Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital of Louisiana

08/12/2026

Did you know rabbits can be litter box trained?! 🐇 Check out Oxbow Animal Health's blog below for tips on how to get started. 📋

If your bunny is suddenly not using the litter box well, there could be an underlying medical issue - give us a call at 504-455-6386 to set up an exam to investigate. 🔬🐰

Find out how to litter train your rabbit in this comprehensive guide. Learn more with the experts at Oxbow Animal Health.

08/10/2026

Join us is congratulating Dr. Pence for being selected as one of New Orleans CityBusiness’ HEALTH CARE HEROES! We are glad to see her received the recognition we all know she deserves.

08/07/2026

UPDATE: VitusVet access has been restored, and we are able to text again. If you are having problems with your app, please refresh, or contact customer support. Thank you for your patience!

Our online portal provider Vitus Vet is currently completing a routine security certificate update. While their team works on this technical update, our online portal will be temporarily unavailable. This also means our texting abilities are not available.

For your data security, please do not attempt to log in, bypass browser warnings, or submit forms through the VitusVet portal at this time. We will post another update as soon as the portal is fully updated and secure for online use!

If you need to schedule an appointment, request a prescription refill, or reach our team, please contact us directly:

Phone (texting is not currently available): 504-455-6386
Email (scheduling): [email protected]
Email (prescription refill): [email protected]

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we ensure your information remains protected!

07/29/2026

Another good reminder that no, our exotic pets can’t get Cyclospora from produce, but to still always wash your fruits and veggies well before anyone eats them! 🥬

Can birds get Cyclospora?

You've probably heard about recent cases of Cyclospora linked to fresh produce and may be wondering: Can my bird get sick from eating contaminated fruits or vegetables?

The good news is no. Based on current scientific evidence, birds are not known to become infected with Cyclospora cayetanensis—the parasite that causes cyclosporiasis in people.

That doesn't mean you should skip food safety, though. Fresh produce should always be washed thoroughly before it's served to your bird to help reduce exposure to bacteria, pesticides, and other contaminants.

Bottom line: Wash produce well, offer a balanced diet, and rest a little easier—Cyclospora isn't considered a risk for your feathered companion.

07/20/2026

Welcome to A RICHER UNDERSTANDING, a new blog from our founder, Dr. Gregory Rich, who needs no introduction!

How can I tell if my parrot is plucking it's feathers, or just molting?

All birds from parakeets to conures to macaws molt feathers throughout the year. During the spring and fall, most healthy birds lose more feathers than during other seasons. When adult birds molt, there should never be bald spots (except on cockatiels and cockatoos top of their head behind the crest, which is normally a bald area). Molted feathers will be found on the bottom of the cage/enclosure and look completely intact. No broken parts, no bent quills.

When a bird is exhibiting Feather Damaging Behavior (FDB), there may be plucked feathers, broken quills or just ratty looking feathers.

In these cases, there may be down feathers exposed or completely bald areas. THIS IS ABNORMAL. There are dozens of reasons causing birds to show FDB. A comprehensive veterinary examination will be necessary to help determine the cause of the problem. Some birds with FDB may have life threatening medical conditions. Prompt attention to this condition is necessary to help your beloved pet bird.

Stay tuned for more information in my next blog.

Dr. Gregory Rich

07/13/2026

A huge thank you to the wonderful team at Heaven's Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie for their incredible hospitality during our staff visit last week! ❤️ We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your beautiful facilities and dedication with us. Check out this quick video recap of our visit! 🐾✨

We can always assist you with their services or you can visit them online at www.heavenspets.com.

07/12/2026

🥬🐰 Concerned about the recent Cyclospora outbreak? Here's what exotic pet owners need to know! 🐹🦜🦎

We've received several calls from worried pet owners following reports of Cyclospora infections in people, including cases here in Louisiana.

The good news: Current research indicates that Cyclospora cayetanensis is considered a human-specific parasite. Rabbits, guinea pigs, tortoises, iguanas, birds, and other vegetable-loving pets are not known to be susceptible to infection from the strain that causes illness in humans.

That means your bunny isn't likely to catch Cyclospora from contaminated produce the way people can.

✅ We still recommend thoroughly washing all fresh fruits and vegetables before feeding them to both your family and your pets. This helps reduce exposure to dirt, pesticides, bacteria, and other potential contaminants.

⚠️ If your pet develops signs of illness such as decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, or unusual behavior, please contact your veterinarian. While Cyclospora is not considered a concern for these species, there are many other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

As always, we'll continue monitoring emerging information and recommendations to help keep your pets safe and healthy.

Have questions about your exotic pet? Drop them in the comments or give us a call—we're happy to help!

🥕🐰 Now for a fun question: What's your pet's favorite vegetable? Let us know below!

07/08/2026

🏆 Did You Know? 🐾 🦜🐢

We are incredibly proud to highlight some truly remarkable milestones achieved by our very own Dr. Rich. Did you know that Dr. Rich is one of only two veterinarians in the world to have won both of these prestigious honors?

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Rich's amazing contributions to the veterinary community in the comments below! 👇✨

07/07/2026

🍫 Happy World Chocolate Day! 🍫
While you're enjoying your favorite sweet treat today, remember that chocolate is a big NO for our exotic friends! 🦜🐇🦔🐀🦎

Chocolate contains theobromine (and caffeine), which can be toxic to many exotic pets—including birds, rabbits, ferrets, hedgehogs, rodents, and other small mammals. Even a small amount can cause serious illness, so keep those chocolate treats safely out of curious beaks, paws, and noses!

⚠️ If you think your pet has eaten chocolate, don't wait for symptoms to appear. Contact us or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away. The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

Now for the sweet part... 🍬
Does your pet have a chocolate-themed name? We want to hear it! 🍫

Share your pet's chocolate-inspired name in the comments—whether it's Cocoa, Hershey, Mocha, Truffle, Brownie, Snickers, KitKat, Godiva, or something completely unique! Bonus points if you include a photo—we'd love to see all of your adorable chocolate-named companions! 📸❤️

Happy World Chocolate Day, and thank you for helping keep your exotic pets safe!

07/06/2026

Welcome to Exotic Myth-Busters!

If you’re reading this, chances are your home looks a little different than the average household. Caring for an exotic pet is incredibly rewarding, but let’s be honest: finding accurate information on care and husbandry can feel like a wild goose chase.

As an exotic animal clinic, we see the real-world consequences of online and in-person misinformation every single day in the clinic. That’s why we’re incredibly excited to kick off another brand-new series here: Exotic Myth-Busters with Dr. Hebert.

Dr. Hebert graduated from LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 2025. Her family, and consequently herself, have been clients of AEAH for almost 25 years! She worked and shadowed here for 3 of the 4 years she was in veterinary school, and was beyond excited to start seeing her own patients as a doctor. One of her favorite parts of being an exotic animal veterinarian is education— and she hopes to extend this even further with this blog series.

Why Myths Are So Common (and Dangerous!)
Most pet owners who accidentally follow bad advice love their animals deeply. The problem isn’t a lack of care; it’s a lack of accessible, scientifically-backed information.

Exotic medicine is an extremely rapidly evolving field. What was considered "standard of care" ten or fifteen years ago has likely been disproven or adjusted since then. Exotic animal veterinarians are constantly learning and updating their knowledge base through new research and veterinary conferences. Unfortunately for exotic medicine, old information never seems to die on the internet.

A Sneak Peek at the Myths We Are Busting
Over the next few months, we are going to look into some of the more common myths in this field. We’ll be breaking down all sorts of misconceptions, including:
The Annual Exam: Why annual (or wellness) exams are extremely important for our exotic animals
Beyond the Carrot: Why the classic cartoon rabbit eating carrots is more harmful than helpful
The “All Seed” Diet: Why an all-seed diet for your pet parrots is the equivalent of eating nothing but fast food, and how this affects their health

No Judgment, Just Better Care
Here is our promise to you: this series isn't about finger-pointing at all. Keeping exotic animals is a continuous learning curve for all of us! Our goal is simply to bridge the gap between the latest veterinary science and your phone, giving you easier access to the facts you need to help your exotic pet thrive.

What Myths Do You Want Busted?
We want this series to be as helpful to you as possible!
Drop your questions and local myths in the comments below! Your submission might just be the focus of our very first deep-dive post. Stay tuned!

-Dr. Hebert

www.AvianAndExoticVet.com