Initial vet visits?

I've heard it recommended that you take any new snakes you get to the vet for an overall wellness exam. Do you do that? What all needs to be checked? Just a fecal exam, or is there more?

I always reccomend it to my friends, as well as an annual.

I have a vet come in twice a year to go through my collection with me (too many to take to the office LOL). Vets really have a better eye at spotting and feeling things sometimes. He'll look inside the mouth, examine the skin, vent, and eyes, and feel around the internal organs through the belly just to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be and there are no surprises.

IMO it's definitely worth it.

-adam

I'd like to hear some more opinions as well.

I remember someone saying somewhere here that when you have thousands (or hundreds) of snakes, you don't drag them all to the vet each year for a check up. (or have the vet come out either)

im all 4 vet visits

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Originally Posted by Shelby

I'd like to hear some more opinions as well.

I remember someone saying somewhere here that when you have thousands (or hundreds) of snakes, you don't drag them all to the vet each year for a check up. (or have the vet come out either)

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Why wouldn't someone with a large collection have a vet come out? The only possible argument I could see against it is the cost. For me, the extra expense is worth it just to have an independant set of eyes look over my snakes and make sure all is well.

The health of my animals is extremely important to me and I always budget for regular and unforseen health care.

-adam

Moved to the General Herp forum.


Vet visits are an important part of reptile health. As keepers we are responsible for the health of our collections. This includes ( but is not limited to ): providing the correct husbandry, fresh water, the proper diet, and yearly trips to the "reptile doctor" aka vet. We, as humans, have the ability to communicate when we are ill whereas reptiles ( besides body language ) generally do not. We, therefore, need to be pro-active when it comes to the health of our reptiles.

Just my $.02. I might be way off, but it seems to work for me.

I would recommend that any new addition to your collection gets a trip to the vet. On top of a yearly check-up for all of your animals. And of course anytime there is an illness or injury.

And do not forget to follow proper quarantine procedures with new additions as well.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

I'd like to hear some more opinions as well.

I remember someone saying somewhere here that when you have thousands (or hundreds) of snakes, you don't drag them all to the vet each year for a check up. (or have the vet come out either)

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LOL - guess you should have read the rest of my post, which explains why I said that. It's because we do the vast majority of our check-ups, diagnosis & medicating in-house, although we do consult with a couple of different (and very talented) vets when necessary.

K

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Originally Posted by KLG

LOL - guess you should have read the rest of my post, which explains why I said that. It's because we do the vast majority of our check-ups, diagnosis & medicating in-house, although we do consult with a couple of different (and very talented) vets when necessary.

K

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Ah, it was you. Well that makes sense then.

So, what should the vet do when checking a new herp?

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Originally Posted by Shelby

So, what should the vet do when checking a new herp?

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Well, like you said earlier, a fecal is the most important ... in an earlier post on this thread a went over a few other things ...

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Originally Posted by Adam Wysocki

He'll look inside the mouth, examine the skin, vent, and eyes, and feel around the internal organs through the belly just to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be and there are no surprises.

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He (or she) will then probably go over some basic husbandry and any questions that you might have.

(can ya tell i've done it a few times? ... LOL)

-adam

Ok, sounds good. I just wondered if there were any other tests I should make sure my vet does.

And what about annual visits? Another fecal and general once-over?

I've decided to go with the annual visits. I'll just try to take all mine at once to save on the office fee. lol that could be interesting.. 4 snakes and a cham in the car together.

I think that's about all they can do. Things like blood work and lung washes are really only necessary if a problem exists.

Fecals once a year are an awesome habit to get into! ... And yes, a general once over and "feel" to identify any internal problems are generally reccomended.

You can ask about maybe getting a discount on all 4 fecals done at a time as well. I know I pay less per flotation when I have a bunch done at once. Doesn't hurt to ask and I've never had a vet tell me no.

-adam

Thank you, I will. :)

I feel better now, knowing I'll take better care of my animals.

Besides, it's kinda fun showing off all your snakes at the vet's. :P

Oh.. for a fecal, do you have to bring a stool sample, or do they just... get it?

I had to bring one, but that might vary from vet to vet.

Well, technically, they could to a cloacal swab, but that wouldn't be too accurate.

For best results you should bring them in. About a week or so before my exams I start watching for defications from the snakes that I want checked and store them in a zip lock bag (the feces) in the fridge until the visit. The trick is to prevent them from drying out. Sounds gross, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do! ... LOL

-adam

Ok, well that I can do.

I just hope mom doesn't mind those in the fridge. :?

Then again, I've already got bags of rats in the freezer, bloodworms... etc etc

I'm thinking that the warmer months of the year would be the best time for an annual visit. No frozen snakes.

ya know, its kinda sad but vet visits are the one thing people dont tend to take into consideration when purchasing a snake. You really shouldnt buy a snake if you cannot afford a vet visit...

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Originally Posted by green_man

ya know, its kinda sad but vet visits are the one thing people dont tend to take into consideration when purchasing a snake. You really shouldnt buy a snake if you cannot afford a vet visit...

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I totally agree! .... The other thing that usually happens is that new owners don't budget for emergency expenses (URI, stomatis, etc). I always keep a little money on the side for each animal in case something unexpected comes up. That way I don't ever have to decide between money and the health of my animals!

-adam

Most people don't think of a snake as an animal that needs to go to the vet. It can be hard to know where to draw the line. I can't say I'd take my tarantula, or my guppies to the vet you know. It is a learning process.. finding out all that your animals need. You think you know all you need then... nope!

I do have enough money to take them to the vet, it's just nice to know ways to cut the costs if you can, without compromising the health of the animals.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Most people don't think of a snake as an animal that needs to go to the vet. It can be hard to know where to draw the line. I can't say I'd take my tarantula, or my guppies to the vet you know. It is a learning process.. finding out all that your animals need. You think you know all you need then... nope!

I do have enough money to take them to the vet, it's just nice to know ways to cut the costs if you can, without compromising the health of the animals.

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Those comments certainly weren't at all about you. I've been very impressed with the questions you've been asking and you're interest in doing what's right for your snake. Keep doing what you're doing for sure!

I think green_mans comment and my follow up were reffering to our experiences with soo many people that know an animal should be taken to a vet, but would rather spend the money on video games or lottery tickets. Or the people that take on an animal and then complain about all of the associated costs. Asking questions and being frugal is one thing, but buying animal after animal and not having the money to afford proper housing, food, and vet care is damn near criminal and the later is what we were talking about.

-adam

Ah ok, well I agree with that completely. Not only is that bad for the animals, it gives us herpers a bad name when people don't properly care for them.

I've met some pretty pitiful snake keepers myself.

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I think green_mans comment and my follow up were reffering to our experiences with soo many people that know an animal should be taken to a vet, but would rather spend the money on video games or lottery tickets.

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oh yes, definately didnt mean you Shelby :)

I just see too much of people barely scraping up enough money to purchase the animal, but have no idea how much upkeaping said animal is actually going to cost! I got charged 75 dollars for the vet to take a look at my boa for 3 minutes and perscribe some drops for mucas in his mouth.
The initial cost of a snake is probably the cheapest part of owning one.

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Originally Posted by green_man

The initial cost of a snake is probably the cheapest part of owning one.

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That's true for most animals. Try getting a horse! :shock:

lol, no kidding.
My wife wants a horse badly. I cant afford the 400 bucks a month to stable one though.

Yeah.. I have a thoroughbred. 400/mo is expensive.. wow. But you also have to figure all the other stuff...

Um.. yeah, we're talking about snakes! No, really, not off topic!