Monday, August 16, 2010
Exotic-animal vets work with creatures great and small
Paul Stewart treats a rat recovering from pneumonia.
Photos by SAM DEAN The Roanoke Times
Veterinarian Paul Stewart treats exotic animals, such as this monitor, at his new practice, Avian & Exotic Pet Clinic of Roanoke.
SAM DEAN The Roanoke Times
Veterinarian Paul Stewart treats exotic animals, such as this python at his new practice, Avian & Exotic Pet Clinic of Roanoke.
Nona Nelson, The Happy Wag
Read Nona's blog, The Happy Wag:
Recent columns
I admit it. I was cowering in a corner while Koopa, the black throated monitor lizard, was being examined.
I was observing Paul Stewart, the veterinarian/owner of Avian & Exotic Pet Clinic of Roanoke, with his patients. Despite the soothing music of Vivaldi playing in the background, I was nervous.
Birds in for checkups? I was fine. The rat recovering from pneumonia? Didn't bother me at all. The unnamed ball python with heat-lamp burns? I backed off.
And when the gender-unspecific lizard, which reminded me of a velociraptor from the movie "Jurassic Park," hissed and rolled to free itself from the steady grasp of office assistant Cindee Sheffey, I retreated to a safe spot.
It was not my proudest moment as a professional.
"Gorgeous animal," Stewart observed as he pried open the modern-day dinosaur's mouth, exposing its teeth for a dental inspection.
Sure. Whatever you say, doc.
Not the typical clientele
My affinity is for furry pets -- specifically canines and felines. Not scaly, slimy and/or cold-blooded critters. I even have a terrible track record of keeping miniature mammals, like guinea pigs, alive.
Still, many families prefer atypical pets, and those are the patients Stewart sees.
No primates, no venomous snakes, no large creatures like alpacas, llamas or ostriches. For all other critters, the doors are open at Stewart's Southwest County clinic near Tanglewood Mall, which opened on Aug. 2.
His wife, Chrystie, is the office manager.
After seeing all manner of species at Valley Animal Hospital in Roanoke since 1999, Stewart said he wanted to focus on exotic pets -- a type of practice absent in this area since Vanessa Rolfe closed her clinic in Salem six years ago to move to Florida.
"I've always enjoyed wildlife," Stewart said. "I've always been into unusual pets."
He typically sees household pets but has treated patients from wildlife rehabilitation groups, consulted with Mill Mountain Zoo -- and performed surgery on a king cobra.
Birds of a feather
The first patient the day I was there was Jill -- who, despite the feminine moniker, is most likely a boy -- a goffin cockatoo belonging to Peter and Patricia Rodes of Salem.
Jill has been a bit grumpy lately, particularly with Patricia, so Peter Rodes brought him/her in for a check-up, a wing-and-nail clip and a little chat with Stewart.
Birds can be psychologically demanding pets, the vet explained.
Rodes described Jill's diet, which sounded well-balanced -- and healthier than my own-- and Stewart told him the young bird was in good shape. He offered to loan Rodes a training video that might help remedy Jill's cranky attitude.
Rodes, an experienced bird owner who adopted Jill from a rescue group three years ago, said he respects Stewart's opinion.
"There are very few doctors who work with birds," Rodes said. "[Stewart] takes the time to talk to you and listen to your concerns. As far as I'm concerned, he's the only doctor for birds."
Consultation is a big part of the practice, Stewart said. Educating owners on proper care and diet for their pets is crucial to the animals' health.
Waiting in the lobby for a checkup was Sue Brewer of Roanoke with her 12-year-old, lime-green quaker parrot Jello.
Brewer is the president of the Southwest Virginia Bird Club and the custodian of eight birds.
Stewart pronounced Jello to be in good health and knew Brewer didn't need much advice to keep him that way.
"She educates more people about birds than I do," he said.
Rodent recovery
In a multilevel crate along a wall in the examining room, Bullet, a cappuccino-colored rat, waited for his next dose of antibiotics.
Bullet was being treated for pneumonia, and congestion was easily visible on the X-ray slides Stewart showed me of the rat's chest. Respiratory problems are not uncommon for rodents.
Bullet's playful antics in his cage indicated he was responding well to treatment. But small animals like Bullet, who instinctively know where they rank on the food chain, tend to mask symptoms of illness, sometimes until it's too late.
"Prey animals have to show they are healthy even when they are not, or they become lunch," Stewart said.
The level of veterinary care available for small creatures has increased dramatically, Stewart said.
In addition to X-rays and ultrasounds, Stewart will be able to perform endoscopy, general and radio surgery and dentistry in his office.
"I'm amazed at the diseases they've healed from," Stewart said of some of his littlest patients. "Give them a chance, proper medicine and support, and you'd be surprised how the immune system can do the rest."
Emotional investment
While the new practice is not a 24-hour clinic, Stewart said he will be able to offer after-hours on-call emergency care to exotic pets, which include parrots, turtles or snakes valued at thousands of dollars and small birds, ferrets and bunnies purchased for less than $50 at pet stores.
While some people would not be willing to spend much money to care for an inexpensive small animal, Stewart said for his clients, the retail cost of the companion animal does not directly correlate to the depth of attachment.
"They don't want a parakeet," he said. "They want that parakeet."
Nona Nelson's column runs every other Monday in Extra. Check out her blog in the meantime at blogs.roanoke.com/thehappywag.
Tell us!
What's the dirtiest job you've ever had? Extra wants to know in honor of Labor Day!
Send your stories to extra@roanoke.com or to Extra, Dirty Jobs, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke VA 24010. Please include your full name, address and a phone number for verification purposes.
Stories should be no longer than 300 words describing the duties involved. Submissions may be used for future publication and are subject to editing.
Deadline for submissions is Sunday.
