By Anna Yoder | Columnist

“Lions and tigers and bears oh my” is a famous line spoken by Dorothy in the 1939 beloved movie “The Wizard of Oz” and often used to express fear or apprehension. However, it’s “dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, reptiles, pet rodents and ferrets, oh my” which describe the variety of God’s creatures Dr. Brandi Cox treats on a daily basis at her Northside Animal Hospital. And there is absolutely no fear or apprehension involved!

Dr. Cox graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St. Kitts and Nevis, yet she originally hails from right here on the Northside. And it is here where she decided to open her practice, which is the only privately owned animal hospital on the Northside.

Prior to opening her own practice in December 2022, Dr. Cox was a “relief” or “locum” veterinarian (sort of like a “travel nurse” but as a vet) where she served many clinics. Yet her heart yearned for a more personal relationship with her patients. With her own practice, Dr. Cox believed she could develop that personal relationship by providing “consistent care” throughout her patients’ lives and watch them “grow up,” similar to what a pediatrician does. Through her extraordinarily compassionate veterinary care of a variety of animals, Dr. Cox remains dedicated to preserving the “human and animal bond.”

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Cox prior to opening her practice and knew once her clinic was established, she would become my feline family members’ new vet. Although no longer kittens, Sheldon and Shorty will benefit from a long-term relationship with Dr. Cox, who will see them through their adolescent and senior years.

As it turns out, I am not the only person who wants Dr. Cox as their vet. Pet owners not only come from the Northside and Pittsburgh area to see Dr. Cox; they also drive from miles around and other states to get the special care they need for their pets.

Dr. Cox’s clinic is a modern and super spotless facility with a modest reception area (at times she is the one who greets you!) and separate examination rooms for her varying types of patients. By seeing each dedicated space, it was clearly evident that Dr. Cox is no ordinary vet, and her practice extends beyond caring for the household dog and cat to “small non-traditional pets.” Dr. Cox’s personal favorite non-traditional pet to care for is the ferret and she claims that they are “by far the most fun loving and hilarious animals you can work with.”

“Mother” to a 9-year-old chinchilla named Taz, Dr. Cox is fully qualified and especially outfitted to treat the most unusual pets from bearded dragons and snakes to chickens, Guinea pigs, and chinchillas. Dr. Cox also partners with a local bird rescue called “Pearl Parrot Rescue” for whom she does in-take examinations on rescued birds such as scarlet and gold macaws, cockatoos, cockatiels, and green winged amazon parrots.

Writing this column has led me to meet so many wonderful and interesting people. Yet nothing has compared to the utterly fascinating ‘behind the scenes’ visit to Dr. Cox’s office. You ask, how fascinating can a sterile veterinary clinic be? Well, let me fill you in… The special medical equipment found in Dr. Cox’s examination rooms (certain ones of which are designed specifically for her non-traditional pets) was nothing like I have ever seen. On the bird examination room table, there was the “VSP Miami Vise Avian Restraint.” This equipment consisted of two lariats and a clear acrylic tray with small upright posts to gently secure the feet and head of bird patients for their physical exams, blood work, and x-rays without subjecting them to anesthesia.

This is a better and more comfortable overall veterinary experience for our feathered friends.

Dr. Cox shows off a specialty piece of medical equipment intended to help restrain and examine the mouths of rabbits, rodents and similar animals. Photo by Anna Yoder

In the small animal room where patients such as Guinea pigs, rabbits, and chinchillas (to name a few) are cared for, there was the “Table Top Rabbit and Rodent Gag.” Although an ominous sounding name for a medical tool, it gently positions the head and mouth of these types of pets so that their mouths and teeth are better exposed for routine examinations. Again, this is a less stressful way to care for these pets and ensure a complete yet comfortable examination.

Dr. Cox also cares for snakes in her reptile examination room and surprisingly spends a great deal of time educating owners about their snake’s health and care. I am deathly afraid of snakes so I didn’t ask her any snake-related questions!

Given the breadth of Dr. Cox’s practice, combined with what she says is a “true shortage of veterinarians and veterinary personnel,” at times it has been hard for Dr. Cox to “keep up with the demand.” Yet she does have urgent care hours in the evening where no other options are available for trauma cases involving the “non-traditional pet.” Cases in point are a bird with a bell stuck on its beak, a chicken that ate “something that it shouldn’t” which caused digestion issues, bearded dragons getting accidentally stepped on, or ferrets who have fallen from a perch and hurt themselves. Dr. Cox’s office location is convenient for those out-of-state patients who have no other options for veterinary care and many of her patients come from Ohio and West Virginia. Dr. Cox’s most unusual patients to date were a tegu (a member of the lizard family resembling a monitor lizard) and a marmoset (a small monkey). Having recently hired a veterinarian anesthesia technician, Dr. Cox also says her surgery appointments are on an upswing.

Although you may be thinking, I don’t have a snake or a bearded dragon as a pet, will Dr. Cox see my sweet dog, cuddly feline, or friendly rabbit? The answer is an absolute YES! Dr. Cox is more than happy to provide consistent care for your “traditional” pet too and help preserve the bond between you and your cherished family pet!

Northside Animal Hospital is located at 1301 Beaver Ave., Suite 10. You can contact them at (412) 7798307 or Northsah1301@gmail.com.