Carefully research your options for proper veterinary care before you decide to purchase a reptile. Although the animal may be sold at a low-cost, the care it would take once you own it may be more than you bargain for! A vet must be experienced in reptile care and medicine to make a good provider for your reptile pet. Reptile care and medicine requires special education.
Although your sweet, jokester of an uncle may have thought it a hoot to give little Johnny that darling baby reptile for his first pet, the joke may be on you. There is a list of vets you can access over the internet for the Unites States of America, International, and Canada. Check with your local vets to determine their areas of expertise, experience, and limitations. Choosing A Vet:: Choosing right vet for you and your pet is an important decision and should be Animals News Products & Services Reptiles & Reptile Care Rescue & Welfare Jokes http://www.buzzle.com/articles/choosing-a-vet.htmlHOME |
You must make sure your vet will be comfortable handling your reptile. If the vet is uncomfortable, the animal will sense it and may become more of a problem. Once you get your animal, take it to the vet for a check-up even if it appears healthy. You may not be able to detect the problems a trained professional can find. Problems are not always readily seen by the eye. Maybe your reptile has parasites that you can't see just by looking at it. Choosing a Veterinarian | The Pet Health Zone:: For example, if you have a reptile try the Association of Reptile and Amphibian A visit to the vet revealed he was in the intial stages of hyperthyroidism. http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-owner-toposing-a-Veterinarian.aspxHOME |
Your vet should be willing to help you find the proper care for your reptile if he or she is not properly qualified. You will want to know this information before your pet becomes seriously ill or injured. Even if your vet isn't qualified, he/she may be able to provide temporary care until you can get your pet to the right person for the proper care.
It is a good idea to purchase a reptile that is already well-known as pet material. A pet that is new to the market will not be researched well enough yet.
Not many vet colleges offer the specialized medicine courses necessary for caring for ill reptiles. Test your vet with questions about temperature or food to see if they even have basic knowledge. Bearded Dragon Care Sheet, Bearded Dragons, Bearded Dragon Breeder :: Finding a good reptile vet in your area is not always easy but is necessary. Some people choose to feed their beardies in a separate tank to avoid this. http://www.sunshinedragons.com/caresheet.htmHOME | Choosing Your First Reptile or Amphibian - WNYHS:: What to look for when selecting a new pet It is also helpful for your vet to see your reptile or amphibian healthy so that http://www.wnyherp.org/resources/articles/choosing-healthy-pet.phpHOME |
If you try to treat the animal yourself with over-the-counter medications, you could be making your pet more ill. The medication sold in pet stores often has ingredients like tetracycline that isn't good for your reptile; or the shelf medicines just simply aren't strong enough to do any good and are a waste of your money. A pet store may sell certain items just to draw money, without properly researching the items themselves for their effectiveness. After all, the clerks aren't pharmacists.
If your vet has had special schooling required for reptile care, has he/she updated their knowledge recently? Are they aware of the latest treatments or medications? Do they have an interest in reptiles, conferences, or belong to any reptile associations?
If you're unable to contact your vet, or are unsatisfied with the information provided, you can try asking zoos, other reptile owners, or local pet adoption agencies for references to reptile vets. In any case, it will help for you to educate yourself in case of an emergency. At least you could provide basic care until you could reach a qualified professional.
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