Successful nutritional management requires knowledge of the natural hi
story of exotic pets, nutrient contents of foods, and roles of water,
calories, and nutrients in optimal health. Unestablished dietary requi
rements, lack of balanced commercial diets and mismanagement by owners
cause nutritional problems that affect health and recovery from illne
ss and trauma. When presented with a sick exotic pet, veterinarians sh
ould check for provision of appropriate wholesome water and food in op
timal amounts. Malnutrition and dehydration are common in exotic pets
and often result from mismanagement. Starvation is common in carnivore
s eating whole vertebrate prey, whereas specific nutrient deficiencies
are more common in herbivores and insectivores. The more common nutri
tional deficiencies are calcium and vitamin D3, vitamin A, thiamin, an
d vitamin E. When treating sick exotic pets, nutrition and fluid suppo
rt may be critical to recovery.