"They may have gotten into the field because they want to help animals but if it can't help them pay the bills it becomes a lower priority."

On the contrary, exotics medicine is a much higher paying field (at least that is the trend in the Houston area). Unfortunately, therein lies part of the problem...a client will often "take what they can get" from their small animal veterinarian to avoid paying more at an exotics practice. Every vet that I have worked for that doesn't specialize in exotics has been up front with a client if posed with the question of whether or not he or she "sees reptiles"...if the client insists, the vet would do his or her best, but would ALWAYS treat with the understanding that exotics were not their specialty. Perhaps there are other unscrupulous vets out there (I wouldn't be surprised), but please keep in mind, if these folks were in it for the money, they would have become human doctors. I can assure ya'll that if I added up all of the services that we've given away for free simply because "somebody doesn't have the money," or literally just leaves without paying, the sum would amount to more than I make in a year. Just my 2 cents (and a different perspective)!