THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP
www.BregmanVetGroup.com
Dr. Landesman received his undergraduate degree from SUNY Buffalo, and his veterinary degree from the Universite de Liege in Brussels, Belgium. After being a practice owner for 12 years, Dr. Landesman is proud to have merged with the Bregman Veterinary Group.
We took a few minutes to sit down with Dr. Landesman, exotic pet veterinarian at the Midbrook Animal Hospital. Please read through the interview below and let us know what you think about our exotic pet vet!
Q-What is your official title at the Bregman Vet Group?
My official title is Staff Veterinarian at the Bregman Vet Group.
Q-Which location do you work out of?
I mostly work out of the Midbrook Animal Hospital located at 1899 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn.
Q-When did you first start working at Midbrook Animal Hospital?
I first started working at Midbrook Animal Hospital about 2 and a half years ago.
Q-What was your experience like at the Universite de Liege in Brussels?
My experience in Brussels was wonderful. I was there for 5 years studying. The Universite de Liege Veterinary Faculty in Brussels is an excellent school and I am very fortunate to have studied there. Aside from being an excellent institution to study at, the city is beautiful, food was great and the beer was even better!
Q-What makes you different than most of the staff?
What makes me different than most of the staff at the Bregman Vet Group is that in addition to cats and dogs, I also work with exotic pets including birds, small mammals like rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. and reptiles.
Q-What type of exotic animals do you work with?
I work with exotic animals such as birds, reptiles and small mammals.
Q - What is a "day in the life of Dr. Landesman" like?
It's interesting... I've come to find that as we say exotic people keep exotic pets! It's been a lot of fun meeting the owners of these exotic pets and witness the level of devotion and love that they have for their pet. The average person doesn't understand the bond that an exotic pet owner has with their pet, especially birds, because of their level of intellect. My day, aside from general practice is getting to witness interesting scenarios between an exotic pet owner and their beloved pet.
Q - You have quite the resume, with experience at Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA developing surgical expertise, North Shore Animal League, Bide-A-Wee and the Humane Society of NY. Can you tell me about your experiences?
One of my first jobs out of school was at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA developing surgical expertise. It was here that I truly became a better veterinarian because of the variety of animal cases that we dealt with on a daily basis. This multifaceted hospital is comparable to Bellevue Hospital for human medicine in the sense that they both help those in need who are less fortunate and have a large diverse case load. It was a memorable experience being there and definitely shaped me as a veterinarian.
Q - What is your favorite part about working with exotic pets?
My favorite part about working with exotic pets is the challenge it poses. Exotic pets are less communicative than canines and felines, so exotic pet vets have to be familiar with a greater number of features and symptoms to treat them properly. Birds, for example, have a natural tendency to hide their illnesses to protect themselves from predators. Since they mask their symptoms, their illness is usually discovered later rather than sooner. A lot of our patent's owners are extremely devoted to their pet and know what to look for, but sometimes this isn't enough. Since exotic pets are "exotic," they have very specific requirements. These owners often don't understand the nutritional husbandry and housing needs the pet has, which oftentimes lead to illnesses and deficiencies. This challenge of educating the pet owners and caring for the exotic animals is a challenging part of working with exotic pets.
Q - How many pets do you have?
I have two pets, both rescues. My cat is now the sweetest, most socialized feline after being feral when I rescued him; and my dog was a pathologically frightened puppy when I rescued him and is now one of the most outgoing and friendly dog I've come across, so it's been a lot of work with them. I don't have any exotic pets, though - they are even more work!
Q - Out of all the experiences you've had, which is your favorite?
My favorite experience is really getting to meet the owners of exotic pets and witnessing their dedication and love for their pets first hand. Our patients' owners often are the most dedicated and will go the extra distance to ensure their pet is healthy. For example, recently I had a cockatiel come in. He is 10 years old, and has been brought up by his owner since he was an egg! His owner has nursed him; hand fed him, cared for him and loved him like a child for all of these years. He now has a paralyzed posterior digestive tract, and this owner milks out his waste to keep him comfortable. Now that is love! Another example is a turtle that was brought in not too long ago. He had lots of fluid under his skin, and we weren't sure if it was liver, heart or kidney related. X-rays are very difficult to perform with turtles because of their hard shells, but CT scans can be costly. The pet's owner decided to do the CT scan because all he wanted was the best for his turtle. We were able to find out that it was liver related, prescribed antibiotics and protectants for the turtle and today he is doing well. It's experiences like this that are very rewarding as a veterinarian.
If you have a smart phone, download the Bregman Veterinary Group App today! 
It has become almost common knowledge that chocolate can be harmful to pets, but coffee and caffeine can be harmful for
the same reasons. All of these products
contain substances called methylxanthines, which come from cacao seeds. If your pet ingests methylxanthines it can induce
vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity,
abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. So it may be smart to keep the desserts in
the fridge until everyone is ready to eat and keeping a close eye on your pet
during after dinner treats. Alcohol can be just as common as
dessert at a party and there is usually a spill. It can be very dangerous for your pet to
drink alcohol so be sure to clean spills immediately. Just because a food is healthy for a human doesn't mean it is for your furry friend, foods like avocado, macadamia nuts, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and chives. It is clear that the Persin contained in the
leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados is what causes problems for pets,
while we can’t pinpoint exactly what part of macadamia nuts, grapes and raisins
causes the side effects that include depression, vomiting, kidney failure and
more. Pets can have small bits of bread
as treats but too much can cause yeast
dough to rise and cause gas to accumulate in their digestive system. Bones
can also be harmful to your pets digestive tract, should they splinter or cause
choking. Raw meat and eggs can carry bacteria that can be very harmful to
pets. Xylitol, which may sound unfamiliar, is actually used as a sweetener in many products like gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste, and can cause and
insulin release in most species that can lead to liver failure. Try to keep your pets out of salty foods as well to avoid excessive
thirst and urination and even sodium ion poisoning. Finally Milk
can upset the digestive system of most pets because they lack significant
amounts of lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. Summer time can be a time for care free
living, but always remember that your pet needs constant care. If you can keep them out of all these foods
and maintain your normal routines, it should be easy to avoid any complications
with the health of your pet. 
