Vet Costs

I just called a vet to have a price estimated to have my ball sexed and have a fecal done... they quoted me $40+ to walk in the door, $23 to pop him, and $32 for the fecal. Is this normal for the Raleigh NC area or do I need to talk to a different vet? I take my dogs and cats to this place because their hours are great and it's convenient, and honestly anyone can do routine care for healthy dogs and cats IMO... but I don't understand why they'd want so much more for the office visit on the snake than on the mammals and all the rest of that... What all is she going to do during this exam for $40+??!? I know I sound stingy and if this is what it costs, then I'll just have to deal with it (of course I can wait to have him sexed) I just wanted to check with you experts before I spent more than I had to... TIA for your input!

That does sound a little steep. In any case, I would stay away from a regular vet and find a reptile or exotic animal vet instead.

Here's a link with a few Raleigh reptile vets to choose from. Give them a call and see what they say. :sunny:

Well I got an appointment with Dr. Dan Johnson or Christine Eckermann-Ross at the avian and exotic vet in Raleigh... the sexing is included with the exam and the fecal is $20 vs. $30... I go next Friday because I don't have the money this Friday and I couldn't get to them before they close except Fridays when I get off at noon (yeah it's nice!) I've always heard great things about Dr. Dan... he makes house calls and is reasonably well known and referred to by other vets in the area...It'll be worth it all to know the sex (not sure why I care, but I am curious) and that he's healthy as can be... and hopefully the mites are fully eradicated (now) by then but if not they'll catch it and they will be gone! Is there any reason why I couldn't feed him after the vet visit? Fridays are the days but if he's going to be all stressed from the vet, then I don't want to waste food or add to it in any way...

It usually depends on your snake as to whether or not he will eat, but I usually wait at least a couple of days after a vet visit before feeding. Vet visits and all the handling involved can stress them out, and an extra week to eat isn't much to a Ball.

Oh and where do you guys get your food? I'd like to get some rat pinkies for sis's corn and some appropriately sized little rats for my ball... because y'all have a convincing argument about mice being all bones and fur! :D But I don't think I've seen frozen rat products in the pet stores... do I just need to look harder?

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Originally Posted by xdeus

It usually depends on your snake as to whether or not he will eat, but I usually wait at least a couple of days after a vet visit before feeding. Vet visits and all the handling involved can stress them out, and an extra week to eat isn't much to a Ball.

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Do you leave yours alone for a while afterwards in general to kind of de-stress? I appreciate all your insight and info, I've never taken a snake to the vet before :)

What if I fed him like the Wednesday before the visit? It doesn't really matter to me, I understand that they can go a couple extra days (weeks, right?)... I don't know why it bothers me if it doesn't bother him... :rolleye2: I'm just strange that way I suppose LOL

Make sure the snake's not been fed in the 48 hours prior to a vet visit (or any type of stressful or handling experience). Personally I'd wait a day or two after the vet visit before considering feeding to allow the snake to settle back in. Depends on what the vet's findings are or any treatment plan though so best to check this out with your vet before you leave the appointment.

As far as feeding what has this snake been eating (mice or rats and what size) and in what form (live, pre-killed or frozen/thawed) prior to you getting it? If both the cornsnake and the ball python are used to frozen/thawed prey you can generally find f/t mice and rats of various sizes at most PetCo's and other large chain type pet stores. Call ahead for availability in the sizes you require.

OK I'll make sure I don't feed him till the Monday after the vet visit provided there's no new reason to wait!

They do both eat f/t... the corn still eats pinkies... gulps them down 2 at a time but can't seem to handle fuzzies yet... but I wanted to get him rat pinkies to see if that'd be better... my ball eats f/t mice, but I thought maybe f/t rat pups (or whatever would be the right size) would be better for him... I hadn't noticed the rats at petco, but I'll look more closely next time... I had wondered if there was like a great place to order in bulk from and save some pennies...(always a goal LOL)... but I'll be sure to check in at Petco!

Thanks again!

wow, thats rough. I had a local herp guy here pop my snake and it took maybe 5 sec to do, if i had to pay money for that I'd been pissed. Might also wanna try some of the exotic pets stores too, I know one here in my local town I get my mice from will sex your snake free if you take it to them, just a thought. Good luck.

I live in Franklinton. PM me and I can offer some direction in this area. I learned how to pop them, and will be happy to help you out. I also know a couple of places locally to get frozen rats and mice.

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Originally Posted by sw204me

wow, thats rough. I had a local herp guy here pop my snake and it took maybe 5 sec to do, if i had to pay money for that I'd been pissed. Might also wanna try some of the exotic pets stores too, I know one here in my local town I get my mice from will sex your snake free if you take it to them, just a thought. Good luck.

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Well I doubt the store he came from would know how... they sent him out with mites! :rolleyes: But I will definitely look into some other local reptile places so that I can give money for supplies I need to places that deserve my money!

Thank you for telling that people would do it for free... I was stunned that they'd ask for an office visit and money to pop the snake! :eek: I mean... one or the other, right? :D

As far as ordering frozen feeders in bulk I'd definitely recommend Ray & Edna Queen who run http://www.themousefactory.com

Edna's great at helping new folks order what works for them sizewise and what is the most cost effective. Their product (both mice and rats) is top quality, packaged and shipped very professionally. I used to feed f/t and it was the only company I'd use as they got their orders out fast, everything arrived still frozen solid, packaged perfectly and the rodents themselves were of good healthy body weight and clean as a whistle.

Wow, those vet prices are good compare to what I pay here in the DC metro area.
75.00 office visit and I think a fecal is 20/30.00 not sure.
But the vet is a great herp vet, well known nationwide,but still.

Good luck with everything :)

I have my first visit to a vet for my BP on the 28th, and they're charging me 28 for the checkup, and 48 for the sex check. It's ridiculous, but he's the only guy who deals with reptiles in this area.

monty, i'm hearing that a lot of herp people will sex a snake for you without you having to go to the vet or it... maybe a local pet store with a nice reptile section?

I'm so excited about my vet visit! Can I just carry him in, or do I need to get him like a little snake carrier or something... he's so chill i can't imagine him striking or posing a problem to my driving, but see I won't know if he will till he does LOL... how do y'all transport?

Pillow case or shoe box will work just fine.

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Originally Posted by sw204me

Pillow case or shoe box will work just fine.

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matter of fact, I think he came with a bag... LOL do snakes like their bags? is it like a place that's comfortable and low stress for them? i'd think it would be :) thanks

When I took mine to get sexed I put him in his pillow case and then put him in a box that had a latch on it to keep the lid close and stuffed the pillow case in there so he didn't have room to be thrown around in the box. He didn't seem to mind.

Good thinkin' :) How'd you transport the fecal? Does that get refrigerated till the vet sees it? or ...? LOL

I didnt play with his poop, so someone else is gonna have to chime in on that one... :8:

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Originally Posted by gibbrishclown

Good thinkin' :) How'd you transport the fecal? Does that get refrigerated till the vet sees it? or ...? LOL

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Put it in a baggy and drop it off at the vet the next day (refrigerated overnight).

The 2 ladies at the front desk told me to bring mine in something, because some of the people there were not big fans of snakes. However one of them is a hottie, and i may have to ignore that wish and bring it in, in nothing!

Just to get her attention :D

These make great snake carriers. They come in various sizes, have a good strong snap down lid and a handle (just add in a few ventilation holes) and are available at dollar stores, department stores, etc. for a few bucks. You can just pop your snake in a pillowcase then into one of these and the snake will be safe and comfortable to transport.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...nsportCage.jpg

Taking a snake loose into the vet is a very poor idea. Not only can your snake frighten those that are nervous of snakes and leave a poor impression of snake owners in general but other pets in the waiting room could try to injure your snake while you are waiting for your appointment. Most vets generally prefer their clients to bring in any pet under proper control.

I've been watching Nag do a lot of soaking this weekend and so far this week and I wondered if I didn't over feed him Friday (just one small mouse though)... then I didn't see him at all last night, which is abnormal for him, he was in his hide the whole time even when I misted his moss which he usually comes out for... This morning when I was misting he did come out... with blue eyes :) Should we keep our vet appt. if he's blue today and our appt. is Friday? This is our first shed together, so I don't know if he takes forever, gets cranky, or what... suggestions please?

Oh and can the DR. pull a fecal from him like they do with mammals? He hasn't gone yet even though I fed him Friday... I haven't had him long enough to know his schedule for that either... *sigh*

I was going to start a new thread with this question, but didn't want to seem to be flooding the board, and I know the OP won't mind if I hijack her thread :D

I used PAM last week on all the substrate and the on the drift wood but the instructions said not to get it on the water, so the entire bowl was removed along with his hide... there was a random bug, like a gnat, on the water bowl... :eek: I thought PAM was going to kill any bug in the tank for a month or something... I treated the stuff before putting it in the tank because I wanted to let it air out so the fumes wouldn't hurt Nag when I put him up... so the tank itself didn't get sprayed, just the substrate (because the instructions said not to use in a tank with no substrate and I'm really nervous about using pesticides in my pets' enclosures) When can I retreat? Do I have to wait till after he sheds?

the receptionist said to bring him in even if he was about to shed and that they could try to get a fecal sample, but that it'd be best if I could bring one... how long does it take them to go after a meal?

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Originally Posted by gibbrishclown

how long does it take them to go after a meal?

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My snake eats three mice before he poops. He seems to be pretty regular. I feed him every week on Friday. And every 3rd Wed/Thur he poops.

If he misses a meal (refuses to eat), the poop goes off a week.

Just my observation with my one snake...

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Originally Posted by AkivaSmith

My snake eats three mice before he poops. He seems to be pretty regular. I feed him every week on Friday. And every 3rd Wed/Thur he poops.

If he misses a meal (refuses to eat), the poop goes off a week.

Just my observation with my one snake...

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OMG! His tank had some in it when I got him and I threw it out... getting poo from a pet has never been an issue for me (mammals) bummer... I guess I'll have to (pay extra to) get them to get it from him so they can analyze it?

Thank you for your input!!

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Originally Posted by gibbrishclown

the receptionist said to bring him in even if he was about to shed and that they could try to get a fecal sample, but that it'd be best if I could bring one... how long does it take them to go after a meal?

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My bp's usually poo about 3-5 days after they eat. Sometimes they do it right after they shed but that is RIGHT after and it is a HUGE STINKY MESS!!! lol.

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

My bp's usually poo about 3-5 days after they eat. Sometimes they do it right after they shed but that is RIGHT after and it is a HUGE STINKY MESS!!! lol.

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Hey there's still hope I'll get one before we go then!! :carrot: Never been so excited about snake poo before... LOL

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

My bp's usually poo about 3-5 days after they eat. Sometimes they do it right after they shed but that is RIGHT after and it is a HUGE STINKY MESS!!! lol.

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I must have it really good. My snake poops a very nice log with a smaller urates chunk. VERY easy to clean up.

Can they do anything with that urates chunk? He's got one of those in there, I think.

Nag had his vet visit today... He's a boy... a very patient boy considering! Today would be feeding day if it weren't for the vet visit... the vet said he looked okay, only 135g but not underweight really... she told me how to take care of the mites that the PAM didn't cure, and they encouraged me to use reptile carpet instead of repti bark... they also told me to get a UVB lamp (I've not read where they need one, or heard it, in fact everyone is surprised that they recommended it, but I trust the vet and if it simulates nature more closely, then :rockon: The poor snake had mites in his nose that the vet dug out with the probe ~there were so many in there :(

Anyway, we went and got the carpet, UVB light, Acurite therm/hygrometer... I moved his water bowl over to the hot side too to help with humidity especially while he tries to shed. I soaked him per the advice of the vet in really warm water while I set up the tank, and then I gave him the mite treatment before returning him to the tank... He's really been cruising the tank and rubbing and grinding on everything in there, so I hope that he sheds soon. I'm debating about feeding him tonight later on or waiting... I'd bet he'd eat right now though! I can start feeding him in the enclosure now right? Now that I have the carpet instead of something that risks impaction?

BTW thanks to you guys I was able to sound some what educated on my new pet while at the vet's office. they had a few differences of opinion on a couple things, but very minor stuff... I got a lot of compliments and they said they had great faith that Nag was in capable hands... so thank you BPNet!

here are some pics of him cruising the new digs:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...g3-30-07-1.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...g3-30-07-2.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...g3-30-07-3.jpg



BTW I know the hide doesn't look tight enough (and is quite ghetto) but he came with that hide and seems to find comfort in it as he spends a fair share of time in it...