WLP getting tested for Inclusion body disease.

[Bogertophis]

You're right- should have been more detailed, and listed all the meds, and the treatment plan. To be honest, I was pretty burnt out from all of this last year

I've searched around in the past, but used this place because while I worked for animal control, we regularly used them for treating injured wildlife. That, and I've used them in the past with other reptiles. They're supposed to be the "go-to" around here for exotics. And they're fairly close to me.

I still want to get him tested for the crypto of course, but if he keeps it down, they want me to bring him in 3 days from the successful feeding. I guess, to get a sample of his stomach contents for testing, if he doesn't "up" it, in which case, I'm to collect a sample of the fluids on the rodent. But I also don't want him to stress puke either.

I think I just have terrible luck with vets.

(Completely unrelated story,... while still being somewhat relevant to back that statement I just made, the last exotic vet clinic I went to actually killed one of my tiger salamanders in the single visit I made there. The vet told me I kept my salamander too cold", and took him into another room, where he apparently tried to "warm him up" with a hot wash cloth and heating pad. Brought him back into the room dead. I was devastated.
This same vet ended up getting arrested in a police sting for soliciting minors last year. )

And also, a pic of my guy from a couple of months ago






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Believe me, I can tell how stressful this has been for you. Gosh, he's a beautiful snake!

I think it goes with the territory- exotics (especially herps) are a challenge, & most vets in this field would starve if that's all they saw. So nearly all of them see way more than herps, therefore they don't have as much experience as we expect to see from vets that treat more typical pets (dogs & cats). And because it often goes poorly, or there's few or no exotic vet nearby, or because many of those who own herps are under-age (& may have unsupportive parents), some herp-keepers don't bother to see the vet because they already expect a poor outcome no matter what (or they're in the business & do their own medical care)- so our vets don't get the experience they need to get really good.

Add to that how stoic our snakes are and how much depends on us to describe every little thing to the vet. I've concluded that the local "go-to herp vet" is often so labeled because they're the only one around or the one most used. So [full disclosure] I don't have great luck with herp vets either. I wish I did. I'm so sorry about your salamander though...gee that was awful. I think we also have to realize that the reason we're less impressed with herp vets is because we already KNOW more than most of their walk-in pet-parents do, so it's harder to put things over on us. Many of us snake-keepers have learned to do a lot of our own research. BTW, I would avoid "stress-puking" your WLP also. He really needs some nourishment for a while.