So, I'm pretty indignant right now... (pics)

[Mindibun]

I just got back from taking my rescued ball python to the vet. He's been eating a rat pup every Sunday for two months now and has yet to poop. He had a bulge by his tail last night so I soaked him. This morning the bulge was gone and he'd left some urates in his tub, but no poop. I told him that was the last straw, and we were going to the vet.



This vet is not the best. I go to her for my rabbit, but I've been learning more and more how inept she is when it comes to other animals. I started trying to explain the background on the snake - how he was mistreated, underfed, no humidity, etc. and she ignored what I was telling her and started asking about my husbandry. "Ok," I thought, "legitimate questions, albeit rude..." So I explained that he is housed in a 32q tub with belly heat. Temps range from 92 on the hot side to 80 on the cool side. She stopped me there and said that she couldn't understand how I could have such a range of temperatures if he was in such a small enclosure. After a minute of discussion, I continued by saying that the humidity is usually right around 60% and that he's been eating regularly. She then interrupts me again to ask if I keep a UV light on him. "No," I say, "I've read that they don't need them."

"Well ... to be perfectly honest with you," the vet begins, "the enclosure that you have him in his far too small. I would recommend something a little larger."

"Ok ... what would you recommend?"

"Well, something about the size of this table." (exam table is 4 feet long by two feet wide)

"Everything that I've read says to keep them in smaller enclosures. The rack system is how most breeders raise their sna-"

"Yes, but raising them for breeding is something else entirely. Moving on..."

She then gives the snake an examination, pushes and probes him until he finally DOES poop, and then explains that it looks to her like the only reason he hasn't pooped is because his body has been using all of the nutrients - there's nothing left to expel. She tells me he's a very small snake, and a little too thin; that he's underweight.

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

After waiting for at least 45 minutes without anyone letting me know what was going on (and this entire time I've wrapped myself around his box to try to keep him warm in the 70 degree office), his fecal float came back showing pinworm eggs and another batch of eggs from a different parasite. She explained that pinworms aren't usually an issue, but because he seems to be having problems, she'd go ahead and treat them anyway. She yanks him out of his box, flips him over and shoves a syringe down his throat without explaining what she's doing. She then asks if I think I can handle the remaining doses.

In short, I was charged an arm and a leg to be treated rudely, and left waiting for an unreasonable amount of time - considering there were only two patients there, myself included. I had my husbandry criticized and degraded, and my snake is being treated for something that "may or may not be a problem". The vet didn't seem at all interested in what I had to say, even when I was trying to explain patient history that was completely relevant to the situation.

I really can't even describe how angry I was.

And just to clarify, here is the current set-up (note the "DRASTIC" temperature gradient, which "shouldn't even be possible in such a small set-up" )



(The accurite reads 95, but it's more like 90-92.)

And here is what the vet recommends for him. You can see him moving in the tub to the right. The red outline is the enclosure size that she believes is appropriate for him.



You tell me how that makes any sort of sense.

Needless to say, after he finishes his treatment, he will not be going back there. I just needed to rant. Sorry for the novel, guys.

So as not to leave on a sour note, here's a nice picture of the snake.

[PythonWallace]

It sounds like you need to find a new vet. Maybe you could send an email to Scott Michaels, DVM, and see what he has to say in response. He's a vet and a ball python breeder, so he might know a little better. Than you can bring his reply into your vet so she doesn't give out bad information to her customers in the future.

[starmom]

Oh sweetie~ I'm sorry.

It totally sucks to pay money to a professional in good faith that services will be rendered professionally and then have it turn into a frustrating situation whereby the professional seems to not be listening as well as not explaining procedures prior to them being performed. Again, I'm so sorry.

The great news is that you have had the fecal float performed and now the snake can obtain appropriate treatment for the parasites and start to gain weight

As for the tub/caging issue, I would choose to not allow it to get to me. You have the vet's opinion and you 'know' your snake. Keep an open mind, and also continue what is working for your snake now.

Lastly, always remember that you can choose to go to another vet. You could also choose to make an appt with this vet for a consultation that would permit you to voice your concerns to the vet and perhaps the two of you could arrive at a solution that you feel comfortable with.

Take care. Good luck with the snake.

[Rakk101]

Sucks you had to sit through that, sounds like you are taking good care of the little guy though and that is all that counts

[juddb]

Mindi sorry again, anyway i posted on your blog on RG. Good luck with him. Turn that frown upside down.

[anendeloflorien]

Dang, it sucks when you get a "professional" who doesn't act in a professional manner and doesn't even know the basics of what he/she is talking about. Especially when you have to throw good money at them to get what you may or may not need. Sorry to hear about your experience. Just curious what state are you in? I know of a couple good reptile vets here in NH and northern Mass.

[Laooda]

Dang!!! At least you got him treatment... Great work sweetie! He's a real QT!

[Ophiuchus]

I only go to my vet to get medications when needed. I rarely take their advice.

[casperca]

What a terrible time you had! At least she didn't pass the pinworms off as something irrelevant. He's a sweet little guy! Glad he found a good home.

[wolfy-hound]

Other than the no-poo issue, your rescue is doing superb. Ignore her advice, use her medications, and look for a new vet.
I usually tell the vet what is wrong, what they should give me and then have to go through a long song and dance until they decide to give me what I asked for in the first place. I've even had them reccomend drugs that should NEVER be given to reptiles, had to inform them of that, had them go look up all the information to back their opinion up, only for them to find that I am right, and eventually give me the darned meds that I asked for to begin with ANYWAY.
Having an aunt that IS a vet should help me more than it actually does.