Opinions on vet visits?

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What are your guys opinions on vet visits? Do you do them often or at all? Are their issues you ran into? is it actually more dangerous? overpriced? anything and everything I wanna know! :)

I posted about wanting to take my tort to the vet for a check up before hibernation but got feedback that most vets don’t actually know much about tortoises and can even give them injections they don’t need. I am a bit worried and will most likely cancel since I just wanted a check up and Chibi isn’t showing signs of illness that I can tell.

It got me curious to know how others feel about vets.
 

mark1

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i think i'm more pro vet than the vast majority here , i wouldn't take a turtle or tortoise or a dog or a cat to a vet unless i had too ....... long periods of not eating ,when there supposed to be eating , and serious injuries are about the only time i'd ever use a vet ......as far as telling if a turtle or tortoise is in good enough condition to hibernate ..... i'd look at whether they acted normal up to the time they started acting like they were going to hibernate ..... they shouldn't feel light for their size ,there nose should have no discharge , there eyes should be wide open and clear/bright , when they struggle to get out your hand they should feel strong .......... they should disappear when they're supposed to , they shouldn't be sitting out in the open in the cold ..... this perspective is for turtles or tortoises left outside to hibernate naturally ..... indoors , i've never hibernated an indoor turtle ,i have left them outside to start hibernating, dug them up and brought them indoors to hibernate them in a refrigerator.......
 

OliveW

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I scheduled a well check for my tortoise after we got him, but it was to check out the vet as much as it was to check out the tort.

They did want a fecal sample to check for parasites, which I thought was a positive. They didn't try to give him any shots or meds and gave me care instructions that match what I already learned here. I'm pretty comfortable with them and they are local. They have vets there that have different specialties from exotics to livestock.

My motivation was really to find him a good vet in case the time comes that there is an emergency. I wanted him to be an established patient.
 

SinLA

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I love my vet to pieces, been using him for 15 years. When he heard I got a tortoise he told me to bring him in, because he sees torts, chickens and other things besides dogs and cats. Well, I love him, but it was clear he really didn't know anything particular about them. Did a fecal sample (parasite free, yay) but all I learned is that my vet is amazing with dogs and cats, but that's as far as it goes. But I'm lucky, there are good tort vets in my area, so I'm told. I haven't had to use one yet...
 

ZEROPILOT

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I've got a fantastic tortoise and reptile vet. But I only bring in animals that I know are sick and that I've already done everything I can do myself first.
I don't do "check up"s or yearly wellness checks like I do for my dog. I've just found it totally unnecessary.
(I used to)
 
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I've got a fantastic tortoise and reptile vet. But I only bring in animals that I know are sick and that I've already done everything I can do myself first.
I don't do "check up"s or yearly wellness checks like I do for my dog. I've just found it totally unnecessary.
(I used to)
That’s what im also worried about. like is it a waste of my time and money? or should i go through with it to check the vet out on how they are with tortoises?
 

ZEROPILOT

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That’s what im also worried about. like is it a waste of my time and money? or should i go through with it to check the vet out on how they are with tortoises?
Don't allow any injections.
If the vet even mentions "vitamins"...you've got a novice vet.
If the initial cost is worth your peace of mind, there's no harm.
Just don't authorize any medical interventions right away. Too many vets go off of old information
 

wellington

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You know my opinion already from the other thread. But I think you wont be comfortable unless you take him into a vet. You have many posts already tell you it's not needed but you still question it.
It will be a waste of time and money but that doesn't matter if you can't let it go and be at peace with it.
Do as ZEROPILOT said. Take him in but dont let them give and injections, don't pay for medicine until you come back on here and ask if the med is okay for tortoises.
Ask questions if they want to give meds or injections. Like for what? Don't let them treat for parasites unless they actually run a fecal test. Many members don't ask questions or will just do what the vet says even if no tests were done.
If you don't want to waste your time or money then cancel the appointment and be fine with it. More tortoises have probably never seen a vet then that has.
 

Tom

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That’s what im also worried about. like is it a waste of my time and money? or should i go through with it to check the vet out on how they are with tortoises?
I started working in pet stores in the 80s. I was typically the kid sent to the vet with anything that needed it. Through college I worked with many more vets, including one that was an instructor at my 2 year animal vocational program. Then I went to work in the film business and got to know several company owners and other trainers that all have large compounds full of all sorts of animals. Through all of that time, I've kept my own reptiles which periodically needed vet help. Then my girlfriend, now wife, went to work as a veterinary consultant working with all the vets in our area. Many of them are friends and share holidays and special occasions with us now. One of them lived with us for 8 months. In short, I know a lot of vets, and have worked with dozens over all the years.

There are only a few that I would take a tortoise to, and even then, I watch what they are doing closely. Many of them call ME for tortoise husbandry advice, while I defer to their knowledge and skill at surgery and dispensing medications. There is no semester on tortoise care in vet school. Most vets get all their tortoise care info from the same wrong sources that the general public get their wrong info from. Most vets talk to the patient in the room, and then go back and look in a vet handbook, or now they use vet websites, to look up what to do. These are the vets that come back into the room and stupidly proclaim "vitamin injection...". There are a few vets that I know that are super knowledgeable, experienced, insightful, and really keep up on their continuing education. There are other vets, like the one mentioned above, that are nice people and are super competent with the usual dog and cat issues, but don't know much about torts or other reptiles.

Finding a good one can be a challenge. I agree with what @ZEROPILOT said in post number 7. Try one out. Meet them and get your tortoise on file with them, so you are not a brand new unknown customer if you ever do have a problem. Running a fecal check is a good idea, but also be aware that some worms are commensal, if not symbiotic, and even parasitic worms in low numbers are sometimes less harmful than the medications used to exterminate them.
 
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You know my opinion already from the other thread. But I think you wont be comfortable unless you take him into a vet. You have many posts already tell you it's not needed but you still question it.
It will be a waste of time and money but that doesn't matter if you can't let it go and be at peace with it.
Do as ZEROPILOT said. Take him in but dont let them give and injections, don't pay for medicine until you come back on here and ask if the med is okay for tortoises.
Ask questions if they want to give meds or injections. Like for what? Don't let them treat for parasites unless they actually run a fecal test. Many members don't ask questions or will just do what the vet says even if no tests were done.
If you don't want to waste your time or money then cancel the appointment and be fine with it. More tortoises have probably never seen a vet then that has.
I wanted to update you! I decided to take her to the vet after all because I saw she had pink on her stomach that I was concerned about and i wanted to get her beak trimmed. She is healthy but the pink that I was worried about is irritation from trying to climb out of her enclosure. He suggested to epoxy it so if she continues to try and climb out, it would wear out the epoxy instead of her shell. So now I ask, is there a brand of epoxy you recommend that’s safe for tortoises? I’m going to hibernate her so she should be good for a while anyway. This also gives me the chance to expand her enclosure more :) OH the vet was nice too, he also owns tortoises so that makes me feel a lot better. I apologize for being spammy about my worries btw!
 

wellington

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I would not epoxy her shell. I'm glad you liked the vet but personally I believe that was bad advice. Don't let the fact she has tortoises convince you to drop your guard. She may be a very good tortoise vet but you should always keep your guard up.
Post pics of the red Mark's and your enclosure and we can help you fix what might be the problem or let you know if the Mark's are something else.
 
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I would not epoxy her shell. I'm glad you liked the vet but personally I believe that was bad advice. Don't let the fact she has tortoises convince you to drop your guard. She may be a very good tortoise vet but you should always keep your guard up.
Post pics of the red Mark's and your enclosure and we can help you fix what might be the problem or let you know if the Mark's are something else.
oh, I’m shocked that’s not good to do. Okay!! Ill post them tomorrow! Thank you :)
 
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wellington

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oh, I’m shocked that’s not good to do. Okay!! Ill post them tomorrow! Thank you :)
I I wouldn't do it but I do know some do use epoxy to stick on a information tag etc. But you can't get it on the growth lines. I would fix the problem within the enclosure before I would use epoxy.
See what others say. I just think it's bad advice without first seeing the enclosure and trying to fix that first if that's even the problem.
 
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I I wouldn't do it but I do know some do use epoxy to stick on a information tag etc. But you can't get it on the growth lines. I would fix the problem within the enclosure before I would use epoxy.
See what others say. I just think it's bad advice without first seeing the enclosure and trying to fix that first if that's even the problem.
Oh the vet did tell me to work on the enclosure but in addition to the epoxy. I rather work on the enclosure first then before messing with her shell
 
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