Personally, I think that if you want a pet, you should get a cat. Or, if you really insist, a dog. But a lot of people want something a little different, and exotics (birds, reptiles, rodents…) are becoming more and more common as pets. The members of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV) provide medical care for exotic companion mammals (a category that includes rabbits, rats and hamsters, but not cats or dogs).
So imagine, you are the proud owner of a new sugar glider. (Yes, that is a real thing.) How do you care for a sugar glider? These care guides, done for AEMV practitioners through the North American Veterinary Community’s Industry Services group, provide information on the basic care—like food and housing—and other interesting tidbits (did you know that chinchillas take dust baths?) for an array of exotic pets. For this series, I developed a clean, crisp template that was easily adapted to differing amounts of information and imagery while maintaining a consistent look and feel.
I learned a lot about exotics while doing this project and they can make wonderful pets in the right household, but I will stick with my cats. Because if you want a pet, you should get a cat.