Original airdate: Sunday, April 7, 2024
A relationship with veterinarian is vital to the wellbeing of your reptile. Routine check-ups are recommended to monitor your reptile's overall health and catch any potential issues early.
One of the most critical steps in caring for your snake or other reptile is establishing a relationship with an exotic veterinarian.
Our reptile veterinarian is a Fear Free Certified veterinarian at a Fear Free Certified Practice and a member of ARAV, the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians. Fear Free and ARAV have search functions on their websites to help you locate veterinarians in your area. If you can’t find a vet locally with these qualifications you can ask local vets if they reptiles, what their experience is with them, if they or any of their staff are Fear Free Certified or if they practice low-stress handling techniques. You can ask what the exam will entail and if you will be able to hold your animal and remain present. Ask questions and let them know your expectations up front. This way before you book an appointment you and they have an idea of each other’s expectations and have established clear communication.
Routine check-ups ensure that your snake or other reptile is in optimal health, free from diseases, parasites, and any underlying issues like bacterial, fungal, or viral infections, or diseases like cancer.
Your vet will start with a physical examination. They will check your reptile's body condition, skin, eyes, mouth, heart, and lungs, and assess weight. Your vet may screen for parasites. This is usually done by obtaining a fecal sample and doing a laboratory analysis on it.
Other preventative screening may be conducted. Depending on the species they might screen for Chlamydia, Cryptosporidium, Ferlavirus, Reptarenavirus (Inclusion body Disease), and Serpentovirus (aka nidovirus). Things like cryptosporidium show up in a fecal test but virus screening is done by swabbing inside the mouth. Your vet will send samples off to a lab such as The Zoological Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Your vet will ask about your snake’s most recent shed and shed history and then can offer advice if needed. Your vet may discuss diet, feeding practices, and depending on your reptile species, supplements. They may ask if you’re providing UVB and what the reptile’s general environment is like.
If something unusual is found during the initial exam, your vet may recommend diagnostic tests like cultures, ultrasound, or X-rays. If something is determined to be wrong, bloodwork and later anesthesia may be necessary for procedures or surgery. Your vet will safely administer sedation or anesthesia.
By establishing a relationship with an exotic veterinarian they will already be familiar with your animal so that if or when an emergency happens they are likely to be able to get you in sooner than if you were a new patient.
There are thousands of species of snakes and other reptiles, and your vet cannot be expected to be an expert on every single one. If you have a species that is not common, make sure you provide your veterinarian with resources and details about the species natural history and biology.
Please remember to always be kind and love your animals.
Vocabulary
Ecdysis: the process of molting or shedding the outer layer of skin or exoskeleton in animals.
Endoparasite: a parasite that lives inside the body of its host. They can reside in various organs, tissues, or body cavities, and they may cause diseases or health problems in their hosts.
Ectoparasite: parasites that live on the outer surface of their host's body. They can include various organisms such as ticks, fleas, lice, mites, and some types of flies. Ectoparasites often feed on the blood or tissues of their hosts and can transmit diseases or cause irritation and discomfort.
Chemical restraint: This refers to the use of medications control the behavior or movement of an individual in a medical or veterinary context and are used under strict guidelines to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the individual receiving the medication.
Resources
ASSOCIATION OF REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN VETERINARIANS: arav.org/
FEAR FREE PETS: fearfreepets.c...
CRITTER CARE ANIMAL HOSPITAL: www.critterhos...
MADER’S REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN MEDICINE AND SURGERY: www.sciencedir...
MERCK VETERINARY MANUAL: www.merckvetma...
BEHAVIOR EDUCATION AT SPIRIT KEEPER ANIMAL SANCTUARY: www.behaviored...
BEHAVIOR EDUCATION ON PATREON: / behavioreducation
13 сен 2024
