The Unusual Pet Vets Flemington

We’re Melbourne’s trusted exotic animal experts

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Dedicated Veterinary Care for Melbourne’s Exotic Pets

Located on Mt Alexander Road in Ascot Vale, our Flemington clinic provides veterinary care for exotic and unusual pets from across inner Melbourne. Our team cares for rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles, rats and mice, ferrets, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.

We provide everything from routine health and preventative care to diagnostic testing, dentistry, medical treatment and surgery, with an understanding of the very different needs of each species.

Our Services

Keeping unusual pets can be a fascinating and rewarding experience. However, it is important to ensure that your pet is healthy and that their husbandry requirements are met. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of misinformation about exotic pets. Many people need to be made aware of the unique needs of exotic pet care. Our veterinary practice is among the few that have experience and expertise in the healthcare and husbandry needs of extraordinary animals.

To prevent the spread of deadly diseases, ensure that your pet receives its vaccinations on schedule. Vaccinations involve giving your pet a small injection under the skin; this method allows the body to become familiar with the inactivated disease particles so that if an exposure occurs, the body can fight off the disease. We routinely vaccinate rabbits and ferrets in our local clinics and recommend it as an important part of their preventative health program.

Microchipping your exotic pet is the safest and most reliable form of permanent identification. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and stores a unique code connected to your information. This code is then registered in the national registry so that if your pet gets lost, it can be quickly reunited with you.
Surgery is often necessary to treat a range of diseases that affect exotic pets. We reduce the risks of anaesthesia as much as possible to ensure a comfortable, safe and smooth procedure for your pet. The patients we see are unique, and having the right anaesthetic equipment and surgical knowledge is essential for optimal patient outcomes and a smooth and comfortable recovery.

Sterilisation (otherwise known as desexing or neutering) is recommended for many exotic pets to prevent a variety of illnesses, health problems and behavioural issues later in life.

We recommend that rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and rats be routinely desexed to prevent various issues. In some cases, sterilising your reptile or bird is also indicated for preventing some diseases.

Our pet dental care checks for rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and dragons are provided using specialised equipment that allows us to carry out a wide range of dental procedures on exotic pets to stop the buildup of dental disease and to treat impacted, overgrown, infected, and abscessed teeth. We highly recommend regular dental checks to keep plaque and tartar buildup to a minimum.

When people own multiple pets, they often need to determine the sex of their animals so that they can avoid breeding or allow breeding to occur. There are many different methods used to determine the sex of a pet, and these methods depend on the age and species of the animal.

We provide services for regular nail clipping for rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, many birds, some reptiles, and some rats. These pets, particularly those kept indoors, often don’t wear down their nails as they would if they were out in the wild. Nail clipping is a necessary and highly recommended practice that can prevent sharp, overgrown nails and painful curling.

Wing clipping is a service that requires careful consideration, which is why we suggest you talk to your avian veterinarian about the reasons you are clipping the wings, and what outcome you are hoping to achieve. If you would like to have a more detailed discussion about the pros and cons with one of our vets, make an appointment with us. 

Our beak correction procedure is second to none – we use a specialised burr that mimics natural erosion to gently and accurately sculpt the beak to its ideal state, where the top and bottom beaks meet in perfect alignment. With this technique, you can be sure that you are getting the best care for your bird!

Faecal testing is a great way to screen your pet for internal parasites such as worms and coccidia, which, left untreated, can be life-threatening to many species. It can also be beneficial if your pet has diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal signs (including weight loss), as faecal tests can help determine what may be causing your pet to be unwell.

Our clinics are equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory and imaging technology, making diagnosing your pet’s health issues quickly and more efficient. These cutting-edge tools allow us to quickly and accurately assess your pet’s health, providing peace of mind and ensuring that your pet receives the proper care and treatment they need.

Species We Treat at Our Flemington Clinic

Rabbit

Mammals

We offer veterinary care for small mammals, including routine examinations, diagnostic testing and dental treatment.

Birds

Birds

Our avian vets care for parrots, chickens, finches and many other bird species, offering health checks, diagnostics, surgery and ongoing medical care.

Reptiles

Reptiles

We provide veterinary care for snakes, lizards, turtles and other reptiles, with services ranging from routine examinations to advanced diagnostics and treatment.

Amphibians

Amphibians

Our team provides veterinary care for frogs, salamanders and other amphibians, including health assessments, diagnostic testing and treatment for common medical concerns.

Fish

Fish

We assess and treat a range of fish health issues, with support for individual pets and aquarium-related concerns involving disease, injury and environmental conditions.

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Invertebrates

From spiders and scorpions to insects and other invertebrates, we offer careful assessment and treatment for a wide range of unusual companion species.

why choose us

Why Choose Us?

Located in Melbourne’s inner west, The Unusual Pet Vets Flemington is conveniently accessible for our clients in central, northern, and western suburbs, providing expert care for their exotic pets. It features great on-site parking and will provide the same high standards of care that we’re known for.

Our experienced team offers expert diagnosis, treatment, and care for a diverse range of exotic animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, mice and rats, ferrets, rabbits, and guinea pigs.

We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding veterinary care in a clean, welcoming environment. Our dedicated veterinarians, nurses, and support staff are committed to providing your exotic pet with the highest standard of treatment and compassionate attention.

Providing Melbourne pet owners with the best care

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Our experienced veterinarians, nurses and support staff provide dedicated care for a wide range of exotic and unusual pets.

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We offer practical advice on health, nutrition, housing and husbandry to help your pet live a longer, healthier and more comfortable life.

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Our Flemington clinic provides consultations, diagnostic testing, medical treatment and surgery tailored to the specific needs of each species.

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From routine health checks to more complex conditions, our team has the knowledge and experience needed to care for rabbits, birds, reptiles, guinea pigs, rodents, amphibians, fish, invertebrates and ferrets.

Voices of Trust

Witness the excellence of our services through the eyes of those who matter most – our clients.

Each review offers invaluable insights into the exceptional quality of care and expertise shared by those who entrust us with their exotic companions.

The team took really good care of my bunny and I had such a great experience. Dr. Kiara was incredibly kind and gentle when she approached my bunny, Lola, which made me feel very comfortable. They handed her over with so much care and explained everything clearly. I’m also very thankful for the package, which included everything needed. The prices were affordable and reasonable, and overall this is the best vet for exotic animals. Highly recommended!

-Lasal Manodhya

Our first time ever visiting a vet to take our sick axolotl, and he was seen my Dr. Jacob who was so incredibly kind, caring and patient. He gave us so much information and care options in terms of moving forward, was extremely knowledgeable! The nurse was also incredibly gentle with our axy while administering his meds. We will be returning back and HIGHLY recommend!

-Laila

I couldn’t speak more highly of the Unusual Pet Vets. If you are after gold standard care for your exotic animals, this is the place to go.

I took my two ferrets to UPV Peninsula for several years, and more recently to their new Flemington location. Over the time of owning ferrets, I have been to a number of clinics with them but have never found anyone as knowledgeable and caring of ferrets as the vets and nurses here. Dr Tristan was their regular vet at UPV, he is an amazing vet and I trusted him wholeheartedly with their care.

-Reina McCormack

What beautiful and experienced staff I have met in a long time. My lizard was 18 and need to be put to sleep. The vet was incredibly patient with me, my questions and letting the info sink in after it was explained. The vet nurses were so compassionate and thoughtful. I couldn’t recommend UPV enough. A beautiful team, with great experience and kindness. It’s a must if you have exotic pets. They even sent a card with dandelion seeds to grow to think of my beautiful boy Lucky. Thank you is not enough.

-Barbara Bourke

ross murfitt
5 days ago
Friendly and kind staff who take care of their patients
Recently we took our Long-billed Corella, Kenni, to Unusual pet Vets for a health check and Chlamydia check and the service was more than exceptional. The lovely vet, Kiara, checked and treated Kenni with the utmost care and gentleness. We were very impressed with the attention we got from all there. There was even a follow up phone call the next day checking on Kenni. We would definitely recommend this practice to anyone with an unusual pet. Thank you again to the team. Sue and Ian Taylor
Mee09
3 weeks ago
The reception staff are friendly. The vet was lovely, gave great advice, and handled my guinea pig very professionally. The price was also very reasonable. 😊💖💖
Photo from customer review
Linda Keeling
3 weeks ago
Lovely staff and excellent care for our guinea pigs.
Amanda Haris
4 weeks ago
From the moment they answered my call I felt immediately comfortable and respected. They were so kind and listened to all our concerns. The appointment itself was thorough but so efficient in timing. No waiting around, the consult was very thorough but didn’t take long at all and the information was fantastic. Our last experience at a different vet was atrocious and we were treated so rudely (they’re permanently closed now) which was great because we then found this vet and couldn’t be happier with the service. As a budgie owner who isn’t very comfortable with handling him, I was met with compassion abd understanding. Best vet experience!
Paul Gildea
4 weeks ago
It’s hard to know where to start describing excellence. This team is professional, informed, compassionate and dedicated to ensuring that your pet, irrespective of species receives the highest and most personal level of care. This personal care extends to the pets owner. I felt seen and never judged even though it was my ineptitude that caused the incident leading to the trauma my well loved Ike, endured. Whilst it’s easy to say he’s just a turtle, for me it’s the peace he brought from 18 years swimming back and forth in my lounge room. More importantly it’s the fact that my kids bought him for me and his wondrous aquarium world into the space. So as Ike continues to improve with the follow up and professional advice from the team at Unusual Pet Vets in Flemington, I say thank you and highly recommend their care and professionalism from the front desk to their experts back of house. Brilliant!
Danni
4 weeks ago
Dr Jacob and team, thank you for your level of care and support to Jake over the years and now, Kai.
I had a really good experience even though it was a hard one as I had to put down my pet chicken. My local vet refused to let me bring my chicken that was so unwell but they did give us the name of unusual pets and they helped us get in very quickly to attend to our unwell hen that had to be euthanasied theu were so amazing with us and our hen who was much loved and cared for. So I deeply thank the team at unusual pets and now I know your willingness to help us when the local vets refused to even help our unwell hen because of tje bird flu virus. So thank you ill be bring my other unusual pets to you and maybe find a new vet for our dogs and cat.
Photo from customer review
Andrew Wallace
1 month ago
Helpful service and great support
Jane CK
1 month ago
Amazing care for our Guinea Pig as always
david schneebeli
1 month ago
They have been supportive over the years with our little boy through his medical journey and supporting us when he had to leave us. We had no hesitation to come back with our new little one to have his first check up and Tori and his team were fantastic.
Photo from customer review
Sarah Morgan
1 month ago
Incredibly experienced vet with our rabbits. Highly recommend this clinic. Exceptional bedside manner and clinical skills. Was extremely patient and caring with my children as we were experiencing a highly distressing event with our very loved pet.

Contact Us At Flemington

Have a question or enquiry about your pet? Get in touch with the Flemington clinic today!

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