"Few vets could treat the diseases of exotic pets at that time in our city, so I hoped I could help more pet owners cure their exotic pets," he said.

However, Zhang found that curing exotic pets was completely different from treating dogs and cats.

"During my four years in college, I gained little knowledge about exotic pets and there were very few related books," he said.

In order to better treat these animals, Zhang searched for books through various channels, looked for information and videos online, and often went to other cities for further study.

"From 2020, every year I would spend about two months visiting pet clinics across the country, such as those in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing in Jiangsu province," he said. "I would learn theoretical knowledge from experienced vets while also gaining practical experience."

Two years later, Zhang had accumulated enough experience to start specializing in exotic pets.

One day in July 2022, a pet owner brought his rabbit to the clinic.

The rabbit couldn't move due to abdominal pain at the time, Zhang said. He took an X-ray of the bunny and asked the owner feeding-related questions. After examination, he found that the issue was caused by digestive obstruction due to improper feeding.

Zhang prescribed oral medication, and two days later, the owner told Zhang that the rabbit had recovered.

Nowadays, young people are generally busy with work, he said. Compared to cats and dogs, exotic pets often don't require a lot of time for taking walks. They are quieter and less demanding.

"For instance, young women like to keep fluffy and cute pets, which can bring high emotional value to them," he said. As a result, among the small mammals, rabbits are the most common.

"Many people consider that vets specializing in exotic pets only deal with animals, but in fact, we also need more communication with their owners," he said.

"Many diseases of exotic pets are not obvious and it is crucial for the owners to describe their daily lives with them."

Additionally, whether the exotic pet owner can establish trust with the vet is also one of the key factors in curing pets' diseases, he added.

At the end of 2023, Zhang established a dedicated exotic pet inpatient department at the clinic.

"Many exotic pets have high environmental requirements during treatment, such as temperature, humidity and level of quietness," Zhang said. "Therefore, we need to establish different wards for different exotic pets to ensure treatment effectiveness."

Han Junhong contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn