Do I need to fast my rabbit, guinea pig or hamster?
Do not apply cat or dog fasting instructions to a small mammal. Rabbits and many small rodents generally do not need food withheld before anaesthesia. Keep their normal feeding routine unless the treating veterinarian gives instructions specifically for your pet and procedure. Ask the team for written species-specific admission guidance.
What should I bring to an exotic-pet consultation?
Bring previous records, a medicine list and the exact names of foods and supplements. Photos or a short video of the enclosure and your pet’s usual behaviour can help. Reptile owners should include lighting, humidity and measured temperatures; bird owners can note diet and changes in droppings. Ask about samples and transport before the appointment rather than collecting or restraining your pet unnecessarily.
Can you help with my bird’s diet or my reptile’s enclosure?
Yes, these are useful consultation topics. The clinician can review the species, current setup and health concerns, then explain practical priorities and whether further investigation is needed. Advice is tailored to the animal; a parrot, a budgie, a tortoise and a gecko should not share one generic diet or housing plan. Avoid starting supplements or making major changes for an unwell pet without veterinary advice.
Do exotic pets need vaccines or parasite treatment?
Preventive care depends on species, health, lifestyle, local disease risk and locally available products. Ask the veterinarian which measures are appropriate for your pet and when to review them. Do not use a cat or dog parasite product on an exotic pet unless the treating veterinarian specifically prescribes it for that animal.
Can I bring an exotic pet during an emergency?
Call the branch first, explain the species and symptoms, and ask where your pet should be received. Kings is open 24 hours for emergencies, but the appropriate clinician, equipment and receiving location for an exotic species must still be confirmed. The team can advise on the next step, including referral when required.
Are enclosure photographs useful even when the problem seems medical?
Yes. Diet, housing and environmental details can be relevant to the assessment. Bring clear photographs and actual equipment or supplement names, while allowing the veterinarian to decide which factors matter for your pet.
Appointment information updated 29 October 2026. Your treating veterinarian will provide advice specific to your pet.