question about vets....

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Originally Posted by Misfit

But seeing everyone so easily dismissing someone to took years and years of school to get where they are just because they didn't pick to focus JUST in that area..

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Yes, it is very easy to dismiss someone who didn't focus JUST in the area I need expertise in. Those years and years spent in school are largely irrelevant if it wasn't spent in the area you're are seeking help in. A general practioner spends a long time in school but I would never see one if I needed surgery. That's nothing against the family physician, or his/her education, but I'm going to see a general surgeon to have my appendix removed. Same with a neurologist, GI, dermatologist, etc if I need help with a related problem.

All animals are not the same and the corresponding ailments and treatments vary widely. We take our dogs to a dog and cat only clinic and our reptiles to a different vet in a separate practice that specializes in reptiles. Before I found the rep vet, I had been to three general vets that were unable to satisfactorily treat reptiles. To the OP, your best bet is to make the drive and spend the money on a reptile specialty vet who is more likely to make the correct diagnosis and more importantly, be up to date on the latest treatments.

Thanks for this post, I have been giving some thought to the same subject. I took Jacks to a vet for a preliminary check up, and I thought she did a good job, but I really didn't know what to look for. Now I really think she was a darn fine vet. :)

With out spending any money jot down some of, if not all of the questions and requests asked here. Then go see and talk to the Vet with out the snake to get a feel for them. If you like them set up an appointment and or register with the clinic or hospital, if you don't, no harm, no foul, no money lost and on to the next one.

In the end, its ultimately your decision on which vet to go to. I say give the local vet a chance to see if she really is knowledgeable in reptiles. I know in my situation, local is always the first choice for me. If you're not satisfied, at least you know a vet that is reptile knowledgeable. Or have her consult the reptile vet if any questions rise up.

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Just a few points to clarify some of the things in previous posts.

1) The term reptile specialist has been used in many of the posts. In veterinary medicine there are very strict definitions of what a specialist is. In most cases it requires additional training (2-4 years) after vet school and a rigorous exam. For someone to TRULY be a reptile SPECIALIST they would have to have DABVP (Reptile and Amphibian practice) after their name. This means they are a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in the sub specialty of reptile and amphibian medicine. Information on ABVP can be found at www.ABVP.com. This sub specialty was only started in the past few years and so far the exam has been offered twice. So far there are 4 people that are TRULY reptile specialists. Gonna be quite a drive for most people...

2) Most Vets that treat reptiles have an interest in exotics. They will treat reptiles, amphibians, birds, and pocket pets (ferrets, rabbits, etc). Many will also treat dogs and cats. It is not common for someone to ONLY treat reptiles. A good vet is a good vet. They will do a good job with your dog, cat AND snake. If you have someone that is in your area that sees snakes then I would check them out. See how they act around and handle your snake. if you don't feel comfortable with them find someone else.

3) The renal portal system has been debated for years. This is some thing that is base on theory. There are no studies that show different pharmaceutics for drugs given IM in the crainal or caudal muscles.In fact there are studies that show there is no difference. See:
holtz et al. Effect of Injection Site on Carbenicillin Pharmacokinetics in the Carpet Python, Morelia spilota.J Herpetol Med Surg. 2002 Winter;12(4):12-16. 21
holtz et al. The effect of the renal portal system on pharmacokinetic parameters in the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). J Zoo Wildl Med 28[4]:386-93
The Reptilian Renal Portal System - A Review- "Current data suggests that the renal portal system does not affect drug kinetics"

4) you can give reptiles oral medications. See:
Coke et al. Preliminary single-dose pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin in ball pythons (Python regius). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2006 Mar;37(1):6-10
drugs given orally reached therapeudic plasma concentrations in 9hrs. based on this study this drug can be given orally every 48 hours.

5) I would rather see someone look something up than make a mistake. I have a huge collection of textbooks. I certainly don't have everything memorized and I kept the books as a reference...

**Disclaimer** I am a veterinarian but I am NOT a reptile specialist. guess I'm not qualified enough and you can ignore my post.

yeh, you pretty much said what i was thinking, i gonna see my local vet first and see how it goes....

The only vet in our area that deals with reptiles assumed that we were taking horrible care of our Bearded Dragon when she got a Gastrointestinal Infection. I only went to the vet to get the medication, and I had to tell the vet what Aaliyah had. The vet assumed she had impaction...when Aaliyah was on newspaper. She was also very condescending.

The best you can do is go in and see. It sucks if the vet is horrible, but $50 is worth trying to find a good vet. :)

I never said you can't look something up, only that if a vet HAS to go look up information for a simple conversation, instead of offering suggestions of possible treatments, then you have an issue. Especially if it's something very common like a RI in a python.

Even a vet that said, "Well we would treat with a species-appropriate antibiotic..." would be better than one who suddenly makes an excuse, scoots out of the room to go look in a book, then comes back and pretends to know. That's deceitful. I don't expect ANY vet to instantly know/remember exact dosing rates or which drugs might be best for a more rare condition. But I'd like a vet to know basics without having to check google to see if a snake should get ashma meds or baytril when they're wheezing. If I take my cat to a regular vet and he's got to go check his book to see if I should give Tylenol to my feline, I don't want them treating my cat.

Im glad i have the best vet in the country and one of the top in the world. Stahl is the man. Its a shame there are not more around that are great. I guess this may be because theres not a huge market considering not everyone cares enough to seek vet treatment when needed. We do need more good ones out there.

Whew...this thread is making me nervous. I'm taking Cake to a vet tomorrow that does not specialize in reptiles...their reptile vet doesn't get in till Tuesday, and I'm concerned my fecal sample won't be viable by then (It's going on 4 days in the fridge as it is...). She's looking perky right now, and I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't just wait. I really can't afford to waste money on a vet that won't know what to do. :(