Common Questions

What is the Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital?

The Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital, located in San Diego, California, is a primary care and referral veterinary practice limited to:

The practice is world renown for the innovative and quality care it offers its clients and their animals.

What animals do you treat at your practice?

At the Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital, we treat a wide variety of animals including:

  • Birds
  • Rabbits
  • Reptiles
  • Small companion animals
  • Wildlife
  • Fish
  • Amphibian

What services do you offer?

Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital offers a wide range of services including:

  • Routine medical care
  • Wellness exams
  • Full diagnostic, medical and surgical services
  • Wildlife medicine and surgery
  • Emergency on call services
  • Vaccinations
  • Grooming on a variety of animals
  • Boarding
  • Click here to see all the services we offer

Who are the people behind the Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital

Our Dedicated Staff

Do you board animals?

Yes.We offer boarding services arranged with prior notice and by appointment only.

What is required before I can board my animal?

To ensure the health of your pet by providing the healthiest environment possible, and to protect those animals boarding at the same time as your pet, we do require an examination and blood work prior to boarding.

Most birds will be required to have a Psittacosis test, and Old World birds may be required to get a Psittacine Beak and Feather test. This will be determined by the doctor during the physical examination.

What are your normal business hours?

Our regular business hours are as follows. (subject to change)

  • Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

What do I do if my animal has an emergency when you are closed?

We have a doctor on call seven days a week, so in case of an emergency, call our regular phone line and listen to the message for the pager number. Page the on-call doctor, and he will get back to you to decide further treatment

My pet seems perfectly healthy, why do I need to bring it in for an annual exam?

An annual physical examination is as important to your pet as it is to you. Exotic animals have the ability to suppress their symptoms until the illness takes over and they cannot hide it any longer.

It is important for the health of your pet to have annual wellnes exams and lab work to prevent or catch any unwanted problems in the future. Regular physical exams lead to a healthier pet.

Do I need an appointment or can I simply walk in?

Due to our busy practice, we do require appointments. A friendly receptionist can book this for you by calling our regular business phone number. In the case of a life threatening emergency, walk ins will be accepted.

Do you perform groomings? Why does my animal need to be groomed?

Grooming your pet is an option available to you. Some owners prefer to trim their bird’s wings to prevent flight, others choose to keep their bird’s full flight. Grooming any animal is usually done for cosmetic reasons, and to prevent the overgrowth of their nails.

We perform groomings on a wide variety of animals, including birds, rabbits, reptiles, and more. Bird grooming can include nail and wing trimming, and a beak grooming if necessary or requested by the owner.

Rabbits, and other small companion animals, usually receive nail trims, and the occasional bath, or a shave for long-coated animals. All other animals usually need nail trims, or sometimes the occasional bath.

How do I get to your clinic?

From 8 West: Take the I-5 exit then, almost immediately, the Sea World Drive / Tecolote Road exit. From I-5 North or South, Take the Sea World Drive / Tecolote Road exit.

From the exit, turn right onto Tecolote Road then right on Morena Blvd.

We are the third driveway on the right. (click here for map).

I live in another state, will your doctors consult with mine?

For a fee, our doctors will arrange a consultation with your veterinarian to discuss your case and possible treatments for your pet.

What is a blood feather?

A blood feather is a new feather growing in on a bird. The shaft of the feather is filled with blood, until the entire feather is mature.

Problems can occur if the bird breaks the blood feather, causing external bleeding from the shaft. In this situation, it is a good idea to contact your veterinarian to see if the feather needs to be removed from the bird.

My pet was diagnosed with mites. Can I contract them, or can the other pets in my household?

Mites are external parasites that can be easily treated with the right care. Most mites are species specific and will not transfer to you, or to other pets in your household

I have an animal and am thinking of getting a companion for them. What precautions should I take before introducing them?

Most importantly, your new animal should receive a physical examination and lab work as soon as possible. This is to ensure that you are bringing home a healthy companion for your already healthy pet.

The new animal should be kept quarantined until all lab work is completed, and any treatments carried out if needed. When you get the go-ahead from your veterinarian, saying your new pet is healthy, you may start the bonding process and remove the new animal from quarantine.