First, and most important, is preventative care for your pet. This can save you a considerable amount of money over the long haul and result in a happier pet for you and your family to enjoy. Having a sick or hurt pet is emotionally stressful and you want to be able to take care it.

Preventive care for your fish, reptiles, snakes and smaller animals is also important. Rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, rats, larger birds, and iguanas are now insured by companies. But, the key is again preventing situations that would require vet care.

If you have a dog or cat, getting them vaccinated, spayed or neutered and keeping their teeth cleaned will help keep them healthy. Other considerations include:

• Plants that can harm your pet—these include dieffenbachia, mistletoe, holly, philodendron, hyacinth, poinsettias, hibiscus, amaryllis, English ivy, and lilies (deadly for cats).
• Foods that can harm your pet—chocolate, onions, coffee, nicotine, alcoholic beverages, poultry bones, fatty foods and grapes/raisins. 
• Household items—antifreeze (on driveway), medications, electrical cords, and pesticides.

Keeping your bird warm, out of air conditioning drafts, and with clean food, water and cage are the basics.  Keep seed and water cups apart. Vegetables are key. Avoid Teflon and non-stick cookware.   Plants that are harmful depend on the type of bird, type of plant and amount ingested.  Learn more.

Water quality…a filtration system that is easy to clean and maintain.  Chlorinated water is toxic to fish...so no tap water without removing the chlorine. 

• Toxins in the water. Filter and change the water (10-15% once a week) to remove toxins—minerals and waste
• Temperature – make sure your tank has the proper temperature
• Too many fish (1”  of fish per gallon of water)
• Have lots of hiding places
• Don’t overfeed and remove uneaten food
• Clean the filter

• Vet checks can be important for overall health and dental health. You want to avoid mouthrot.
• Don’t use “human” products to treat your pet.
• Temperature, humidity, space, and things that will reduce stress are key to preventive health.
• Avoid tank gravel that will impact their digestive system—get the right material.
• To find a vet, check with the ARAV—Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians.

Ball pythons can live up to 40 years, corn snakes 20 years. While annual vet care is not necessarily costly, emergencies can be.

• Have your snake in for an annual checkup—for ticks, mites, parasites, mouth and eyes.
• Make sure your tank/cage is the right temperature for the snake you own and that it is getting the correct amount of daily light.  Learn about its hibernation. The incorrect temperature can cause your snake to stop eating.  
• Make sure you have enough space –¾ square foot of floor space per foot of snake.
• Clean the cage but don’t use bleach/Clorox, or other cleaners/Lysol types.  Use a disinfectant that is for snakes.
• Fresh water daily, appropriate food.

There are a great number of “small” animals that you could have as a pet. Here are some good links so that you can learn more about the health aspects of your specific pet.

Guinea Pigs - http://www.guinealynx.com/
Rabbits - http://www.rabbit.org/
Ferrets- http://www.trifl.org/medical.shtml