Does anyone have any experience with either of these? I have a sick rat, and these are the only two places I could find that even looked at them. I even tried the vet school but they don't see rats. Avian and Exotic is farther away and more expensive, but they have more experience with exotic animals. Lake Wheeler is closer and cheaper, but I feel like they're mainly a dogs and cats place.

Can anyone recommend one over the other? Does Lake Wheeler have more experience with exotics than I'm giving them credit for?

10/19/2007 12:15:38 PM

I don't know specifically about either of those veterinarians. However, if your rat is sick and this isn't a general issue, I would go to the clinic that specializes in exotics. A lot of small animal veterinarians are willing to see pockets pets, but oftentimes they aren't up on specifics like an exotic veterinarian would be. Oftentimes they'll be in the back flipping through the pocket pets book for treatments etc.

10/19/2007 12:22:20 PM

that's what i was thinking. i'd rather get it right the first time than go to lake wheeler and have them tell me to go somewhere else/not do a great job and end up going to avian and exotic anyways. (not saying that lake wheeler isn't a good vet, just they don't do rats..)

10/19/2007 12:26:41 PM

avian and exotic knows their stuff, but they are also expensive and in my experience like to charge/overcharge for unneccessary things

10/19/2007 12:44:16 PM

it's $47 for an office visit at avian and exotic, and $35 at lake wheeler. plus whatever meds they prescribe.

10/19/2007 12:57:35 PM

My father took his bird there a few times, parakeet or cockatiel maybe? Anyway, he said they were very good on explaining whats up and what to do, but they are expensive and like to get you pay them to run lots of unnecessary health check tests ($100s-$1000's). So if you're hardcore thats what you should get, but if you just want your rat to get better I'd check somewhere else first, or just be ballsy enough to say no to them when the time comes.

10/19/2007 1:36:55 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by unnecessary. I mean obviously it will be hard to determine what is wrong with an animal, and especially a rat just by looking at it. So certainly bloodwork is almost always in order...and IS necessary in the case of most sick pets. I mean how do you expect to diagnose a problem accurately without any diagnostic information?! I've heard in the case of most exotic pets, they don't typically show symptoms of being "sick" unless something is REALLY wrong, so I wouldn't wait much longer to take it to a vet, regardless of where you go.

10/19/2007 2:46:24 PM

I like Lake Wheeler Vet, but I take my cat there. She also charged me less than $35 for a visit because it was a short visit; like $15 or $25, if I remember correctly. The thing I did not like was how she was acting like I was a bad cat owner because I don't crate Grits when we go home. And when he chewed his tail off, she acted like I HAD to take him back twice or more a week for HER to re-wrap his tail. She never would let me watch her wrap it because she didn't want me to stop bringing him. After it started healing, I started taking care if it myself. Otherwise, she is such a great vet; but yeah, I don't know about her and rats.

10/19/2007 3:00:43 PM

Can't you buy a new rat for like 5 bucks?


Just set that one free inside the cage of a constrictor.


Get New Rat.


Save hundreds of dollars.

10/19/2007 3:02:59 PM

it's not the price of the animal that matters. and of course i have an attachment to THIS rat. it's also that i'm being a responsible pet owner and not just giving up on him; it's my job to look after his health because he's in my care, so that's what i'm doing.

10/19/2007 3:31:16 PM

Just drive out to New Hope Animal Hospital off 15-501. It's about a half hour drive from Raleigh, but the vet there has a lot of experience with rats and the prices are very reasonable. I took mine there even before I moved from Raleigh to a place (coincidentally) just down the road.

Avian and Exotics isn't really all that great, and expensive as hell. Dr. Bishop at New Hope runs the Raleigh Rodent Rescue, among other things, and is very competent.

10/19/2007 3:35:36 PM

I can vouch for Avian and Exotic. I have taken all of my birds to them for routine and emergency care. My Quaker had a broken leg a couple of years ago that required pins to be surgically inserted for it to heal properly. Though it was very expensive, they were willing to work with us to set up a payment plan and my baby doesn't even have a limp. I really like them. I don't really know anything at all about Lake Wheeler.

10/19/2007 4:01:52 PM

I've taken my snake to Avian and Exotic. True to the previous comments, the prices were high - but it's not like your going to find a million experts on exotic pet care in Raleigh. You pay for their unique service. They wanted to charge $40 to shed my snake and I did it myself (quite well I might add!) using internet-forum instructions from other owners.

As for the others, don't bother commenting if you aren't going to be helpful. Obviously he isn't going to just throw his rat away.... ...rude.

10/19/2007 4:18:03 PM

^she

I went to Lake Wheeler, and they were very helpful. The vet said he has a mycoplasm infection. She gave him some fluids and then gave me some antibiotics to give him. Ended up costing $64. They originally said like $86, but then reduced the fluids charge to 1/4 of what it was because he's so small and didn't need as much. So yeah. My mom wasn't the happiest that I'd spent that much on 'just a rat' but I'm fine.. as long as he gets better! I have to syringe-feed him every few hours and give him the medication twice a day. We'll see!

10/19/2007 5:56:35 PM

Quote :

"I'm not sure what you mean by unnecessary"

as in charging 50 dollars a day (each) for assisted feedings for 3 ferrets that were eating on their own.

10/19/2007 6:49:57 PM

DO NOT TAKE YOUR RAT TO AVIAN AND EXOTIC WHATEVER YOU DO

hope it is not too late.

i had a few rats over my time at state, and most of them lived a good 2.5-3 years before gettin a tumor and dying of complications/old age, trhey seem to be very succeptible to those one they get older.

anyhow, one female rat i had was still pretty young, started having respiratory problems one day and then quit eating much. she lived in a cage with another female rat. so couple days later, she is not gettin better, i take her to avian and exotic, googlemapped that place basically, figured the's know hot to take care of a simple rodent.

first, the vet tells me my rat is pregnant. Mind you, she lived in a cage with another female rat. i told him that's not possible, he proposed to do buncha lab tests on her blood or poop i forgot whitch one then he prescribed some antibiotics, citing lung infection. i walked out there with a i think around 200 dolla bill (for a 7 dolla rat) and then she died 2 hrs after i fed her first dose of the medicine.

i notified them of the death, cancelled my follow-up appointment. fuckers are STILL sending me posttcards to brinkg her in for a biannual checkup or some shit.


i had best luck with Cary Northwoods Animal hospital with my other rats. its next to the maynard/harrison ave intersection. they removed a tumor on one of my rats, fixed a digestive problem in another one i think, and euthenized 2 more when those were old and untreatable. preices seemed to be somewhat more reasonable too (although i must say it prolly a lot cheaper to brick your cureent rat and get you a new one if you can put yourself to it)

10/19/2007 8:58:55 PM

i went to avian and exotic for my hedgehog when she was sick. it was 180$ for an emergency visit, meds, fluids, and special food. i saw the owner of the practice and he was kind of know-it-allish, but he gave me several options and estimates and allowed me to decide whether i wanted to leave her with them or take her home. so, i took her home and nursed her for about 10 days and she ended up a-okay. it kind of depends on what you're willing to do for the animal and being able to decide that rather quickly.

i definately recommend them though since a rat isnt exactly a "normal" pet and most vets that say they see them really don't know a whole lot about them except what little they got in vet school.

10/19/2007 10:21:03 PM

Dixie Trail Animal Hospital... they see rodents and exotics.

10/20/2007 10:25:53 PM

^I'm pretty sure I called them, and they said they don't see rats. I could be wrong though, I called about 10 different vets. :-/

10/21/2007 2:38:20 AM

Quote :

"Avian and Exotic is farther away and more expensive, but they have more experience with exotic animals. Lake Wheeler is closer and cheaper, but I feel like they're mainly a dogs and cats place."

10/21/2007 11:01:04 AM

We've taken our ferret to both Avian and Exotic and Lake Wheeler. We had good experiences with both. We live closer to Avian and Exotic now though so that is where we go currently.

Avian and Exotic is very knowledgeable and thorough, particularly about ferrets, and I would assume with rats and other small animals. My family members have also taken birds and rabbits there, and the vets there do a good job. The staff employees are good and call frequently for follow up. Avian does tend to be on the pricey side, although when we were calling around getting estimates for ferret surgery, they didnt seem significantly out of range with other vets. I think the additional specialization they have is worth paying more.

Lake Wheeler was also good and was cheaper than Avian for regular services. The vet that we used there, Dr. Sandra Grant, was very knowledgeable and personable and knew a lot about ferrets as well, and I would assume would also be knowledgeable about rats.

10/21/2007 1:37:16 PM

I've taken my reptiles to Avian & Exotic - saw Dr. Dan

My iguana had something wrong with his skin. weird breakouts of scabs out of nowhere.
I've had him for 6 + years and he's always received excellent care and lives in a huge (way more than adequate) habitat.
The vet told me it was poor husbandry , I explained that was impossible and even went so far as to show him pictures of the enormous cage he lived in. Even after showing him pictures and explaining how much I knew about iguanas (more than him) and that I taught Animal Science he still swore I must be doing something wrong. He said the iguana was getting burnt by the lights but the bumps were on his sides and he sits under his lights (and the lights are above the cage and there is a thick gage screen.
so he prescribed some anti-fungal/anti-bacterial topical AND oral medication. He also decided to do a biopsy. After 3 visits and 3 weeks of treatment and no difference and $1000+, the vet said he was "stumped" and didn't know what else to do.
so my iguana still gets these weird bumps on him but they clear up eventually. We run a humidifier and mist him more frequently and he's fine.


I do know Dr. Carroll at Park Vet in Durham (off highway 54) specializes in pocket pets. I'd recommend her but that might be a drive.

10/21/2007 7:54:23 PM

I know the vet that works at Lake Wheeler and she is great. Me personally I'd go there first before I'd head way over to Avian and Exotic.

10/21/2007 8:50:45 PM

I work at Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic, and we refer people to avian and exotic fairly regularly. I've never heard of Lake Wheeler vet.

I work at Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic, and we refer people to avian and exotic fairly regularly. I've never heard of Lake Wheeler vet. And this is having started out at ncsu in animal sci, and having lived in Raleigh and near cary for 4 years, and in the triangle as a whole for 5.

So I can't say whether they are good or bad, but they aren't famous or infamous enough for me to be familiar with them. I'd say its a good bet they are a decent, but not noteworthy place.

As a side note we're hiring in reception now. If anyones interested you can send a resume to carrvetcl@yahoo.com

10/21/2007 9:36:03 PM

rat update, for those who care/are curious:
i've been giving my rat the medication since friday night. once on friday, twice every day since, and once this morning. (total= 8 times.) there is no improvement. he was even having MORE trouble breathing last night, and was making coughing noises. i laid him in the sink while i took a shower, and the hot steam cleared it up.. he hasn't coughed since. there is still a lot of porophin leaking from his nose and eyes and he sleeps all day. he won't drink or eat on his own, so i have to syringe-feed and water him, which he doesn't much like. i keep him separate from his brother so the healthy one doesn't get sick and so the sick one can have undisturbed sleep.

thoughts about the vet:
i called the vet back to see what the timeline for potential recovery is, i.e. should i be seeing some improvement on day 4 of 10, and the receptionist wouldn't answer me. she got kinda huffy and said that the vet wanted to see me back yesterday, and couldn't i bring him in, because they can't give out information over the phone. alright, i understand the part about not diagnosing animals over the phone, but could you freakin tell me if my rat should be showing signs of recovery? you prescribed this medication, you must have some inclination as to how long it takes to work. i spent $64 on the first visit, and now they're telling me that the next check-up will be $25.50, when before i swear someone said it'd be $12. seriously. i'm a poor college student. granted, i will do everything to help my pet, but come on, help me out a little.

10/23/2007 5:18:24 PM

yet another update, because this thread is now my blog:

thought there was a serious complication with my rat's illness, so i called the vet again. got a more helpful receptionist who actually gave my message to the vet. vet called back, told me to bring him in right away. brought him in. she saw me right away and finished in less than 10 minutes. told me he was looking and sounding better, told me how to make a heating pad, gave him some fluids, and then walked me to the door. lake wheeler vet just got my vote for 'most awesome vet clinic.'

10/23/2007 8:06:27 PM