"I didn't choose to be a vet. It was always a given. It's not what I do; it's who I am. I couldn't do anything else." - Dr. K

PAGING DR. K FOR A SECOND SEASON OF WILD ANIMAL EMERGENCIES ON "DR. K'S EXOTIC ANIMAL ER" ON NAT GEO WILD

Season Two Follows the Incredible Lifesaving Procedures and Tricky Cases at One of South Florida's Busiest Avian and Exotic Animal Clinics

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER Premieres Saturday, Oct 3, at 9/8c on Nat Geo WILD

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sept. 24, 2015) There is no such thing as a boring day at Dr. Susan Kelleher's exotic animal E.R. in South Florida, where she and her skilled staff treat every animal that will fit through the door, from big cats to hedgehogs, birds, reptiles, rabbits and every other animal imaginable. Everything but a dog or house cat!

Follow the unusual and heartwarming stories these doctors face every day on Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, premiering Saturday, October 3 at 9/8c on Nat Geo WILD.

Dr. K's team includes Dr. Lauren Thielen and a host of passionate veterinary technicians who see a variety of cases this season, from a Eurasian lynx with a blocked intestine, to a sulcata tortoise with a neck puncture, to a swan that was hit by a truck. The doctors and staff at Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER treat every animal, large or small, with dedication and determination to give it the best care. It's a rollercoaster ride for the staff, the loving pet owners, and the animals as they are treated for peculiar ailments and behaviors, often with unpredictable outcomes.

The worldwide trade in exotic animals is a multibillion-dollar-a-year business with millions of wild animals kept in private possession. Dr. K and her team are committed to educating clients about their exotic pets and the best way to keep them healthy.

"I got into this business with the intent to help animals in need. By the time they get to me it is sometimes a matter of life or death, and not right or wrong. My main priority is to ensure animals stay healthy and get the proper care," said Dr. K.

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER is part of Nat Geo WILD's stable of beloved vet shows including its No. 1 series, The Incredible Dr. Pol, popular newcomer Vet School, and network mainstay, Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet. What unites them all is a love for animals and a passionate desire to make a difference, making them must-watch TV.

Premiere episodes include:

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, Sir Lynx-a-Lot Premieres Saturday, Oct. 3, at 9/8c It's business as usual at Dr. K's exotic animal E.R., until a stressed-out 10-year-old Eurasian lynx is brought in for over-grooming and not eating. Dr. K suspects a hairball to be the root of the problem and contemplates emergency surgery on the large cat. Dr. Thielen sees two emergency cases of her own, including a ball python that was brutally attacked by a feeder rat, and a rescued cockatiel that needs help laying an egg. A lame baby chicken gets a new lease on life, while a recently neutered pot-bellied pig continues to heal.

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, Chinchillin' Like a Villain Premieres Saturday, Oct. 10, at 9/8c Dr. K's staff faces unusual emergencies this week. A lovebird with cancer undergoes a very risky surgery, while a hedgehog that was attacked by a dog is treated for a possible broken leg. A ten-year-old chinchilla presents with a serious case of tummy trouble that progresses into a life-or-death situation. Finally, a loveable bearded dragon is brought in with digestion issues.

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, Turtle-Necked Premieres Saturday, Oct. 17, at 9/8c Dr. K and her team are preparing for surgery on a sulcata tortoise that was brought in with a mass on its neck, when unexpectedly, an emergency case is rushed into the treatment room. A nine-year-old chinchilla bleeding from the mouth must be seen right away before the fragile animal loses too much blood. Meanwhile, Dr. Thielen takes on a mystery case involving a therapy chicken with a lame leg. The diagnosis leaves the owner faced with a heart-wrenching decision. Finally, a pot-bellied pig on a diet is put to the weight loss test.

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, Sticky Pixie and Trixie Too! Premieres Saturday, Oct. 24, at 9/8c Tension is high as many critical patients visit the clinic. First, two sugar gliders are rushed in to receive treatment after getting tangled in a blanket and fighting their way out. Dr. Thielen checks out a newly adopted cockatiel that flew into a flytrap and has sticky material all over its feathers. Finally, a long-time bunny patient has an obstruction in her stomach that needs to be removed immediately.

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, One Fat Parakeet Premieres Saturday, Oct. 31, at 9/8c Dr. K's day kicks off with an emergency when a bleeding cockatiel comes into the clinic. Dr. Thielen sees three animals in one appointment including a skunk that needs to be spayed and two panther chameleons in for a wellness check. Then Dr. K finds a litany of ailments in a 9-year-old ferret and must manage its care and quality of life. Meanwhile, a quaker parakeet's owners are concerned about a tumor, only to find out that the bird is so obese that it must lose a third of its body weight and see a heart specialist. Dr. Thielen tries to relieve a gerbil of an abscess, while Dr. K cleans a mouth wound on a boa constrictor so unpleasant it affects the entire clinic.

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, Let Me Clear My Goat Premieres Saturday, Nov. 7, at 9/8c It's a race against time as Dr. K treats a pet goat with kidney stones, that must undergo two surgeries. Meanwhile, a baby macaw comes in with a genetic bone disorder that makes it unable to stand. Dr. K decides to perform a risky orthopedic surgery to reform the bones, allowing the bird to stand. And Dr. K performs an unusual procedure for a guinea pig's eye injury.

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, H2O No! Premieres Saturday, Nov. 14, at 9/8c It is sink or swim as Dr. K tries to solve mobility issues for two goldfish. A severe macaw is brought in with a serious bite wound to the foot, caused by a bigger bird. A rabbit presents with a large amount of fluid in the abdomen and the exploratory surgery reveals a shocking result. Dr. K treats a tiny yellow-bellied slider that may have pneumonia, while Dr. Thielen treats a ferret with a large tumor on her tail. Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER, Major Hissing Fit

Premieres Saturday, Nov. 21, at 9/8c Dr. K and her staff are faced with many difficult cases this week. A pot-bellied pig comes into the clinic with an obstruction in her stomach that leads to emergency surgery. A salomon boa presents with a bad respiratory infection that can lead to death if not treated properly. A black swan is rushed in after being run over by a car. The swan must have surgery but may not survive due to the severity of the injury. Dr. Thielen sadly has to diagnose a 5-year-old Ferret with insulinoma, which is a fatal pancreatic cancer that occurs in over 60 percent of the species. And an egg-bound turtle must lay 12 eggs to avoid surgery.

Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER is produced by Spectrum Productions for Nat Geo WILD. For Spectrum Productions, executive producer is Guy Nickerson. For Nat Geo WILD, executive producer is Ashley Hoppin, senior vice president of development and production is Janet Han Vissering, and executive vice president and general manager is Geoff Daniels.

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About Nat Geo WILD

For more than 30 years, National Geographic has been the leader in wildlife programming. The networks Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo WILD HD, launched in 2010, offer intimate encounters with nature's ferocious fighters and gentle creatures of land, sea and air that draw upon the cutting-edge work of the many explorers, filmmakers and scientists of the National Geographic Society. Part of the National Geographic Channels US, based in Washington, D.C., the networks are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. In 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) debuted, and 10 years later, Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with Nat Geo WILD currently available in over 58 million U.S. homes. Globally, Nat Geo WILD is available in more than 144 million homes in 140 countries and 28 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.