How important are annual vet visits?

[Kinra]

Thanks everyone. The vet I took my snakes too says he's experienced with exotics, but I really don't believe it. Putting pretty pictures of reptiles and birds on the wall does not convince me you know any thing. I'm pretty sure he keeps corn snakes, but those are not the same as BPs. I did find another vet that's relatively close to me and it sounds like he has a lot of experience working with BPs, but if annual exams are not really necessary (like they are for my dog) then I'm not going to waste my money. I weigh my snakes about every 2 weeks and I keep track of when they eat, what they ate and when they shed, along with any other things I noticed. My collection is small enough that I know all of my snakes pretty well because I handle them frequently. I actually spent like 10 minutes this morning explaining their different personalities to a friend.

[kitedemon]

A vet with herp experience great if you have one if not a vet that is willing to work with you is the next best thing. I learned that fecals really need to be done. I have a little snake that I know 100% have NEVER had live food not her first meal or any since. I assumed (you know the saying) that there was no way that she could have internal parasites... right? WRONG tapeworm.

Freezing takes up to 24 hours to kill all traces of tapeworms and apparently 36 is recommended.

Feeder rats do often carry tape worms too and transfer happens. I am in the process if getting all my animals fecal exams now. As for a basic check up my vet is quite good it is a fecal exam and a general condition, weight and RI for 120$ It is a lot but not a total rip off. I'm still not likely to take all mine for a check up if there is nothing wrong but I am having fecals done on all of them !

[Kinra]

A vet with herp experience great if you have one if not a vet that is willing to work with you is the next best thing. I learned that fecals really need to be done. I have a little snake that I know 100% have NEVER had live food not her first meal or any since. I assumed (you know the saying) that there was no way that she could have internal parasites... right? WRONG tapeworm.

Freezing takes up to 24 hours to kill all traces of tapeworms and apparently 36 is recommended.

Feeder rats do often carry tape worms too and transfer happens. I am in the process if getting all my animals fecal exams now. As for a basic check up my vet is quite good it is a fecal exam and a general condition, weight and RI for 120$ It is a lot but not a total rip off. I'm still not likely to take all mine for a check up if there is nothing wrong but I am having fecals done on all of them !

Yeah, my vet recommended that I get a fecal done, the problem is, it has to be a fresh sample (like within 8-12 hours), so I haven't been able to get a good sample yet. My snakes don't like to cooperate.

[kitedemon]

I am as I said in the process of... read waiting for snakes to go... I have some sample bottles with some presertive the vet gave me for the job. Labelled and waiting.... They even came with a little 'shovel'