Exotic Animal Veterinary Center

For pet owners across California, particularly those in the diverse and vibrant communities of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the health and well-being of our beloved companions are paramount. While dogs and cats have numerous veterinary options, owners of more unusual pets – from the smallest reptile to the most colorful bird or fluffy rabbit – often face the challenge of finding veterinary care tailored to their unique physiological needs. In Pasadena, California, a truly exceptional facility stands ready to meet this specialized demand: Exotic Animal Veterinary Center.

Exotic Animal Veterinary Center is not just a general practice; it is a dedicated hub for the care of non-traditional pets. They understand that exotic animals have distinct biological requirements and can present with subtle signs of illness that require specific expertise to diagnose and treat. Led by highly knowledgeable veterinarians like Dr. Laurence Labrecque, the center is committed to providing advanced medical care for a wide array of species, ensuring that even the most unique family members receive the compassionate and competent attention they deserve. Their mission extends to educating owners, fostering a deeper understanding of these special creatures, and promoting their long-term health and happiness.

What truly sets Exotic Animal Veterinary Center apart is their profound dedication and genuine love for animals, which shines through in every interaction. As highlighted by numerous grateful clients, the entire team goes above and beyond, combining their specialized expertise with remarkable patience, transparency, and accessibility. This commitment to both high-quality medicine and exceptional client service makes them an invaluable resource for California pet owners who cherish their exotic companions.

Exotic Animal Veterinary Center is conveniently located at 171 N Altadena Dr UNIT 120, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA. This prime location places it within an easily accessible area of Pasadena, making it a practical destination for exotic pet owners throughout the greater Los Angeles region, including the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, and beyond. Altadena Drive is a well-known thoroughfare, ensuring straightforward navigation to the facility.

The clinic's placement in Pasadena, a city known for its beautiful surroundings and accessible infrastructure, contributes to a less stressful visit for sensitive exotic pets. The unit number suggests a professional, dedicated space within a larger complex, likely offering convenience and potentially ample parking, which is important when transporting fragile or easily stressed animals. Their accessible location underscores their commitment to serving a wide demographic of California exotic pet owners who might otherwise struggle to find specialized care close to home. Even with unforeseen circumstances like local fires, as one review noted, their staff promptly manage rescheduling, demonstrating their dedication to patient care and accessibility even in challenging situations.

Exotic Animal Veterinary Center provides a comprehensive range of specialized veterinary services tailored specifically for the unique needs of exotic animal species. Their expertise covers diagnostics, medical treatments, and surgical procedures for a wide array of non-traditional pets.

• Preventative Care & Wellness Exams: Tailored wellness programs for exotic species, including routine physical examinations, nutritional counseling specific to each species, husbandry advice (e.g., enclosure setup, temperature, humidity), and appropriate parasite prevention.
• Advanced Diagnostics: Utilizing specialized diagnostic tools crucial for exotic animals, including blood work (even for small creatures like leopard geckos, handled with impressive skill and patience), digital X-rays to assess internal organs and skeletal structures, and other diagnostic tests to pinpoint underlying health issues.
• Medical Treatment for Illnesses: Diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of medical conditions specific to exotic pets, such as respiratory infections in birds, gastrointestinal issues in reptiles, chronic problems in rabbits (as noted by a client), and skin/shedding issues in geckos.
• Surgical Procedures: Performing delicate surgical interventions customized for exotic animals, which may include soft tissue surgery, mass removals, and procedures addressing specific conditions like ear polyps in rabbits (though the review mentions a polyp on an eardrum which might be an internal medicine case or require highly specialized endoscopy, it signifies their capability for complex issues).
• Nutritional Counseling: In-depth guidance on species-appropriate diets to prevent and manage diet-related illnesses, a common issue in exotic pets.
• Behavioral Consultations: Addressing species-specific behavioral issues, offering advice to improve the pet's quality of life and the owner's understanding.
• Emergency & Urgent Care (during business hours): While not a 24/7 emergency hospital, they demonstrate responsiveness and willingness to accommodate urgent cases during their operating hours, showing flexibility and commitment to their patients.
• Client Education: A strong emphasis on educating pet owners, providing detailed explanations, showing test results and X-rays, and offering comprehensive discharge instructions (often in writing) to empower owners in their pet's ongoing care.

Exotic Animal Veterinary Center's outstanding reputation among California exotic pet owners is consistently underscored by several key features and highlights:

• Specialized Expertise in Exotic Animals: This is their core strength. They possess deep knowledge of the unique physiology and medical needs of various exotic species, from rabbits to leopard geckos, birds, and more, allowing them to diagnose and treat complex, chronic issues that general vets might miss.
• Exceptional Dedication and Thoroughness (Dr. Labrecque): Dr. Laurence Labrecque is highlighted for her incredible dedication, patience, and thoroughness. She goes above and beyond, including reviewing research and consulting with other offices, to find the root cause of difficult chronic issues. Her ability to provide so much information and listen to heart rates of small animals like geckos is highly impressive.
• Clear and Transparent Communication: The vets consistently sit down with owners to show X-rays and test results, explain everything they see, outline their conclusions, and patiently answer all questions. This commitment to transparency empowers owners and builds immense trust.
• Compassionate and Gentle Handling: The entire staff, including receptionists, vet techs, and doctors, are praised for being incredibly gentle, kind, and affectionate with sensitive exotic pets like bunnies and geckos. This makes stressful visits much easier for the animals.
• High Accessibility and Responsiveness: The team makes themselves "incredibly available via phone and text," readily answering questions and concerns, "no matter the frequency or time of day." This level of availability is a significant comfort to anxious pet owners.
• Genuine Love for Animals: Clients repeatedly emphasize that the office is "built on a genuine love for animals," which translates into competent expertise and compassionate care that comes through constantly.
• Problem-Solving for Chronic Issues: They have a proven track record of figuring out and providing effective solutions for long-standing, difficult-to-diagnose chronic conditions, offering literal "life savers" for beloved pets.
• Patience with Stressed Animals: Their team demonstrates remarkable patience when dealing with stressed animals, ensuring necessary procedures like blood work and X-rays are performed with minimal additional stress, as seen with the leopard gecko.

For pet owners in Pasadena and the wider California region seeking expert and compassionate care for their exotic animals, Exotic Animal Veterinary Center is ready to assist. You can reach them through the following contact details:

Address: 171 N Altadena Dr UNIT 120, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA

Phone: (626) 405-1777

Mobile Phone: +1 626-405-1777

Operating Hours: It's always best to verify current operating hours by calling ahead, especially for specialized clinics. They demonstrate flexibility with rescheduling when unforeseen events occur.

For pet owners across Pasadena and the entire Southern California region who share their homes with exotic animals, the Exotic Animal Veterinary Center is not just suitable—it is an absolutely essential resource. Finding veterinary care for non-traditional pets that combines deep, species-specific expertise with genuine compassion can be challenging, but this clinic consistently delivers on both fronts. The glowing testimonials highlight a team, led by remarkable veterinarians like Dr. Laurence Labrecque, who are not only profoundly knowledgeable about the unique needs of rabbits, reptiles, birds, and other exotic creatures but also possess an extraordinary level of patience, dedication, and empathy.

Their commitment to thorough diagnostics, transparent communication (including showing X-rays and test results), and unwavering availability via phone and text provides immense peace of mind to owners navigating complex or chronic health issues. The ability to tackle "very strange and difficult to figure out chronic issues" and deliver "literal life savers" for beloved pets speaks volumes about their problem-solving capabilities and dedication. For California residents who truly consider their exotic pets as family members and demand the highest standard of specialized care delivered with kindness and respect, the Exotic Animal Veterinary Center in Pasadena is unequivocally the premier choice, making them an invaluable and highly recommended asset to the local pet community.

Exotic Animal Veterinary Center

171 N Altadena Dr UNIT 120, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA