The test results are in...

and my rescued ball python is now free and clear of any and all parasites! :D

Of course that's great news on its own, but the best news of all is that I no longer have to see this idiotic vet EVER AGAIN. -lol- When I called today to get the results, they couldn't even figure out who I was or how the fecal sample got there. The receptionist asked if I'd dropped it off. Yes, 4 DAYS AGO... :mad: Of course she didn't even know if they'd done the test so she had to go find out. Blah blah blah, she came back and said they "didn't think" he had any more parasites. I told her to go make sure for f's sake. :rolleyes: I'm so glad to be done with them.

If anyone can recommend any good herp vets in south florida, near Boca Raton, PLEASE do. Who knows when I might need one again.

I'll get some pictures up of the little guy within the next two days. A mid-day exam might prevent me from getting them up tomorrow, but hopefully by Wednesday. I'm SO proud of him I can't even see straight. I know he didn't really DO anything, but I'm just so glad to have him back on the right track again. He took his largest meal yet just the other day: a live rat crawler. :banana:

Watch out laydees, he's gonna be puttin on some weight, and lookin' foine. ;)

Great news

Hope to see pics soon

congrats on a now healthy snake!

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap::clap::clap::clap::gj:
I can't wait to see the pictures!!!!
Good luck on your test!

Congrats :banana:

YAY! nothing better then a clean vet report. My vet is an idiot too! RAWR!!!!!>_< I share your frustration! I'm glad things are looking up and may they continue to get better!

Congrats! I don't know about S. Fla exotic vets. I just went to Browad Avian & Exotic (Pompano Beach), and they did a good job treating my BP (I've had her for 1 month, and she only ate one ASF rat & lost 240 grams. But she's now eating like a piggy). She received Flagyl (had no fecal, so no deworming) & had blood tests done which came back with elevated Monocytes (infection that was resolving itself was the vet's diagnosis). But the vet is not a fan of rack systems, and told me to lower the temps (my temps are spot on) so that the infection could resolve itself. Needless to say, I did not do this. It just didn't seem to me that BPs are common patients in that clinic.

I've heard Wiles Animal Hospital in Coral Springs is good. You may want to call and ask how many BPs they treat. It seems 'exotics' refers more to ferrets, bunnies, and iguanas.

Let me know if you want any more info.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MuzeBallPythons

Congrats! I don't know about S. Fla exotic vets. I just went to Browad Avian & Exotic (Pompano Beach), and they did a good job treating my BP (I've had her for 1 month, and she only ate one ASF rat & lost 240 grams. But she's now eating like a piggy). She received Flagyl (had no fecal, so no deworming) & had blood tests done which came back with elevated Monocytes (infection that was resolving itself was the vet's diagnosis). But the vet is not a fan of rack systems, and told me to lower the temps (my temps are spot on) so that the infection could resolve itself. Needless to say, I did not do this. It just didn't seem to me that BPs are common patients in that clinic.

I've heard Wiles Animal Hospital in Coral Springs is good. You may want to call and ask how many BPs they treat. It seems 'exotics' refers more to ferrets, bunnies, and iguanas.

Let me know if you want any more info.

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Broward Avian and Exotics Animal Hospital is the idiotic vet I was using. I was seeing Dr. Kelleher, so maybe you were treated by a different vet. I know they have three or so on staff. Personally, I will never go back there, and before you get treated the way I was, I definitely recommend that you hunt down a new vet as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

Broward Avian and Exotics Animal Hospital is the idiotic vet I was using. I was seeing Dr. Kelleher, so maybe you were treated by a different vet. I know they have three or so on staff. Personally, I will never go back there, and before you get treated the way I was, I definitely recommend that you hunt down a new vet as well.

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Same vet! I wasn't actually recommending her in my post, though. She did give my BP the correct treatment and I am happy about that, but she was telling me that racks don't provide the correct heat gradient, blah, blah. & when she told me to lower the temps to fight off the infection I figured I should find a new vet. Not too mention she almost wrestled my poor snake (who is really just shy).

But your visit sounds much worse than mine. I'm glad you posted because now I am definitely going to start calling vets & asking how much experience they have with BPs. The 'exotic vet' title is so misleading...

Yes, she explained to me that a tub set-up was a bad idea, and that he needed (at the very LEAST) a 40gal breeder, UV lights, etc. Everything that a ball python definitely does NOT need. She also handled my snake very roughly and that was entirely unneccessary. He was completely cooperating with her and not acting aggressive by any means, yet she was holding his neck so tightly I thought his eyes would pop out. If you go through and look at my previous posts you can see everything that occured. To say the least, I was not happy...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

Yes, she explained to me that a tub set-up was a bad idea, and that he needed (at the very LEAST) a 40gal breeder, UV lights, etc. Everything that a ball python definitely does NOT need. She also handled my snake very roughly and that was entirely unneccessary. He was completely cooperating with her and not acting aggressive by any means, yet she was holding his neck so tightly I thought his eyes would pop out. If you go through and look at my previous posts you can see everything that occured. To say the least, I was not happy...

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That was exactly everything she did with mine. I felt so bad when her mouth was squished from her holding the head so tight. I actually thought that the visit was going to traumatize my poor BP into never eating again. & she wanted me to bring her back, but I told her no (wasn't planning on taking her back for some more wrestling). I'm so sorry you went through it too. I thought I was being overly critical of the vet since I usually don't think very highly of many vets, doctors, etc. (with a few exceptions), but I was right then.

I thought the same thing: that I was being overly critical. But when I posted the experience here, everyone else seemed to agree with me. And, thinking back on it, if she really knew what she was doing, she wouldn't have told me they needed UV and all those millions of other things a ball python DOESN'T NEED. They have one girl there who prides herself on being the "reptile girl" because she has a few snakes or whatever. But she's the one that I spoke with on the phone when I needed his fecal float results. She's the one that pulled the whole, "Uh, well, it doesn't LOOK like he has parasites..." :rolleyes: Um, well, gee, don't you think you ought to run it a few times to make sure? Especially since I am, um, y'know, PAYING FOR THIS?

Gah, they make me so mad. :mad: Dont get me wrong - they were GREAT with my bunny. But I would NOT trust my birds to them, and I sure as h-e-double hockey sticks am not bringing anymore reptiles there.

Oh! And I'm finally able to put up some pictures. :D Not too much of a difference, but he has no more eyecaps, his color is darkening (only gone through one shed with me) and he's put on a little weight. Hope you all can tell from the pictures.

The comparison picture (same one I always post - from the day he got here)
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...l071308018.jpg

And from today:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...tesided018.jpg

:clap:

That's a handsome BP! It's awesome that he is now in great hands.

I really thought I was exaggerating too, but I was so turned off by the way she handled my snake. She looked like Rambo while she kept saying 'she's a strong snake. My, she's really strong'. First thing I did when I left the clinic was call my SO to tell him what a weirdo the vet was & how I did not like her bedside manner at all.

I think there should be a BOI for vets. Possibly by area...& I tell you, from now on I will be asking the percentage of BPs that are their patients.

HAHAHAHA! :8: @ the Rambo comment. :rofl: "She's a strong snake. My, she's a strong snake..." I can totally see Dr. K. saying that, as she's trying to cover up that she doesn't know what the heck she's doing.

Btw, guys, please let me know if you notice a difference in the pictures. I want to make sure I'm not crazy. :oops:

I see a big difference. He's nice & round in the 2nd pic. The first one some of his sides are caving in. I'd say he looks like he's gained quite a few grams. Good job!