Exotics

Washington Ave Animal Hospital Avian and Exotics is an exclusively bird and exotic department staffed by Dr. Alisa Rassin who is trained specifically for the care of your pet.  We are able to provide the most up-to-date medical and surgical care for your pet, while keeping in mind the unique needs of your exotic pet.  Experienced technicians and staff play a key role in providing specialized care for our patients as well as providing husbandry consults to optimize the health of your pet at home.

Our patients encompass a wide variety of species, including birds (parrots, passerines, chickens, waterfowl, other poultry, toucans/toucanet/aracari, and birds of prey), reptiles (lizards, geckos, turtles, tortoises, and snakes), amphibians (frogs, toads, axolotls, and salamanders), and various small mammals (rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, prairie dogs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, degus, and sugar gliders). Please note that we do not see venomous snakes, pigs, or primates other than Callitrichids (marmosets and tamarins). Dr.Rassin is also happy to see pet skunks, porcupines and fresh water fish on a case by case basis.

In addition to providing basic primary care, such as wellness exams, grooming, spaying and neutering, and nutritional and behavioral counseling, our practice also offers many advanced and emergency services. Advanced techniques such as specialty surgery, dentistry and ultrasonography are just a few of the diagnostics and treatments available to your exotic pet. The following are some of the many species-specific services available:

Birds

• Infectious disease testing (mycobacteria, chlamydophila, PDD, polyoma, PBFD) and treatment
• Medical and surgical treatment of egg binding and other reproductive disorders
• Medical evaluation and behavioral management of feather-destructive behavior
• DNA sex identification
• West Nile vaccination (birds of prey)
• Avian anesthesia and surgery
• Diagnosis and treatment of heavy metal toxicity
• Workup and treatment of metabolic diseases

Small Herbivorous Mammals (Rabbits/Guinea Pigs/Chinchillas)

• Management of oral and dental disease
  • Incisor and molar crown reduction, occlusal adjustment
  • Tooth root abscesses

• Treatment for gastrointestinal stasis and obstruction
• Surgical management of cystic ovaries (guinea pigs)
• Medical and radiation therapy for thymomas (rabbits)
• E. cuniculi testing and treatment (rabbits)
• Management of external and internal parasites
• Management of chronic ear disease, ear abscesses, inner ear disease

Ferrets

• Management of hyperadrenocorticism (adrenal disease)
  • Hormone therapy (Lupron®, Suprelorin®)
  • Surgical resection
  • Emergency management

• Management of insulinomas
• Chemotherapy for lymphoma
• Heartworm disease prevention and treatment
• USDA licensed rabies (IMRAB®3) and distemper (PUREVAX®) vaccinations for ferrets

Reptiles

• Treatment and counseling for metabolic bone disease
• Shell repair in turtles and tortoises
• Medical and surgical management of reproductive disorders

How to Refer:

Clients may contact us directly via,

• Email – [email protected]
• Phone – Speak with us by calling 267-927-4838

Referring Veterinarians

• Contact our surgeons directly to discuss cases.
• Complete a referral form on our website so that we may contact the client directly or be prepared for their call