Located centrally in Downtown Orlando, we provide all the medical and surgical needs for your exotic pets including exotic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Please call us to schedule an appointment.
Located centrally in Downtown Orlando, we provide all the medical and surgical needs for your exotic pets including exotic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Please call us to schedule an appointment.
About Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando
Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando treats all manner of exotic pet that a traditional veterinarian cannot care for.
Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando opened its doors in 2018 with the goal to help animals. Founded by Santiago Diaz, the practice has grown to multiple veterinarians, and is one of the premiere exotic veterinarians in the state and the Central Florida region.
Experience
Our veterinarian staff has over twenty years combined exotic animal veterinary experience. All of them are certified graduates from universities like the University of Florida or University of Georgia, and have degrees in zoological medicine.
Services
Wellness Exams
Whether ferret, rabbit, bird, rat, snakes, and so on, Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando is trained to care for your exotic pet. Every animal is different, and the treatment and care must also be. We will help your animal on their health journey, and give you the tools to care for them.
Boarding
If you’re looking to travel and need someone to care for your exotic pets, we offer boarding services for some of the exotic animals we treat. There are designated boarding areas depending on the type of pet, but it’s important to know we will not board all animals.
Grooming
Every animal deserves to feel pampered, and our team will conduct grooming procedures in the event that your exotic pet needs them.
Surgery
Our doctors at Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando are trained to perform surgery on all exotic animals, and will consult with you on the proper procedures to take when recovering your pet.
Certifications
Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando and their doctors have received awards and accolades from foundations such as the Morris Animal Foundation, the National Veterinary Conference, and the Merck Merial Conference.
The Exotic Animal Hospital of Orlando offers regular appointments for the new pet owner. During this initial appointment, we will discuss the regular care, diet and husbandry of each species, their vaccinations (if needed), their need to be sterilized, and answer any other medical questions. In addition, for our clients we offer the following services:
- We have regular appointments to address a particular concern/medical condition, and are able to hospitalize patients that require more intensive care and a medical work up.
- We perform soft tissue, orthopedic and microsurgical procedures daily, as well as advanced dentistry, radiology, in-house diagnostic tests (blood work, urine analysis, fecal test, bacterial/fungal cultures and cytologies), laser therapy, water testing for aquatic species, and placement of microchips for identification.
- We offer boarding for pets when their owners need to leave their homes and want expert care.
- We carry food items, supplements, and accessories for small herbivores, birds and reptiles for your convenience.
As a veterinarian who solely practices exotic animal medicine, whether your beloved pet is a rabbit, ferret, bird, snake, or any of the other many species of exotic pets within the Orlando area and adjacent cities, Dr. Díaz’s extensive expertise and experience allows him to provide specialized medical care, while exceeding the expectations of his clients. Dr. Díaz and his staff strive to provide clients with an excellent learning experience in order to maximize their skills and knowledge. This focus on client education results in a prolonged quality of life for your pet. Please call us to schedule an appointment today.
Our Staff
Santiago Díaz – Lead Veterinarian / Owner
Dr. Díaz is originally from Colombia but came to the United States in 2004 to pursue his dream of becoming an exotic/wildlife veterinarian. In Colombia, he volunteered at two different zoological institutions and a rehabilitation center for wildlife. While in the United States, he attended Florida Atlantic University for his undergraduate studies while working as a veterinary technician at an exotic animal practice.
While in veterinary school at the University of Florida, Dr. Díaz was awarded funding from the Morris Animal Foundation with which, in collaboration with his mentor, he developed an award-winning serology test to detect tuberculosis in captive Asian elephants.
As a veterinarian focused exclusively on avians, exotics, and wildlife, Dr. Díaz has lectured widely, including at a National Veterinary Conference, the Merck Merial Conference, the Morris Animal Foundation Conference, and at various veterinary technician schools throughout Florida.
One project dear to Dr. Díaz’s heart is ensuring that up-to-date veterinary medicine literature is available worldwide. In conjunction with a major pet food company, he is translating large numbers of medical literature relating to the care of exotic animals into Spanish in order for veterinarians in Spanish-speaking countries have access to them.
Dr. Díaz is fluent in both English and Spanish and likes to spend his free time with his pets which include a dog, Mateo, a ball python, Matú, a bearded dragon, Khaleesi, and his community fish tank. He also enjoys spending his free time talking to middle and high school students about the veterinary profession and his personal experience with the hope that he will inspire some of them into pursuing their dreams.
Dr. Sanngeeta Macko
Dr. Sanngeeta Macko was born and raised in Miami, Florida where she attended Florida International University for her undergraduate degree in Biology. She attended the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine with an emphasis in Zoological Medicine. Before joining our team, Dr. Sanngeeta completed a small animal internship with the Animal Care Centers of Cincinnati. She has a special interest in marine animal medicine and has been involved with many rescue and rehabilitation efforts. In her spare time, Dr. Sanngeeta enjoys reading, writing and spending time with family.
Dr. Leor Shuflita
Dr. Leor Shuflita was born and raised in South Florida and spent most of her free time working with wildlife and exotic animals at a local clinic before college. She then attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate studies, and majored in Zoology with a minor in Wildlife Ecology. Dr. Shuflita spent her summers working with parrots in the Pepperberg Avian Cognition Lab and wrote her undergraduate honors thesis on African Grey Parrot behavior and language comprehension.
After undergrad, she remained in Gainesville and attended veterinary school at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, where she focused her education on exotic animal medicine and graduated with high honors.
Dr. Shuflita has a special interest in avian and reptile medicine and behavior, and has been involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. In her free time, Dr. Shuflita enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, and spending time with her friends. She also loves spending time with her pets, including a lorikeet named Georgie and a leopard gecko named Doxie.
Dr. Kirstin McLeod
Dr. Kirstin McLeod was born in raised in Stamford, Connecticut. She obtained her bachelor’s of science at the University of Connecticut in Pathobiology and Veterinary Sciences in 2019. During this time, she worked in a state pathology lab where she assisted with testing and monitoring of avian influenza, rabies, and other zoonotic diseases. She also worked at a local exotic animal hospital as a veterinary assistant.
She then attended the University of Florida for veterinary school and graduated in 2023. During her time here she focused her studies on exotic animal and wildlife medicine with a special interest in avian medicine. She has a passion for surgery and anesthesia, and completed externships at local animal shelters to gain experience in a high volume surgical environment.
In her free time, Dr. McLeod is an avid hiker and artist. She loves spending time with her friends, family, and her two green check conures Obi and Pretzel.
Our Happy Patients
