Vet visits?

Do you guys take your balls to the vet just because? I guess like a check up. All mine seem perfectly healthy, and are all in a rack with perfect temps and humidity. When we get them out every day or every other day, we always check them over and haven't noticed anything wrong or different.
So do you guys take yours to the vet for checkups, just in case there's anything we're missing? I have 9 right now, if that makes a difference.

Absolutely not. The only reason I even take my dog and cat for annual check-ups is to get their vaccines, which snakes don't have/need (to my knowledge). I'm not going to stress any of my animals unnecessarily.

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Originally Posted by SeeTheCityLights

Do you guys take your balls to the vet just because? I guess like a check up. All mine seem perfectly healthy, and are all in a rack with perfect temps and humidity. When we get them out every day or every other day, we always check them over and haven't noticed anything wrong or different.
So do you guys take yours to the vet for checkups, just in case there's anything we're missing? I have 9 right now, if that makes a difference.

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I bring mine if there's a reason to. I also usually get fecals done on most new arrivals. It's only $20 at my vet, and I had to treat pinworms on one of my snakes, luckily I caught it because of the fecal test. They only charge to see the animal if it's positive, but I'd rather cough up the money than have parasites in my pets.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I bring mine if there's a reason to. I also usually get fecals done on most new arrivals. It's only $20 at my vet, and I had to treat pinworms on one of my snakes, luckily I caught it because of the fecal test. They only charge to see the animal if it's positive, but I'd rather cough up the money than have parasites in my pets.

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I do agree that fecals can sometimes be necessary/useful. However, it isn't necessary to take your BP to the vet for that. You can simply drop off a sample and get a call later that day. Let me stress that I'm not advocating avoiding the vet when you observe a change or a problem, just avoiding the extra stress of a "just because it's been awhile" trip.

I try to avoid bringing healthy animals around unhealthy animals without specific cause.

That's what I thought and was planning, so I'm glad I'm doing it right. Thanks!

I brought a healthy snake in because it was housed next to a snake that had an RI, besides that, I wouldn't take a seemingly healthy snake in.

Yeah i dont take my snake to the vet just for a visit. Cost money and also being in that kind of environment with other animals could cause health problems. If he looks normal no marks anywhere always eating for me not too active..... i know i got a healthy BP no need to waste the money...

I don't take mine randomly either although I do if there is even the slightest thing that seems off. Reptiles can hide issues really well. I do yearly fecals, I have found an animal clean one year and show up with a tape worm the next even though I feed F/t exclusively. Just because you get a clean one doesn't mean that they don't or never will get them again. I also have had IBD testing done as well.

I guess I'm going to be the odd one out. I actually have a really good relationship with my vet and all their employees. I was actually going to make a post about this at one point but never got around to it. This is my experience.

Whenever I have a free couple of hours, I like to just stop in and say hi! Not all the time, but maybe once every two weeks or a month. Every time I like to bring in a pet and they love it! (the employees). It doesn't cost me anything and it's not actually a vet visit, but they do get to look at my animals. They work at a vet hospital because they love animals! They probably rarely get to see snakes! So I would definitely recommend just stopping in. On top of that, sometimes I bring them snacks or cookies... (this will be between you and me) but I have received free checkups and discounts.
Also, by doing this, it has helping me in emergencies and on weekends when they're closed. I have all the cell numbers of everyone and they welcome emergency texts! This actually happened with my snake.. I was able to send the vet doc a picture and she texted me right back with what to do!

So I know I'm kind of blabbering, but seriously, it doesn't hurt to just stop in. :)