Exotic Animal and Avian Veterinary Practice Safety Checklist
Exotic animal veterinary practices face unique zoonotic, escape, and handling hazards not present in dog-cat practices. This checklist addresses the safety and regulatory requirements for treating birds, reptiles, small mammals, and exotic species.
- Industry: Veterinary
- Frequency: Weekly
- Estimated Time: 20-25 minutes
- Role: Exotic Animal Veterinarian / Practice Manager
- Total Items: 36
Avian Psittacosis Prevention
Prevent psittacosis exposure from avian patients.
- N95 or higher respirator worn when handling sick birds or performing necropsies?
- Eye protection worn when handling birds with respiratory signs or performing necropsy?
- Gloves worn when handling birds and their droppings?
- Good ventilation in avian exam areas?
- Birds with respiratory signs isolated from other avian patients?
- Pregnant staff not assigned to birds with respiratory signs?
Reptile Salmonella Prevention
Prevent Salmonella exposure from reptile patients.
- Gloves worn when handling reptiles and reptile waste?
- Thorough handwashing after handling reptiles even with gloves?
- Reptile bathing and soaking not done in sinks shared with food preparation?
- Exam tables thoroughly disinfected after reptile exams?
- Client education on Salmonella risk provided at each reptile visit?
- High-risk household members (children under 5, elderly) counseled about reptile risks?
Escape Prevention
Prevent escape of exotic patients.
- Examination room door and air vents secured before opening carrier?
- Room inspected for gaps, cracks, or openings an exotic could hide in?
- Escape-proof handling bags or containers used for snakes and lizards?
- Bird net available for capturing escaped birds?
- Escaped animal search and recovery protocol known to all staff?
- CITES documentation verified for protected species?
Venomous Species Protocol
Verify protocols for treating venomous animals.
- Regional poison control center number (1-800-222-1222) accessible for envenomation?
- Snake hooks, tubes, and tongs available for handling venomous snakes?
- Two-person rule for handling venomous species?
- Species and venom type confirmed with owner before handling?
- No solo handling of confirmed or suspected venomous species?
- Staff knows to go to emergency room immediately for any suspected envenomation?
Permits and Wildlife Regulations
Verify permits for treating wildlife and exotic species.
- State wildlife rehabilitation permit current if treating native wildlife?
- State exotic animal veterinary practice permit if required?
- USDA accreditation current for issuing health certificates for exotic animals?
- Staff aware of CITES-listed species requiring documentation?
- All applicable permits posted or accessible at practice?
- Local municipal exotic animal ownership restrictions checked for patients?
Documentation
Maintain required exotic animal practice documentation.
- Species, CITES status, and origin documented in patient records?
- Permit copies on file and accessible for inspection?
- Zoonotic disease cases (psittacosis, Salmonella) documented and reported to health dept?
- Escape incidents documented?
- Any envenomation incidents documented?
- Exotic animal handling and zoonotic risk training current for all staff?
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Why Use This Exotic Animal and Avian Veterinary Practice Safety Checklist?
This exotic animal and avian veterinary practice safety checklist helps veterinary teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for exotic animal veterinarian / practice manager professionals, this checklist covers 36 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Exotic Animal and Avian Veterinary Practice Safety Checklist cover?
This checklist covers 36 inspection items across 6 sections: Avian Psittacosis Prevention, Reptile Salmonella Prevention, Escape Prevention, Venomous Species Protocol, Permits and Wildlife Regulations, Documentation. It is designed for veterinary operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed weekly. Each completion takes approximately 20-25 minutes.
Who should use this Exotic Animal and Avian Veterinary Practice Safety Checklist?
This checklist is designed for Exotic Animal Veterinarian / Practice Manager professionals in the veterinary industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.