From beasts of the wild to zoo animals and exotic pets, patients of the Zoological Medicine Service at the University of Florida come in all shapes, sizes and levels of ferocity.

The University of Florida is one of only a few veterinary schools in the United States that provide the highest quality veterinary care for nontraditional pets, wildlife and zoo animals. That includes mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians and even invertebrates, such as spiders and scorpions.

One of the greatest challenges for the specialists, residents and students on the service is the sheer number of species they treat. Considering mammals alone, a patient may be a hamster or ferret one day or a large carnivore or primate the next.

So if you have what some would call a peculiar pet, the UF Zoo Med Service may be your stop for veterinary care.