Centre for Avian, Reptiles and Exotics

Centre for Avian, Reptiles and Exotics Veterinary service for birds, small mammals and reptiles based in Klapmuts with satellite consultations in Langebaan and Somerset West. Veterinarian
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We are available for after hour emergencies, please contact to determine availability.

One of the things I loved during my time working in Australia was exposure to advanced imaging and CT scanning in exotic...
02/06/2026

One of the things I loved during my time working in Australia was exposure to advanced imaging and CT scanning in exotic animal medicine. šŸ©»

When I moved back to South Africa in 2018, this level of imaging unfortunately wasnā€™t readily available to us locally for our patients. For years, you learned to rely heavily on radiographs, anatomy, experience, and clinical judgement, knowing there were still limitations to what you could fully visualise.

Now, only a few years later, seeing CT imaging becoming increasingly accessible here feels incredibly rewarding.

For exotic patients especially, CT scans can completely change how we understand a case:
ā€¢ Better surgical planning
ā€¢ Earlier diagnosis
ā€¢ Improved visualisation of disease
ā€¢ More confidence in difficult cases
ā€¢ Less guessing, more answers

It still amazes me every time seeing the level of detail we can achieve for our patients. Tiny bones, air sacs, sinuses, soft tissueā€¦ an entirely different perspective on medicine. šŸ¦šŸ‡šŸ¦Ž

Very grateful to see veterinary medicine continuing to evolve locally and excited for where the future of exotic animal medicine is heading.

ā¤ļø
02/06/2026

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Some days in this job feel like climbing a mountain in a thunderstorm. Other days, the clouds break just enough to remin...
30/05/2026

Some days in this job feel like climbing a mountain in a thunderstorm. Other days, the clouds break just enough to remind you exactly why you chose this path. šŸ©ŗ

We see the victories and the difficult moments. The recoveries that surprise us, and the cases that challenge us. But regardless of the odds, we fight. Every single time.

Medicine can never promise outcomes. What we can promise is our absolute best for every patient that comes through our doors.

What makes it all worthwhile are the patients who trust us, and the clients who walk beside us through the uncertainty with kindness and hope.

Thank you, Luna, for the thoughtful present. It truly means a lot. šŸ¤

Dear CARE Family,Weā€™re pleased to let you know that Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) vaccines are on their way.R...
13/05/2026

Dear CARE Family,

Weā€™re pleased to let you know that Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) vaccines are on their way.

RHDV is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects rabbits. It can spread rapidly through direct contact with infected rabbits, contaminated surfaces, insects, and even on clothing or shoes. Unfortunately, the disease often progresses very quickly, sometimes with little to no warning signs, making prevention absolutely critical.

Vaccination is the most effective way to protect your rabbit against this virus. Even indoor rabbits are at risk due to how easily the virus can be transmitted.

We strongly recommend annual vaccination to ensure ongoing protection.

The cost is R910, which includes a full health check as well as the vaccination.

A health check is an important part of the visit, as it allows us to assess your rabbitā€™s overall condition before vaccination. Rabbits are very good at hiding illness, and vaccinating an unwell animal is not ideal. This examination ensures your rabbit is healthy enough to receive the vaccine and gives us the opportunity to pick up any early or underlying issues.

Please note that this is a Section 21 vaccine. This means it is not yet fully registered in South Africa but is legally available under special approval for use by veterinarians when there is a clear clinical need. These vaccines are tightly regulated and can only be imported, supplied, and administered by a registered veterinarian. They are not available over the counter or for home use, and must be given under veterinary supervision to ensure correct handling, storage, and administration.

To secure your booking, a 60% deposit is required (R546). Please pay this into our bank account using your name, surname, and the number of rabbits to be vaccinated as the reference (for example: coetzeedebeer3). Kindly send proof of payment (POP) to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

If you would like to proceed, please contact us and weā€™ll be happy to assist with the booking details.

Warm regards,
CARE Team

Account holder: CARE VETERINARIAN SERVICES INC
Account number: 1222683857
Account type: Current account
Bank name: Nedbank
Branch code: 198765

We would like to make rabbit owners aware of a possible concern we are currently monitoring at CARE.At this stage, we ha...
08/05/2026

We would like to make rabbit owners aware of a possible concern we are currently monitoring at CARE.

At this stage, we have seen 2 rabbits present with a very similar clinical picture. It is still early days, and we are not making definitive conclusions yet, but the similarities between the cases are significant enough for us to raise awareness.

Both rabbits initially presented with signs consistent with gastrointestinal stasis/bloat. Their owners acted appropriately and sought veterinary attention early.

On presentation, both rabbits showed:
ā€¢ discomfort/pain
ā€¢ mild dehydration
ā€¢ enlarged stomachs containing food material on radiographs
ā€¢ caudal gastrointestinal gas accumulation

Both cases responded rapidly to our initial treatment protocol of fluids and pain relief. Neither rabbit appeared critically unstable at presentation, and both began eating, interacting and appearing brighter relatively quickly.

Unfortunately, in both cases, the situation changed dramatically the following morning.

Both rabbits developed severe diarrhoea followed by rapid deterioration requiring ICU-level supportive care, with both patients ultimately passing away.

The pattern only truly started making sense after the second case deteriorated at approximately 3AM last night.

The common factor identified in both cases was access to mouldy hay.

Earlier this week, we had already returned 2 bales of oat hay to a supplier due to concerns regarding quality. Fortunately, we had alternative imported oat and timothy hay available for hospital use.

What concerns us is that this clinical progression is not typical.

Our current concern is possible mycotoxicosis (toxin exposure associated with mould contamination), with likely gastrointestinal and potential liver involvement.

These cases are particularly difficult because toxin-related liver and gastrointestinal disease can progress rapidly, while definitive diagnostics such as toxicology testing and liver biopsy often take time and may only confirm suspicions after death.

Are we potentially being pre-emptive? Maybe.

But we would rather raise awareness early than have owners go through something similar without warning.

Our recommendations at this stage:

ā€¢ Thoroughly inspect hay before feeding
ā€¢ Avoid hay with any visible mould, dampness, abnormal smell or discolouration
ā€¢ Store hay in dry, ventilated conditions
ā€¢ Consider liver support supplementation such as milk thistle
ā€¢ Activated charcoal may help bind certain toxins in early exposure cases, but should only be used under veterinary guidance

The primary organs likely affected in these cases are the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

At this stage we are still gathering information and monitoring closely, but we felt it was important to alert rabbit owners to be vigilant.

If your rabbit develops signs of bloating, abdominal discomfort, reduced appetite or diarrhoea, please seek veterinary attention as early as possible.

Current hospital situation: āœØ Critically cute patient āœØ Zero respect for interior design āœØ Newspaper consumption: agg...
13/04/2026

Current hospital situation:
āœØ Critically cute patient
āœØ Zero respect for interior design
āœØ Newspaper consumption: aggressive

This little one (and many like them) goes through a lot of newspaper keeping things clean, dry, and comfortableā€¦ and as you can see, it doesnā€™t stay pristine for long.

So hereā€™s your chance to be part of the behind-the-scenes reality of veterinary care ā€” less glamorous, slightly chaotic, but very necessary.

Weā€™re looking for donations of old newspapers šŸ—žļø
(No glossy magazines please ā€” our patients have standards.)

If youā€™ve got a pile at home, weā€™d love to give it a second life.

šŸ“ Drop-off: CARE ā€“ Centre for Avian, Reptiles & Exotics
šŸ—žļø Clean, dry newspapers welcome anytime

Help us keep the mess manageable and the patients happy ā€” one shredded headline at a time

Good day in hospital ā€” a few critical patients heading home. Finishing off with a bit of dinosaur therapy šŸ¦–
09/04/2026

Good day in hospital ā€” a few critical patients heading home. Finishing off with a bit of dinosaur therapy šŸ¦–

Please note that we will be closed over the Easter weekend.We will remain available for emergencies; however, please cal...
23/03/2026

Please note that we will be closed over the Easter weekend.
We will remain available for emergencies; however, please call 074 134 3271 in advance to ensure that a veterinarian is available before coming through.

Please note that we treat avian and exotic species only and do not see dogs or cats.

To avoid this exact facial expression from Dr Coetzeeā€™s dog, Freddyā€¦ please call ahead. šŸ¾

Get to know Dr. Coetzee a little better:Heā€™s a colossal tennis aficionado. His ultimate dream? The ā€œCoetzee Golden Slamā€...
21/03/2026

Get to know Dr. Coetzee a little better:

Heā€™s a colossal tennis aficionado. His ultimate dream? The ā€œCoetzee Golden Slamā€ā€”attending all four Grand Slams in a single unforgettable year. His tennis icons mirror exactly what he values in both sport and life: Justine Heninā€™s elegance, Maria Sharapovaā€™s fire, Serena Williamsā€™s power, Juan MartĆ­n del Potroā€™s resilience, and Roger Federerā€™s effortless grace.

Now, can he actually play tennis? Not quite. Letā€™s just say the passion far outweighs the performanceā€”ball sense isā€¦ negotiable, and athleticism remains more of a theoretical framework than a practical skill set.

To make matters worse (or better, depending on your sense of humour), his cousins seem to operate on a completely different operating systemā€”pick up any sport and casually drift into national or even international level, as if itā€™s a weekend hobby. Meanwhile, Dr. Coetzee remains courtside, clipboard in hand, spiritually competing. šŸŽ¾

But thatā€™s part of the charm: he studies champions the way a clinician studies a caseā€”obsessively, analytically, with deep respect for what excellence looks like.

In veterinary medicine, especially with complex avian and exotic cases, that same tennis mindset becomes a clinical strategy. When everything feels overwhelmingā€”multiple systems involved, unclear diagnoses, fragile patientsā€”the key is to break it down: one step, one decision, one response at a time. Just like in tennis, you donā€™t win a match by thinking about the trophy mid-rallyā€”you win it by focusing on the next ball.

By approaching cases this way, complexity becomes manageable. Each step builds clarity, reduces noise, and allows for precise, thoughtful adjustments. It prevents overwhelm, sharpens clinical reasoning, and creates a structured path through uncertainty. Whether itā€™s a compromised bird or a critical small mammal, the goal remains the same: steady progress, point by pointā€”until youā€™ve won the match for your patient. šŸŽ¾

20 years ago, I was just a kidā€¦ standing next to a tiny bird and helping someone choose a new companion. I had no idea t...
20/03/2026

20 years ago, I was just a kidā€¦ standing next to a tiny bird and helping someone choose a new companion. I had no idea that moment would quietly become part of a much bigger story.

Today, that same beautiful girl ā€” Zindzi ā€” turns 20 years old. šŸ•Šļø

Somewhere between then and now, life moved forward. I grew up, studied, built a careerā€¦ and somehow, along the way, I became her vet.

Thereā€™s something incredibly special about that. In a world where so much feels fast and fleeting, this is the opposite. This is time, trust, and a life shared over decades.

To have witnessed even a small part of her journey from the very beginningā€¦ and to still be part of it todayā€¦ is something I donā€™t take for granted.

The message her owner sent me today meant more than words can hold:

ā€œHierdie mooie dogtertjie van ons is vandag 20 jaar oud!!!
Baie baie dankie vir alles wat jy oor die jare vir ons al gedoen hetā€¦ en dat jy haar aan my toe vertrou het! ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļøā€

Thank you for trusting me with her then, and for trusting me with her now. ā¤ļø

Happy 20th birthday, Zindzi. You are deeply loved.

Address

Pellmeadow Estate, Protea Road, R44, Klapmuts
Stellenbosch
7625

Telephone

+27218755063

Website

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