Ep 1. Pain in the Cheek

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER is a reality TV series that follows the work of Dr. Susan Kelleher, a veterinarian who specializes in treating exotic animals. In season 8 episode 1, titled "Pain in the Cheek," viewers get to see Dr. Kelleher and her team of experts work through various cases of animals experiencing a variety of ailments.

The first case featured in the episode involves a 7-year-old iguana named Precious who is brought in by her owner for an issue with her mouth. Precious hasn't been eating much, and her owner has noticed that one side of her mouth seems to be swollen. Dr. Kelleher and her team examine Precious and find that she has a dental abscess. They get to work treating Precious' abscess, cleaning out the infection, and prescribing the proper medication. The team also takes special care to make sure that Precious' owner knows how to properly care for her and her diet moving forward.

Next up, Dr. Kelleher and her team treat a group of lizards that have been struggling with respiratory infections. The lizards live together, and their symptoms started to appear at around the same time. Dr. Kelleher concludes that the likely cause is the buildup of bacteria in their enclosure. She and her team work to deep clean the enclosure and prescribe antibiotics for the lizards. They also give the lizards a thorough check-up, ensuring that they are all in good health.

Another case featured in "Pain in the Cheek" involves a rat named Teddy who has a tumor on her cheek. Dr. Kelleher heads into surgery to remove the tumor, which is a delicate procedure given the size and location of the tumor. Thankfully, the surgery goes well, and Teddy is soon on the road to recovery. Teddy's owner is overjoyed to have her pet home and healthy once again.

The last case in the episode is a bit of a mystery - a chinchilla named Colonel has been experiencing a loss of appetite and weight loss, but no obvious cause can be found. Dr. Kelleher and her team run a series of tests, including X-rays and bloodwork, to try and identify what's causing Colonel's symptoms. It's a tense situation, and Dr. Kelleher's team is feeling the pressure to find a solution quickly. Ultimately, they discover the cause of Colonel's symptoms and are able to treat him effectively.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given a window into the unique challenges of treating exotic animals like iguanas, lizards, and chinchillas. From the careful attention to diet and habitat to the intricacies of veterinary surgery, Dr. Kelleher and her team show viewers the lengths to which they will go to ensure the health and wellbeing of their patients. "Pain in the Cheek" is a reminder of just how important it is to have skilled and experienced veterinarians who are equipped to handle the wide range of exotic animals that people choose to make their pets.