What is an "exotic?"

An exotic pet is considered to be almost any house pet other than a dog or a cat. We see birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, chinchillas, frogs, small pigs, and more. Dr. Lankes even consults on fish medicine!

Where is your hospital?

We are located just north of San Rafael, in Terra Linda on the frontage road at 4144-A Redwood Highway. We are in the red brick building on the corner of Professional Center Parkway, sharing the building with Open Scan MRI and next door to Joe's Café.

Do I need an appointment?

We encourage clients to make appointments to make best use of your time and avoid long waits. If your animal has an urgent problem, please call to arrange a visit immediately. For your convenience, we can also arrange a drop off evaluation for your pet while you continue to complete your tasks for the day...after the exam our Doctor can call you with exam findings and a treatment plan.

Why do my animals need to be seen twice a year?

Many animals try to hide illness as long as they can before they let on that anything is wrong. If we are able to detect illness at an earlier and more treatable stage, therapy is often much more successful and less expensive. In the case of a cat, each calendar year of its life is equivalent to five years of aging for you and me. So if we only see them once a year, that would be like you going five years between doctor visits. Twice yearly exams are recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association and help us improve the odds of catching a problem in the early stages.

What if my pet is acting unusually?

Many of our pets retain their natural instincts to hide illness. If you think something is wrong with your pet, chances are very good that you are right. The sooner your pet is evaluated, the sooner and more easily the problem can be found and corrected. So if you suspect your pet is sick, please don't delay in seeking veterinary help.