VCA Veterinary Referral Associates

Exotic Animal Medicine

Dr. Lisa Carr Slide Show
Dr. Lisa Carr
  • Dr. Lisa Carr
    Dr. Lisa Carr
  • Dr. Lisa Car draws blood from Uromastyx lizard
    Avian and Exotics Specialist Dr. Lisa Carr draws blood from a Uromastyx lizard
  • Sovereign, the Hedgehog
    Sovereign, the Hedgehog, is just one of the many species our Avian and Exotics Department treats at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates
  • Nacho, Mike Regen's Sugar Glider
    This is Nacho, the Sugar glider, a patient of VRA's Exotics Service.
  • VCA Veterinary Referral Associates Avian and Exotics Ward
    VCA Veterinary Referral Associates Avian and Exotics Ward
  • An eggbound Lovebird receives emergency treatment by our avian specialists at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates
    An eggbound Lovebird receives emergency treatment by our avian specialists at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates
  • African clawed frog
    An African clawed frog received a checkup by our Exotic Pet Specialists
  • An injured Lovebird sports a protective collar after emergency treatment by our Avian Specialists at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates
    An injured Lovebird sports a protective collar after treatment by our Avian Specialists at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates
  • Ball python
    A handsome Ball python visits our reptile and amphibian veterinary specialists
  • Barred Plymouth Chicken
    Our avian specialists receive a visit from a beautiful Barred Plymouth chicken
  • Budgerigar (Parakeet) with a broken leg
    This little Parakeet (Budgerigar) had broken his leg. Our hospital's Avian Specialists have set his leg, and he will soon be on the road to recovery
  • Double yellow-headed amazon
    One of our Avian and Exotics' patients, a beautiful Double yellow-headed amazon
  • Dwarf rabbits Fonzi and Pinky
    Dwarf rabbits "Fonzi" and "Pinky" arrive for their checkup with our hospital's Avian and Exotic Specialists
  • Guinea pig
    A young Guinea pig being treated by our Avian and Exotic Pet Specialists
  • Close-up of Gecko skin
    An interesting close-up study of a Gecko's skin
  • Lineolated parakeet blue mutation
    A stunning Lineolated parakeet, blue mutation
  • Marla, a Black bear hamster
    "Marla," a Black bear hamster on a recent visit to VCA Veterinary Referral Associates
  • Mossy Gecko
    An inquisitive Mossy gecko (rachadactylus chahoa)
  • Mossy gecko's eye
    A striking close-up detail of a Mossy gecko's eye
  • Henry
    Henry, Uromastyx (saharan uromastyx)
  • Bunny w chronic rhinitis
    This cute bunny was treated for chronic rhinitis and is now doing well.
  • Gulliver guinea pig w tooth abscess
    Gulliver, a guinea pig with a tooth abscess, was successfully treated by our Avian and Exotics veterinarians.
  • Mo Houser ferret
    Adorable little ferret Mo Houser was successfully treated for Disseminated Idiopathic Myofaciitis, usually a fatal disease.
  • Seth, guinea pig w bladder stones
    Seth, the guinea pig, was seen by our avian and exotics veteinarians and successfully treated for bladder stones.
  • Mynah bird
    This Mynah bird, known for their talking ability, was quarantined in our Avian and Exotics ward prior to its transfer to a Honolulu zoo.
  • Dr. Lisa Carr with Ringo, an albino Kingsnake
    Exotics specialist Dr. Lisa Carr performs an ultrasound on Ringo, an albino Kingsnake, to assess egg development. Ringo's owner initially brought her in for a skin condition and on physical examination, eggs could be palpated in her coelom. Ringo is now doing very well.
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The medical care and treatment of avian and exotic pets is a discipline that requires a broad and extensive depth of knowledge as symptoms and conditions vary dramatically across every species. Veterinary Referral Associates avian and exotics staff have extensive training and experience in the treatment of birds, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, rabbits, sugar gliders, hedgehogs and other less common pets. Committed, compassionate and comprehensive, our avian and exotic pet specialists are available to provide pet owners and primary care veterinarians with complete medical and surgical evaluations. Utilizing advanced technology and diagnostic procedures, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), CT scan, C-Arm fluoroscopy, digital radiography, ultrasonography, endoscopy, among many others, our avian and exotics staff is well-equipped and experienced in diagnostics and treatment for all of your unique and special pets.

 
 Our Avian and Exotics Service offers unparalleled care in all of the following areas:

  • Post purchase/adoption screening
  • Behavior consultation
  • Husbandry and diet management
  • Microchip identification (Home Again)
  • Egg bound birds, excessive egg production
  • Cloacal prolapse
  • Seizures
  • Metabolic bone disease
  • Heavy metal toxicity
  • Kidney failure
  • Cancer
  • Trauma
  • Fractures
  • Skin disease
  • Ocular problems
  • Respiratory disease
  • Feather destructive behaviors
  • Foreign body ingestion
  • Parasitology
  • Diarrhea, vomiting


Diagnostic procedures as well as other services provided include:
 

  • Clinical pathology, cytology and biopsy
  • Digital radiography
  • C-Arm fluoroscopy
  • CT scanner and MRI
  • Ultrasonography
  • Endoscopy
  • Bacterial, fungal, viral diagnostics
  • General surgery
  • Soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery
  • Radiosurgery
  • Comprehensive anesthetic monitoring
  • Ferret adrenal disease management
       (surgery, lupron, deslorelin implants)
  • Dentistry, occlusal adjustment and
        dental abscess management
  • Pain management
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Necropsy
  • Hospitalization, including after-hours
        and weekend care of critical cases


Acquainting you with our Avian and Exotics Department, Scheduling Your Visit and Completing Pet History Questionnaire

VCA Veterinary Referral Associates' Avian and Exotics team offers complete diagnostic and treatment services for your avian or exotic pet. To acquaint you with our Avian and Exotics Department, please refer to our "Guidelines for Clients" or "Guidelines for Referring Veterinarians" below.

GUIDELINES FOR CLIENTS
GUIDELINES FOR REFERRING VETERINARIANS

To schedule your pet's visit, please call us at 301-926-3300. To help our veterinarians to assess your pet, please click on, open and complete the pertinent history questionnaire below prior to your visit with us. (Please note that our questionnaires are interactive PDFs. After opening the document, you may choose to either (1) type directly onto the form, save it and print OR (2) print the document and hand-write your entries.) After completing your form, it may be emailed to:  mary.yonemura@vcahospitals.com  OR faxed to (301) 977-1308 OR brought along with you to your pet's visit. Please feel free to call us if you have any questions, and we will be happy to assist you.


PET HISTORY QUESTIONNAIRES

 

VCA Veterinary Referral Associates Avian and Exotics Pet Care Library

For the benefit of those pet owners with avian and/or exotic pets, our Avian and Exotics Specialists have prepared pet care educational materials. Please click on the document links below and download the literature from our library to learn more about caring for these very special and unique pets.

Services Offered in Exotic Animal Medicine

Veterinarians in Exotic Animal Medicine

Departments & Doctors

HOW TO REACH US

VCA Veterinary Referral Associates
Phone: 301-926-3300
Fax: 301-977-1308
500 Perry Parkway
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
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BUSINESS HOURS

Mon-Sun Open 24 hours

Open for emergencies 24 hours. No appointment is needed. For Specialty Services, please call for availability and to schedule your pet's appointment.
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General Practice

We have over 540 animal hospitals in 41 states that are staffed by more than 2,000 fully qualified, dedicated and compassionate veterinarians, with more than 200 being board-certified specialists. The nationwide VCA family of general practice hospitals give your pet the very best in medical care, providing a full range of general medical and surgical services as well as specialized treatments*: Wellness, Spay/neuter, Advanced diagnostic services (MRI/CT Scan), Internal medicine, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Cardiology, Neurology, Boarding, Grooming

*services may vary by location.

Our family of pet hospitals stands out by delivering the greatest resources in order provide the highest quality care available for your pets. By maintaining the highest standards of pet health care available anywhere, we emphasize prevention as well as healing. We provide continuing education programs to our doctors and staff and promote the open exchange of professional knowledge and expertise. And finally, we have established a consistent program of procedures and techniques, proven to be the most effective in keeping pets healthy.

Find a VCA General Care Animal Hospital near you:

 

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Emergency Care

FOR PET MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, VCA VETERINARY REFERRAL ASSOCIATES IS LOCATED AT:

500 PERRY PARKWAY
GAITHERSBURG, MD 20877
TEL: (301) 926-3300
Click here for directions to our location.

The doctors and staff of VCA Veterinary Referral Associates are ready and available to provide emergency and critical care for your beloved companion around the clock every day of the year.  Staffed by a team of board-certified emergency/critical care doctors, our emergency team is ready to provide your pet with the highest possible level of quality compassionate care should an urgent medical need arise at any time of day or night.

 If you feel your pet is having an emergency, please feel free to immediately come to the hospital - we are ALWAYS available!  You may speak with a member of the emergency team if you questions/concerns by calling 301-926-3300 at any time.

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