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About Us

About Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital

Chicago Exotics has been in business since 2000. We've been quickly establishing ourselves as the region's premier exotic animal hospital. Our mission is to be the best care facility in the Chicago land area for avian and exotic animals.

We do offer 24 hour critical care services in association with our emergency partners, Animal 911, located in the same building.

Take a tour of the facility.

Meet our Staff

Susan Horton, DVM, pictured with Misty the Black Palm Cockatoo

Dr. Susan Horton is a University of Illinois graduate. Her interest in birds and exotic animals followed her into veterinary school where she worked for four years with the Director of Exotic Animal Medicine at the veterinary college, Dr. Kenneth Welle ABVP avian.  With Dr. Welle, Dr. Horton gained valuable experience and knowledge in the care of reptiles, birds, sugar gliders, hedgehogs and other small mammals, as well as ostriches, emus, and fish. Also while at the University of Illinois, Dr. Horton took an elective course in reptile and aquatic medicine through Texas A&M University (Aquamed) and the aquatic rotation and University of Florida CVM, Gainesville.  She attends several of the yearly veterinary conferences on avian, reptilian, and exotic animal medicine.  Through these venues she has continued her education in medicine, surgery, cytology, radiology, and all other aspects of avian, reptilian, and exotic animal medicine.

Dr. Horton has not confined her knowledge and expertise to the walls of a veterinary hospital. Both Brookfield Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium have used her services.  She has also worked with the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources in censusing the zoonotic diseases (contractible by people) of the local and statewide population of raccoons. She has lectured to the Northern Illinois Parrot Society, the University of Illinois, and has been published in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, Journal of Herpetologic Medicine and Surgery,  and "Invertebrate Biology".  She is a member of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians where she is co-chair for the "What's your diagnosis?" section of the journal and co-chair for the PR Committee, and she is also a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, AAZV, and AVMA.    The Red Door Animal Shelter, (http://www.reddoorshelter.org) uses her rabbit expertise with their many wonderful bunnies.  She is also a member of the Turtle Survival Alliance.  Through this organization, she helps endangered Asian turtles by volunteering time, medicine, and her home to foster turtles.  Recently, Dr. Horton and Alyssa took an endoscopy class at University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Pictured below with Dr. Horton is Boris the iguana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Horton has her own assortment of exotic (and not so exotic) pets including: an iguana, geckos, cockatiels, frogs, fish, cats, and two dogs. In her "spare" time, Dr. Horton likes gardening, scuba diving, bird watching, camping, and beading (and working on this website).

Recently Dr. Horton appeared in a Chicago Magazine article profiling Chicago's top veterinarians.

 Pictured below is Dr. Grabowski.  

She is a full time veterinarian with Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital.  Dr. Mary Grabowski graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2008.  Her prior education includes a Master’s in Anatomy from Colorado State University and Bachelor degree in Biology from the University of Illinois .

 Prior to graduation, Dr. Grabowski’s animal experiences include being very active in the Wildlife Medical Clinic as a team leader, resident bird keeper, and public speaker.  The Wildlife Medical Clinic is a student organization that treats injured wildlife.  She was the Avian Club President for two years and worked very closely with a local avian rescue.  Mary externed for Dr. Horton during her second summer in veterinary school and found her love for exotic animal medicine.  She did two externships in wildlife and exotic medicine during her fourth year of veterinary school including a month externship at the Minnesota Raptor Center in Minneapolis , MN and a month externship at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Exotics Department.  Dr. Grabowski has learned invaluable information about exotic husbandry, surgery, and medicine through her past experiences.  Her main interest is avian medicine and hopes to continue her education to become Avian Board Certified.

 Dr. Grabowski’s main interests outside of medicine include being active outdoors, spending time with family and friends, reading, and traveling.  At home she has 5 animals including a Sun Conure, a Peach-fronted Conure, a blue-merle Shetland Sheepdog, and two cats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Deanne Strat-Zenoni is one of our part-time veterinarians.  She loves exotic medicine, but also practices emergency, acupuncture and chiropractic medicine.  She is pictured below holding a Lemur from the Torango Zoo.

 

 

Pictured below is Dr. Katy Parr who has joined our staff this year. 

Dr. Parr graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004.  While there, she focused in exotic animal medicine, and was involved in several of the school clubs.  Dr. Parr was President of the Wildlife, Avian, Zoo and Exotic Medicine club, and Cochair of the Raptor and Wildlife Rehabilitation Unit for 2 years.  Dr. Parr also completed several externships during vet school, including the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Wildlife Center of Virginia,  and Niles Animal Hospital.  During these externships, Dr. Parr realized that her true passion for practice was with clients and their exotic animal companions.  She enjoys supporting the bond that people have with their pets.
  When not at work Dr. Parr enjoys home brewing, bike-riding, reading and yoga.  She lives with an African Grey Parrot named Monty and a cat named Juliet.

                         

Kelly, pictured below, comes with lots of avian experience.  She also loves rabbits and guinea pigs.

 

Pictured Below is our full time technician Erica.  She is interested in exotics and wildlife!

 

Holly joined our technical staff in 2007.  She has lots of large exotic animal experience, just ask her about polar bears.  Above, she is pictured here with Abbie, Dr. Jethani's Senegal parrot.  Below, she is pictured with some of her favorite zoo animals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured below is Marcia.  She works as a receptionist and an assistant.  You can see she likes chickens, but her favorite animals are rabbits!!  She is also involved with Red Door Animal Shelter.   She is a journalist when not helping us.  

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured above is Liz with one of her favorite rabbits!  Bunnies are her favorite thing!!  She is also a restaurateur, among other things.

 

Pictured above is Rachel with a Lion head rabbit.  She is very interested in animal behavior!

Pictured below is Cindy who has 15 years + experience as a veterinary technician! Also pictured below are some of her horses!

   

            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is our full time receptionist Lamor.  She is pictured below with some of her favorite reptiles.

 

I finally caught Tina on film!  She's pictured below with Lemiwinks, our mouse mascot.  Tina is one of our daytime receptionists.  

 

 

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