It’s a jungle out there — or it might seem that way to the untrained eye. For Dr. Mitchell Spindel, seeing birds, snakes, dogs, cats — even chinchillas — is just another day at the office.

Spindel earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Oklahoma State University in 1995, and after two years in Syracuse, New York, he and his wife “realized there was more to life than snow and gray.” So, they headed south, where Spindel opened Animal Ark Veterinary Hospital in Clemmons in 1999.

Spindel appreciates a side of Winston-Salem not known to most — 30 percent of his day is dedicated to caring for avian and exotic animals. In one recent week alone, Spindel saw two rare pythons, a box turtle, two opossums, a screech owl, numerous parrots, even a coatimundi. He also serves as the consulting veterinarian for SciWorks, where, Spindel notes, he “gets to see Mollie and Ollie the river otters and the rest of their wonderful critters on a regular basis.”

But the work doesn’t stop at the office; Spindel has four children who also have affinities for pets. With an at-home animal kingdom made up of two dogs, two cats, two guinea pigs, an iguana, a chinchilla, sugar gliders, fish, and a large koi pond, “There’s never a dull moment in our house,” he observes.

And while Spindel says he finds joy and satisfaction in his work, his most important goal remains “providing all the love and care your pet needs to stay healthy.”

Q.What should you consider before getting a pet?
A. Many people adopt a pet without putting enough thought into it and find out the hard way that it was really not a great idea. Lifestyle, housing situation, work schedule, allergies, other pets, young kids ... all must be considered before selecting a pet.

Q. What is the best way to introduce your pets to new members of the family, or to a new living environment?
A. Every change must be done under a watchful eye. If you have a well-socialized pet, no special precautions are needed. But for those who are unpredictable or fearful of new situations, you must use caution. I recommend a slow introduction keeping both pets on leashes or in crates where they can see each other, then slowly over several days, allow them to spend more time with each other.

Q. How can you make your home safe for pets?
A. Unfortunately with a new puppy it is very difficult to assure that the house is perfect.  My advice to owners is to use a crate when the puppy is not being observed and to use a leash whenever outside until you are comfortable that the pup will not get into trouble.  Most cats are pretty good other than occasionally being destructive; it is rare for them to eat dumb things. Now ferrets, rabbits, chinchillas, and birds are an entirely different story. Great care must be used to avoid catastrophe.

Q. What kinds of fruit and vegetables can you give pets?
A. For dogs and cats that will actually eat fruit and veggies, the only thing you need to avoid is grapes and raisins — they can be toxic. All others are fine in moderation; remember too much fruit can cause diarrhea and too much fiber can cause constipation. If you own birds or exotics, they are all different and it would be best to research their feeding requirements before trying anything new.

Q. Is it safe to take dogs and cats on trips?
A. If the pet is well-socialized and used to driving, then traveling with your pets is great. Of course dogs usually do better than cats in cars, but not always. If you must travel with an anxious dog or cat, there are safe sedatives or tranquilizers which can make everyone much happier.

Q. How should you respond if your pet gets upset when you leave the house?
A. I advise a staged-departure approach where you try to make it a positive experience with treats and only short periods of leaving. Slowly increase the time away, again with lots of praise when the pet is good. Crating is helpful in some situations, and if the pet has severe separation anxiety, medication and professional help may be required. Most problems start when the pet is young and get worse if left uncorrected over time.

Q. How often should pets visit the vet?
A. At Animal Ark, we recommend a yearly physical exam, any needed vaccines and tests every 12 months until 8 years, and every six months after. Anytime there are health concerns, a phone call should be made to determine if it is something that should be addressed or simply treated at home.