I want to get her checked, any one have some tips?

[LunaTheBp]

Hello, this is Luna's owner again. This time I was wondering how long I should keep her before taking her to get a check up?

I've already had her a week! Now I'm starting to think about taking her to a vet, but I stopped with a few thoughts, there's a matter of money, rents coming up so I would like to know what everyone's guess would be for a check up visit to the vet would cost. Secondly, I'd like to know how long I should give her to adjust before taking her on a car ride to the vet; like I stated I've had her a for a week now, she appears to be doing well and she ate her mouse just fine the other day aside for a mouth full of coconut which worried me for a minuet but wasn't a problem seeing as she was able to get the debris out fine on her own, however I'd still like to get her checked to make sure she's in perfect health no matter what the cost.
Lastly does anyone have any advice on what to ask the vet to check her for? Anything that is a common problem or something that vets over look often?

Sorry if that last question sounds... Dumb, I just dont know how to phrase it and I'm not sure what all they check for in a check up for snakes.

Also what should the minimum amount of time be before getting her a check up? I know I said last question earlier but I thought about it, and I wouldn't want to wait too long.

[Inarikins]

I don't take my snakes to the vet unless there's something wrong (a burn, RI, if I've noticed parasites in the feces). It's not worth the cost for me or the stress for the snake. The exam fee for my vet is $46, and that's pretty typical. Most vets will check for things like wheezing, they'll check body condition, ask questions about feeding habits, things that you can mostly do yourself. My vet sees mostly snakes with RIs and are skinny so when I bring in mine that are in fantastic condition with comprehensive feeding cards there's not a whole lot she can do. I've taken two in - one for parasites in the feces and the other for an RI. Those are not things I can fix on my own, or with assistance from the community. The snake not eating is something I can fix on my own without having a vet attempt a force-feed on a snake off feed for the breeding season.

[Cissin]

Yeah there's no reason for a vet check if the snake is doing fine. It's not like a dog or a cat that needs shots. If everything seems fine don't worry about it. No point in a check up if nothing is wrong.

[3skulls]

You can always take a fecal sample into the vet without any stress on the snake.

[Neal]

Yea, if you take a fresh and I mean same day fecal sample to the vet they can run tests on it, but that's all I would do because that's like $20 I think. The only time I'd bring a snake to the vet is if something was actually wrong.

[LunaTheBp]

Alright thanks guys, unneccisary stress avoided, I'm sure luna unknowingly loves you all for this! although I was secretly hopingto get her sex because I'm not sure if its a he or a she and I will not sex her on my own. If anyone knows breeders/owners who can sex a snake near logan UT I would be happy to have them come over and do so for me. Not that are a lot of locals I could see owning bp's where I'm from.

[Cissin]

If you watch a few videos on it you might be able to do it yourself. I know it's nerve racking but if you think you can do it after watching a few videos maybe give it a shot. Don't try to hard and if you feel uncomfortable with it just stop. The first time I had to assist feed it was the same way but after watching a few videos and calming myself down I was able to do it without a problem.

[Sita]

I work for an exotics vet, and really the only reason to take a snake to a vet is if it's sick or to get a fecal done. Fecals should be done yearly, in my opinion, because they eat whole prey, which often carry parasites. You do have to take the snake in for an exam though, even if you just want the stool checked, because at least in the state of Indiana, it is illegal to dispense medication without the vet seeing the animal within the past year. It falls under the whole "patient-doctor relationship" thing. And ideally, you want to actually bring a sample in, as fresh as possible (fridge is ok if it will be a few hours, but no older than 24 hours), because lots of times, the snake has no poo available when we use a fecal loop.

[LunaTheBp]

If you watch a few videos on it you might be able to do it yourself. I know it's nerve racking but if you think you can do it after watching a few videos maybe give it a shot. Don't try to hard and if you feel uncomfortable with it just stop. The first time I had to assist feed it was the same way but after watching a few videos and calming myself down I was able to do it without a problem.

To be honest I feel like I could do it, but at the same time I wish I knew someone with a little more experience. I thought about it today when I held her for the first time but then I noticed her vent and I saw the spurs (which I thought the one was a sliver till I saw the second) and scared the crap out of my self, so I had to put her away. (Sorry had to add that it made me feel dumb, so now I have to laugh since I believe that , if I remember correctly, they are to help with the makings of the babies.)