Meet Our Doctor

Dr. Teresa Bradley Bays is one of the most accomplished exotic animal veterinarians practicing today. With over three decades of dedicated clinical experience, she has built a career focused entirely on the unique medical, behavioral, and emotional needs of exotic pets — from dogs and cats to rabbits and guinea pigs to reptiles, birds, ferrets, and beyond.

In 2012, Dr. Bradley Bays earned the designation of Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Exotic Companion Mammal Practice — a credential held by fewer than 20 veterinarians in the entire world. This board certification reflects not only advanced knowledge in exotic animal medicine and surgery, but a career-long commitment to elevating the standard of care for companion animals who have historically been underserved by veterinary medicine.

Dr. Bradley Bays approaches animal health through a whole-patient, integrative lens. As a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (Chi Institute), a Certified Veterinary Medical Manipulation Practitioner, and a Certified TCVM Palliative Care and End-of-Life Practitioner, she blends the best of conventional exotic medicine with evidence-informed alternative therapies — offering patients options for pain management, chronic disease, and quality of life that go far beyond a standard veterinary visit.
An internationally recognized author and lecturer, Dr. Bradley Bays is senior editor and coauthor of Exotic Pet Behavior: Birds, Reptiles and Small Mammals. She has authored chapters in multiple editions of the field's defining references — including Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents and Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery — and contributed numerous peer-reviewed articles to Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, among other journals.

Her expertise has earned her a place on national and international conference stages, where she lectures to fellow veterinarians on topics ranging from exotic animal behavior and pain management to surgical techniques and integrative therapies.

Dr. Bradley Bays has served as President of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) and President of the Missouri Academy of Veterinary Practitioners. She co-led the KC-CAN (Caring for All Network), which addresses the critical link between animal abuse and domestic violence — work that reflects her belief that animal welfare and human wellbeing are inseparable.