First exotic vet bill.

[Chocolate Muffin's]

My BP is my first exotic pet, and I've just experienced my first vet bill. Here is what it looks like:

Physical Exam: $68.00
Gender ID (probe): $49.60
Fecal testing: $41.85
Biohazard Waste Mgmt: $4.99
---------------------------
Grand Total: $164.44

I'm concerned I was slightly hosed by my vet's bill... Especially since the three major questions which lead me to their office were left unanswered. For my 165$ I learned my snake is male (I feel stupid now for believing the previous owner when they told me he was female). I also learned that he does not have any parasites, and his overall health "seems okay".

I was surprised to see them passing along the waste management fee to me, and was also surprised a probing cost almost 50$. Plus, I can have my cat's poop tested for less than 15$ and it's far more foul than my snake's poop!

So am I just a big crybaby, or am I justified in feeling a little raw about the bill considering the service I received? Any feedback would be appreciated

Diana,

Please don’t feel too bad. I paid about $85 for Muffin’s first vet visit. Her gender was determined in the exam (as she was sold to me as male) and I checked her later to confirm, but I was not charged extra for that. However, her fecal tests were $50, and the salmonella test was $141. That’s right, nearly twice the cost of the exam.

I licked my wounds by telling myself that because this was a high-end vet with a laser surgery center, these costs were in alignment. What I got was an extremely informative vet, who gave Muffin a thorough exam, using everything from stethoscopes to other more technical devices to measure the health of my snake. My vet is a herp vet and only deals with reptiles, and the Laser Center has a very large practice. I also liked how the assistants loved-up on Little Muffin, and washed their hands prior to and after handling. I don’t know, I felt really good about my exam, but thought I got hosed on the Salmonella test.

[seeya205]

The reptile store in my area will probe for free. You should have asked around before going to the vet. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way! I know I have!

[Dianna]

If you've looked that closely and haven't found any mites, you probably don't have them.

Got pics?

How far down the tail did the probe go?

The vet felt it was necessary to take my snake out back to do the probing, so I was unable to watch. This made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable, yet I stupidly did not speak up because I was the one who had requested the probing. I deeply regret this now. I should have never let my snake leave my sight. My poor decision has made me feel irresponsible.

Thus far I have been unsuccessful in getting a photo of the red spot under his chin, he refuses to hold still as you can imagine.

Here is a photo of the blood I've been finding on his newsprint paper:

[Dianna]

The reptile store in my area will probe for free. You should have asked around before going to the vet. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way! I know I have!

The closest thing I have to a "reptile store" in my area is Petco :-/

I have also been unsuccessful at finding other reptile vets. The closest thing to a "breeder" I have come across is someone in southern New Hampshire that breeds pastels and spiders and sells them on craigslist

[wilomn]

Don't beat yourself up, we all make mistakes in the beginning and yours aren't so much mistakes just not knowing what to do.

Find a breeder or go to a show and have someone double check your snake's sex. Ask the vet how far the probe went and if that was the only method used to determine sex.

Then move on and have some fun with your snake. You sound like you care, don't dwell on what you can't change.

[steveboos]

Yeah that bill is outrageous, but i know thats what i'm going to pay when i have to go. I called them up just to see how much to walk in the door, $70. I also asked how much to probe a snake and she didn't know but i asked if it was lower than $20 and she said no. Thats why i am being very careful with my quarantine process and buying healthy legitimate animals to avoid the vet trip, but at least i have a very good one near me.

[Big Gunns]

WOW my last vet visit for one of my snakes was free. And she told me if the incident ever happened again she would do it for half off. I could not see paying 50 dollars for someone to probe my snake that should of been included in the vet exam.

This is probably because she felt guilty taking your money because she had no idea what she was doing. BG would bet on it.

The vet felt it was necessary to take my snake out back to do the probing, so I was unable to watch. This made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable, yet I stupidly did not speak up because I was the one who had requested the probing. I deeply regret this now. I should have never let my snake leave my sight. My poor decision has made me feel irresponsible.

Thus far I have been unsuccessful in getting a photo of the red spot under his chin, he refuses to hold still as you can imagine.

Here is a photo of the blood I've been finding on his newsprint paper:

The Vet may have not known how to sex it and had someone else do it, or they just guessed. Believe BG, some Vets are totally clueless. Someone told BG that a Vet was putting the probe in the wrong direction....then told him the sex of his snake.

My BP is my first exotic pet, and I've just experienced my first vet bill. Here is what it looks like:

Physical Exam: $68.00
Gender ID (probe): $49.60
Fecal testing: $41.85
Biohazard Waste Mgmt: $4.99
---------------------------
Grand Total: $164.44

I'm concerned I was slightly hosed by my vet's bill... Especially since the three major questions which lead me to their office were left unanswered. For my 165$ I learned my snake is male (I feel stupid now for believing the previous owner when they told me he was female). I also learned that he does not have any parasites, and his overall health "seems okay".

I was surprised to see them passing along the waste management fee to me, and was also surprised a probing cost almost 50$. Plus, I can have my cat's poop tested for less than 15$ and it's far more foul than my snake's poop!

So am I just a big crybaby, or am I justified in feeling a little raw about the bill considering the service I received? Any feedback would be appreciated

Do not assume this Vet is correct and the previous owner is wrong. BG has heard so many stories over the years about Vets from people at reptile shows. When BG tells the people that their Vet is clueless...he gets a lot of "who are you...he's a Vet" looks. To be perfectly honest, if our snakes were humans, there would be so many malpractice suits, lawyers would do nothing else.

When Crittervet shows up, he can tell you if you got hosed. Well, he might, or he might defend the Vet no matter what.

[PolkaDotPenguin]

Girl if i were u i would send them a not so nice letter explainging everything. I then would also contact the BBB. You got jacked. But i would be pretty upset that they didnt answer you questions. I would have demanded more answers, or simply not paid the bill.

[BPBandit]

That is ridiculous. I'd write that vet a very nice, straight forward letter and let her know that she / he will not be getting any more of your business nor will you encourage any of your NUMEROUS reptile keeping friends to visit that clinic due to the outrageous nature of the billing.

as an edit. I would also like to let anyone in the Colorado springs area know that i took one of my pets to the Dublin Animal Hospital and got an exam, and wonderful care for a fairly decent price.

Say under $130 please

[withonor]

Haven't brought a reptile in but I do have a dwarf bunny with an underbite. When I first got him I wasn't comfortable with cutting his teeth so I called the vet that my mom had used for her cats. $17.95 to cut the teeth so I schedule an appointment. Before I left:

$17.95 teeth cutting
$55.00 put him to sleep
$39.00 first time visit
$25.00 shot for dehydration

I'm missing something... All I know is that I went in thinking ~$20 and left paying over $160. Last time I ever went there. I'll never support a facility that cares more about money than the animals.