Daniel Lejnieks, DVM

Dr. Lejnieks founded the Bird and Exotic Clinic in 1997 with his wife, Dr. Bennett.

Dr. Lejnieks is one of only 2 exotic companion mammal specialists in the entire Pacific Northwest. His specialty includes ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, chinchillas, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, degus and all other small companion mammals with the exception of dogs and cats.

Dr. Lejnieks graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in 1994. He spent four and a half years in a postgraduate fellowship at the University of Washington. During his fellowship, he gained extensive experience in cardiovascular and microsurgical techniques. Dr. Lejnieks has extensive surgical experience and frequently performs surgery on a referral basis for clinics around the northwest. He has also provided his surgical skills to the Seattle Animal Shelter, Rabbit Haven, PAWS Wildlife Center and the Point Defiance Zoo. Dr. Lejnieks has completed advanced training in avian endoscopy, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, and dental conditions of lagomorphs and rodents and enjoys a clinical practice that is 90% small exotic mammals.

Dr. Lejnieks has published many medical and surgical papers encompassing pioneering techniques in vascular and gastrointestinal surgery in rodents, designed a novel technique for the repair of beak fractures in large psittacines, and has published papers on medical conditions of the male rodent urogenital system. In August of 2008, he spoke at the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians Conference in Savannah, Georgia concerning special medical problems of the male rodent.

Published Articles:

Lejnieks, DV. Treatment of ulcerative dermatitis in mice (Mus musculus) with gabapentin: 14 cases (2011-2019). J Exotic Pet Medicine. 41:54-61.

Bennett TD, Lejnieks DV, Comparison of Hematologic and Biochemical Test Results in Blood Samples Obtained by Jugular Venipuncture Versus Nail Clip in Moluccan Cockatoos (Cacatua moluccensis). J Avian Med Surg. 2015 Dec; 29(4): 303-12

Lejnieks DV. The structure and function of the male rodent urogenital system. Proceedings 29th annual
AAV conference and expo with AEMV, Georgia, 2008. Ed. Eric Bergman. 2008. 101.

Lejnieks DV. Urethral plug in a rat (Rattus norvegicus). J Exotic Pet Med. 16(3)2007. 183-185.

Lejnieks, DV. Treatment of a Mandibular Fracture Using a Steel Plate in a Lesser
Sulfur Crested Cockatoo. Exotic DVM Veterinary Magazine. 6(4), 15-17.

Barry SC, Ramesh N, Lejnieks D, Simonson WT, Kemper L, Lernmark A and Osborne WR.
Glucose regulated insulin expression in diabetic rats. Human Gene Therapy 12(2), 131-9.

Wei M, Lau S, Lejnieks DV, Seppen JS, and Osbourne WRA. Sustained Gene
Expression in Transduced Skin Fibroblasts in Rats. Gene Therapy, 6(5), 840-4, 1999.

Lejnieks DV, Ramesh N, Lau S, and Osborne WRA. Stomach Implant for Long-Term Erythropoietin Expression in Rats. Blood, 92, 888-893, 1998.

Lejnieks DV, Han SW, Ramesh N, Lau S, and Osborne WRA. G-CSF. Expression from Transduced
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Provides Sustained Neutrophil increases in Rats. Human Gene Therapy, 7, 1431-1436, 1996.

Lejnieks DV and Stauber E. Nutritional Requirements of the Desert Spiny Lizard
(Sceloporus magister). Student Senior paper. 1994.