Q:      How do I find a good exotic animal veterinarian?

A:      That is probably one of the best questions ever asked.  It has been answered many times in a variety of ways, but the answers are not always ideal.  The yellow pages are often cited as a way to find an exotic animal veterinarian, but ANYONE can CLAIM to see exotics competently.  RARELY are the biggest ads from the best vets.  Avian & exotic animal veterinary associations provide names of members, but belonging to an association is not a measure of clinical competence.  Pet shops can offer good recommendations, but we have seen less than ethical arrangements between vets and pet shops, so they can't all be trusted. 

        The single best source of a good recommendation is the veterinary profession in the area.  Our standing advice to a client who is moving to an area we are unfamiliar with is as follows.  When in the new location the client is to telephone clinics in the area and ask the question "do you see exotics."  If the answer is yes, the client says thank you very much and hangs up.  If the answer is no, the client asks who that clinic recommends.  If several clinics recommend the same local veterinarian then you can bet the recommendation is a good one.  Veterinarians in most areas keep tabs on each other, and they are the best ones to ask about the competence of non-competing colleagues in their areas.