Exotic Vet in San Jose — Care for Rabbits, Reptiles, Birds & Small Pets

Exotic Vet Care in San Jose

We provide wellness exams, sick visits, husbandry consults, diagnostics, selected surgery, and urgent care for many small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Our approach blends species-appropriate medicine with low-stress handling: quiet rooms, warmed surfaces for reptiles, towel restraint for rabbits and birds, and procedures broken into stages so a fragile patient isn't overwhelmed. Not every species or condition is something we can manage in-house, and we'll tell you directly when board-certified exotic specialty referral is the better call — we'd rather be honest upfront than oversell.

Veterinary Care for Rabbits and Small Mammals

Rabbits are a big part of what we see — and the cases run the same patterns: GI stasis, appetite loss, dental overgrowth and tooth root disease, abnormal stool, respiratory signs, head tilt, sore hocks, urinary sludge, reproductive disease, and pain. Rabbit teeth grow continuously and the GI tract depends on constant motility, so a rabbit not eating is always urgent — please don't wait. We also see guinea pigs (vitamin C deficiency, dental disease, respiratory infection, bladder stones), ferrets (adrenal disease, insulinoma, GI foreign bodies), hamsters, gerbils, rats, and mice. Bring exact diet details — hay type, pellet brand, vegetables, treats — plus stool changes and a couple of enclosure photos.

Reptile Veterinary Care

We see bearded dragons, leopard and crested geckos, ball pythons, corn snakes, turtles, and tortoises. With reptiles, husbandry drives most disease — temperature gradient, humidity, UVB lighting, diet, calcium and vitamin D balance, substrate, enclosure design. Common cases include metabolic bone disease, retained shed, mouth rot (infectious stomatitis), respiratory infection, parasites, egg binding, appetite loss, trauma, and shell disease. Larger reptiles, venomous species, and certain advanced procedures may need specialty referral. Please bring exact basking and ambient temperatures, UVB bulb type and age (output drops well before the bulb looks dead), supplement schedule, and recent shed and stool history.

Bird and Avian Veterinary Care

We see cockatiels, parakeets (budgies), conures, lovebirds, finches, canaries, and similar small to medium parrots. Larger psittacines and certain complex avian cases are better served by a board-certified avian specialist, and we'll say so directly when that's true. Birds have very high metabolic demands and they mask illness until late — fluffed posture, sitting low on the perch, tail bobbing, open-mouth breathing, fewer or abnormal droppings, voice change, weight loss, feather destruction, or sudden weakness all warrant a visit. Avian visits include gentle handling, weight on a gram scale, beak and nail evaluation, crop assessment, fecal testing, and imaging or lab work when indicated.

Signs an Exotic Pet Needs a Vet

Because exotic pets hide illness, respond early to subtle changes. Call right away for reduced or absent appetite, smaller or fewer droppings, diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy, fluffed feathers or hunched posture, labored or open-mouth breathing, weakness, swelling, bleeding, head tilt, seizures, prolapse, straining, a rabbit who hasn't eaten in 12 hours, a bird on the cage floor, a reptile that's stopped basking, or any sudden behavior change. What looks 'mild' in a dog can be urgent in a rabbit, bird, or small reptile. When in doubt, call.

Nutrition, Husbandry, and Preventive Care

Most exotic illness traces back to husbandry — diet, lighting, temperature, humidity, social structure, enclosure design. Our preventive visits include a full husbandry review and species-specific recommendations: hay-based diets with limited pellets for rabbits, vitamin C and grass hay for guinea pigs, correct UVB and a thermal gradient for reptiles, pelleted diets and safe perches for birds, ferret vaccinations where appropriate. Please bring photos or a short video of the enclosure, the actual food bag, and supplement bottles. We see chronic problems clear up dramatically just from husbandry fixes — sometimes that matters more than the medication.

Urgent Care for Exotic Pets

Many exotic emergencies can't wait. Come in if your rabbit or guinea pig hasn't eaten or passed stool, your bird is working to breathe or sitting on the cage floor, your reptile has prolonged appetite loss with weight loss, your pet is bleeding, has a wound or shell injury, is egg bound, has a seizure, has collapsed, or shows sudden neurologic changes. Exotic walk-ins are welcome during open hours — please call on the way so we can prepare warmth, oxygen, quiet handling, and species-appropriate supplies. More same-day options at /walk-in-vet-san-jose and /urgent-care-vet-san-jose. For after-hours life-threatening problems, see /emergency-vet-san-jose.

Diagnostics for Exotic Pets

Exotic diagnostics at our /vet-hospital-san-jose facility may include weight on a precise gram scale, fecal testing and parasite screening, cytology, in-house bloodwork (with small-volume sampling techniques for tiny patients), digital X-rays, ultrasound, and CT when appropriate. Handling is itself a stressor for many exotics, so we choose tests strategically — we'll walk you through what each test would tell us, what it would change about treatment, and whether the patient is stable enough for handling or sedation. Anesthesia and sedation in exotics need species-specific drug choices, careful warmth, and continuous monitoring — planned individually every time.

Why Choose ArchVet for Exotic Pet Care?

Exotic owners come to us because we take their pets seriously, we're honest about what we can and can't do, and we combine modern diagnostics with low-stress handling. We're open daily until 10 PM, take walk-ins for many exotic urgent concerns, give written estimates before non-emergency procedures, and refer to board-certified exotic specialists when a case is outside our scope. For rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and many small mammals, reptiles, and birds, we can be a primary medical home. Call ahead so we can confirm we're the right fit for your specific species and concern.

Frequently asked questions

What exotic pets do you see?

ARCH commonly sees rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, ferrets, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, ball pythons, corn snakes, turtles, tortoises, cockatiels, parakeets, conures, lovebirds, finches, and canaries when appropriate. Larger psittacines, venomous reptiles, and certain advanced procedures may require referral to a board-certified exotic specialist. Please call ahead so we can confirm fit for your specific species and concern.

Do you treat rabbits?

Yes. ARCH provides rabbit care for wellness exams, GI stasis and appetite loss, dental overgrowth and tooth root disease, abnormal stool, respiratory signs, head tilt, urinary sludge, reproductive disease, and pain management. Because rabbits depend on constant GI motility, a rabbit that is not eating should always be evaluated promptly.

Do you treat reptiles?

Yes. ARCH sees many common pet reptiles — bearded dragons, leopard and crested geckos, ball pythons, corn snakes, turtles, and tortoises — with strong attention to husbandry: temperature gradient, humidity, UVB lighting, diet, and calcium balance. Common reptile cases include metabolic bone disease, retained shed, mouth rot, respiratory infection, parasites, and egg binding. Larger or venomous species may need specialty referral.

Do you treat birds?

Yes, for many companion species including cockatiels, parakeets, conures, lovebirds, finches, and canaries. Larger psittacines and certain complex avian conditions may be best served by a board-certified avian specialist, and we will tell you directly when that is the right path. Birds mask illness until late — any fluffed posture, labored breathing, or change in droppings should be evaluated promptly.

What signs mean my exotic pet is sick?

Watch for reduced or absent appetite, smaller or fewer droppings, diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy, fluffed posture, labored or open-mouth breathing, weakness, swelling, bleeding, head tilt, seizures, prolapse, or straining. A rabbit that has not eaten in 12 hours, a bird sitting on the cage floor, or a reptile that has stopped basking should all be considered urgent.

Can exotic pets walk in for urgent care?

Yes. ARCH welcomes exotic walk-ins during open hours for urgent concerns. We strongly recommend calling on the way so the team can prepare warmth, oxygen, quiet handling, and species-appropriate supplies before you arrive. For life-threatening problems outside our open hours, we direct owners to the nearest 24-hour emergency facility.