Exotic Vet Med Essentials

Exotic Vet Med Essentials

Designed for busy veterinary professionals, this course delivers short, actionable lessons and practical tools that save you time, reduce overwhelm, and help you confidently treat exotic patients without wasting money on CE that doesn't stick.

Dr. Alex Farris

"The handouts for history taking and treatment protocols were super helpful!"

Dr. Piper Gauthier

"It has meant a great deal to me to have one-on-one time with you and learn from your expertise as I navigate the early stages of my career in exotics. I am very lucky and grateful to have come across your course. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and support during this first month of my dream job. It has made a big difference for me to be able to refer back to you and make sure I am practicing quality medicine for my patients and community."

Dr. Noor Sandhu

The recorded content to go at one’s own pace and case review during the video calls and the history sheets for reptiles especially [were the most helpful parts of the course].

Dr. L

Thank you again for such amazing content! For some reason I felt really burned out from my job and it’s only been a year but your course has given me a second wind!

Dr. Morgan Marino

"I really enjoyed the weekly calls to review cases and materials relevant to the weeks course load. Having an experienced exotics vet review radiographs, bloodwork, cases, etc and give feedback was invaluable."

Dr. Ty Tortella

"[This] course was so helpful as a new exotics practitioner! Thanks so much for all your help in becoming a great exotics practitioner!"

With Exotic Vet Med Essentials, going from overwhelmed to confident is as easy as 1, 2, 3

# 1 Learn the Essentials

Get 18 hours of practical exotic vet med training (RACE-approval pending) covering mammals, birds, and reptiles.

#2 Implement immediately

Use plug-and-play tools like diagnostic flowcharts, stabilization checklists, and drug tables in your next exotic appointment.

#3 See exotics with confidence

Stop turning away cases and start enjoying the variety that makes veterinary medicine exciting again.

Exotic Vet Med Essentials is right for you if you are:

  • A small animal GP who secretly panics when a rabbit, bird or reptile shows up the schedule (even though you want to help them)

  • A vet who loves medicine, but feels under-trained, under-supported and overwhelmed when it comes to exotics

  • A little rebellious at heart and craving something more exciting, meaningful, and challenging than another itchy goldendoodle

  • An ER vet who can stabilize dogs and cats in your sleep, but feels unsure or even panicked when faced with an exotic patient in crisis

  • A clinician who worries about missing subtle signs in prey species that crash quickly

You're in the right place.

By the end of Exotic Vet Med Essentials, you will...

01

Feel prepared for the unexpected

because you'll finally know how to approach exotics cases methodically instead of scrambling for answers in the moment.

02

Communicate with clients more confidently

because you'll understand the "why" behind husbandry, nutrition, diagnostics, and treatment recommendations.

03

Finally feel like the well-rounded, capable vet you trained to be

because you didn't go to vet school to treat just one or two species. Expand your skillset beyond dogs and cats and become the go-to vet in your area for exotic vet care.

04

Trade goldendoodle ear infections for cases that actually excite you

by adding variety to your caseload with exotic patients that challenge you, light you up, and remind you that vet med can be fun.

05

Stop turning away revenue (and feeling guilty about it)

because you'll be confidently treating exotics cases that walk through your door and won't need to refer every rabbit, lizard, and parrot to the specialty clinic an hour away.

06

Stop playing small and start building the career you actually want

because you did it their way. Now it's time to do what you want. Say yes to the cases that excite you, stand out in your community, and create a career that feels like yours, not the one you were told you were supposed to have.

Dr. Sarah Cox

"Dr. Turner is an incredibly knowledgeable DVM, especially for exotic pet medicine. She stays up to date on the standard of care and ensures those she teaches learn the techniques too. She is very patient and wants to make sure the vets - and techs - she guides feel comfortable with what they’re doing and that they understand the clinical reasoning behind their decisions. Dr. Turner’s experience is invaluable and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her mentorship!"

  • $1,299 or 4 monthly payments of $325

Exotic Vet Med Essentials

  • Closed
  • Course
  • Starts Jan 26, 2026

Essentials will be back and better than ever in 2026 with updated content, more CE hours, and new supporting resources.

This course will cover the basics you need to be confident introducing exotic veterinary medicine into your practice.

12-week course

18 hours of pre-recorded modules (RACE-approval pending) to view at your convenience, with bonus lesson transcripts, species-specific husbandry questionnaires, and knowledge summaries.

Once the course starts, you have access to current and any new course content for 1 year after the course start date.

6 (every other week) 1-hour group coaching calls with me to discuss the previous week's modules and any exotic vet med questions participants have!

Course Contents

Pre-recorded lectures for Avian, Exotic Companion Mammal and Reptile/Amphibian species covering:

  • Anatomy & physiology

  • Husbandry

  • Restraint & physical exam

  • Preventative care & basic techniques

  • Recognition, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases

Week 1 Reptile and Amphibian Lessons

This section includes modules covering the following:

  • Anatomy & physiology

  • Restraint & physical exam

Digital downloads include:

  • Transcripts from each module recording

  • History form

  • Helpful summaries of key points

Reptile & Amphibian Anatomy & Physiology, Pt. 1.mp4
ReptAmph Anat&Phys slides.pdf
ReptileAmph A&P Slides Compressed
Reptile & Amphibian A&P, Part 1 Transcript.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Anatomy & Physiology, Pt 2.mp4
Reptile & Amphibian A&P, Part 2 Transcript.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Anatomy & Physiology Summary.pdf
Reptile & Amphiban Husbandry.mp4
ReptAmph husbandry slides.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Husbandry Transcript.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian History Form.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Restraint & Physical Exam.mp4
ReptAmph restraint & PE slides.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Restraint & Physical Exam Transcript.pdf

Week 2 Reptile and Amphibian lessons

This section includes modules covering the following:

  • Preventative care & basic techniques

  • Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of common diseases

Digital downloads include:

  • Transcripts from each module recording

  • Helpful summaries of key points (coming soon!)

Reptile & Amphibian Preventative Care and Basic Techniques Pt 1.mp4
ReptAmph Prev CareTechniques slides.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Preventative Care & Basic Techniques Pt 1 Transcript.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Preventative Care & Basic Techniques Pt 2.mp4
Reptile & Amphibian Preventative Care & Basic Techniques Pt 2 Transcript.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Common Presentations.mp4
ReptAmph common presentations slides.pdf
Reptile & Amphibian Common Presentations transcript.pdf

Week 3 Exotic Companion Mammal Lessons

This section includes modules covering the following:

  • Anatomy & physiology

  • Restraint & physical exam

Digital downloads include:

  • Transcripts from each module recording

  • History form

  • Helpful summaries of key points

ECM Anatomy & Physiology.mp4
ECM Anat&Phys slides.pdf
Exotic Companion Mammal Anatomy & Physiology Transcript.pdf
ECM Anatomy & Physiology Summary.pdf
ECM Restraint & Physical Exam.mp4
ECM Restraint & PE slides.pdf
ECM Restraint & Physical Exam Transcript.pdf
ECM History form.pdf

Week 4 Exotic Companion Mammal Lessons

This section includes modules covering the following:

  • Preventative care & basic techniques

  • Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of common diseases

Digital downloads include:

  • Transcripts from each module recording

  • Helpful summaries of key points (coming soon!)

ECM Preventative Care & Basic Techniques.mp4
ECM Prev careTechniques slides.pdf
ECM Preventative Care & Basic Techniques transcript.pdf
ECM Common Presentations Pt 1.mp4
Exotic Companion Mammal Common Presentations, Part 1 transcript.pdf
ECM Common Presentations Pt 2.mp4
ECM Common Presentations, Part 2 transcript.pdf
ECM Common presentations slides.pdf

Week 5 Avian Lessons

This section includes modules covering the following:

  • Anatomy & physiology

  • Restraint & physical exam

Digital downloads include:

  • Transcripts from each module recording

  • History form

Avian Anatomy & Physiology.mp4
Avian Anat&Phys slides.pdf
Avian Anat&Phys transcript.pdf
Avian History Form.pdf
Avian Husbandry.mp4
Avian Husbandry slides.pdf
Avian husbandry transcript.pdf
Avian Restraint & Physical Exam.mp4
Avian restraint & PE slides.pdf
Avian Restraint & Physical Exam transcript.pdf

Week 6 Avian Lessons

This section includes modules covering the following:

  • Preventative care & basic techniques

  • Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of common diseases

Digital downloads include:

  • Transcripts from each module recording

  • Helpful summaries of key points (coming soon!)

Guest lecture: Basic techniques in non-domestic species
Avian Preventative Care & Basic Techniques.mp4
Avian Prev Care & techniques slides.pdf
Avian Preventative Care & Basic techniques transcript.pdf
Avian common presentations.mp4
Avian Common Presentations slides.pdf
Avian Common Presentations transcript.pdf

Bonus! Video Demonstrations

Short demonstration videos of a variety of techniques & presentations.

Some videos by Rachel Siu, DVM (@exotic.pet.vet). Shared with permission.

Video: Subcutaneous injections in a snake
Video: Ventral coccygeal venipuncture in a snake
Video: Subcutaneous fluid administration in a snake
Video: Sex determination via probing in a snake
Video: Radiographs in a snake
Video: Jugular venipuncture in a box turtle utilizing transillumination
Video: Dropsy in a frog
Video: Using Doppler for heart rate in a snake
Video: Necropsy inflation of chameleon lungs
Video: Rhabdias parasite in a Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Video: Flushing a blocked nasolacrimal duct in a rabbit
Video: Trimming rabbit incisors with a high-speed dental drill
Video: Positional exophthalmos in a rabbit with thymoma
Video: Testicular trauma with myiasis in a rabbit
Video: Guinea pig eating critical care
Video: Small parrot restraint for venipuncture
Video: Physical exam in a conure
Video: Splay leg in a budgie
Video: Duck with heavy metal toxicity
Video: Making and placing hobbles in a chick
Video: How to place a tape splint in a small bird

Bonus resources

These are external resources I've compiled as a supplement to the material covered in the course.

Isoflurane anesthesia in hedgehogs.pdf
Continous rate infusions in exotic animals.pdf
PK of buprenorphine in hedgehogs.pdf
Gut-loading-diet-evaluation-for-crickets-mealworms-superworms.pdf
Dubia roaches gutloading JHMS 2024.pdf
Mealworm gut loading JHMS 2024.pdf
Week 1 Q&A session.pdf
Week 2 Q&A
Week 3 Q&A.pdf
Week 4 Q&A.pdf
Hedgehog jugular venipuncture.pdf
Cystine urolithiasis in a ferret.docx
Use of GnRH agonists for repro disorders in birds.pdf
Week 5 Q&A.pdf
Week 6 Q&A.pdf
Update on Cystic Ovaries in GPigs VCNAJan2025.pdf