Primate Care in San Antonio
Having a primate as a pet is an enormous responsibility, and our team at Broadway Oaks Animal Hospital is here to help. We offer wellness care, along with diagnostics and treatment, for lemurs and New World primates, including capuchins, tamarins, and marmosets. It’s important to note that we do not treat Old World primates, such as baboons or chimpanzees.
Veterinary Care for Primates in San Antonio
Given their exotic nature, it can be difficult to find quality care that can address the challenges of maintaining a primate’s good health. At Broadway Oaks Animal Hospital, we provide our primate patients with a variety of needed procedures and are well-versed in their habits, biology, dietary, and physiological needs.
We offer:
- Preventive care
- Diagnostics—blood work, physical exams, X-rays
- Dental services
- Surgery
Important Considerations for Owning a Primate
Before you commit to caring for a primate, keep in mind that these animals can live anywhere from 20 to 40 years. They are a serious, long-term commitment, and it’s crucial that you weigh the pros and cons before bringing one home.
Here’s what to think about as you consider owning a primate:
- They can be dangerous. Yes, they’re cute, but primates can become aggressive as they mature. They have been known to bite or attack their owners.
- They don’t make good housepets. Primates need a lot of space, along with companions and mental stimulation. When you see primates at the zoo, you can see the types of enclosures they thrive in. If you don’t have an enclosure that mimics a primate’s habitat, it may not be a good idea to bring one home as a pet. If you bring them into your house, primates will scent-mark their musky smell all over your furniture, floors, and personal items.
- They need highly specialized diets. Primates need very specific diets and habitats with the exact right amount of vitamins and nutrients. Otherwise, they risk developing debilitating medical conditions, including metabolic bone disease.
- They can spread diseases to humans. Humans are primates too, and primate pets can spread serious diseases to their human owners. We’re susceptible to illnesses like measles, herpes, monkeypox, and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) when we come into contact with pet monkeys and lemurs.
- They cannot be tamed. Primates cannot be tamed, and should only be raised by their mothers through adolescence—which, depending on the type of primate, is about as long as human adolescence.
- They need companionship of their own kind. Primates need the social, emotional, and physical support of other primates of their own kind. Humans cannot replace this crucial companionship.
- Many primates are trafficked under harsh conditions. Breeders often capture primates in the wild and breed them for financial gain. They do not take the primates’ needs into account, and buying from these breeders perpetuates illegal trafficking. Use the USDA’s Animal Care Search Tool to locate reputable dealers.
If you have carefully considered these issues and have decided to welcome a primate into your life, our team will be happy to help you care for him or her.
When your primate friend is in need of veterinary care, please contact Broadway Oaks Animal Hospital. Our professional staff is ready and willing to help in any way we can.