Routine Vet Visit?

[KTyne]

Hi guys!
I've had my little Cherry Head Tortoise for 2 weeks now and I was wondering if it is recommended to bring them in for a "welcome home" vet exam to get a fecal done and other tests? I want my little buddy to be as healthy as possible but I also don't want to stress her out with an unnecessary vet visit if it isn't needed.

So far no worries. She has eaten every day since the day I got her, she has no physical ailments that I can see, no respiratory issues that I can tell, she poops regularly when I soak her and her poop looks normal (or as normal as I can determine being only used to gecko and snake poop, ha).

So what do you all think? She is my only Tortoise at this point in time so I am not worried about her passing anything on to any current residents.

 

[peasinapod]

Personally I'd get a poop sample checked out. My vet doesn't need to see the tortoise for that.

 

[G-stars]

To be honest I wouldn't take my tortoises to a vet unless I needed to. However I do take them the stool samples. I feel like most vets wouldn't even know where to start with examining a tortoise.

 

[peasinapod]

To be honest I wouldn't take my tortoises to a vet unless I needed to. However I do take them the stool samples. I feel like most vets wouldn't even know where to start with examining a tortoise.

Agreed. Peter gets a fecal test each year, especially because I hibernate him.

I only take him to the vet if it is needed though.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

My vet wont do any tests without seeing my tortoises. I only go there if I already know of an illness. It seems that my guess is just as good....and cheaper.

 

[Jodie]

I agree with the above. When i take mine to the vet, i tell them what ailment i need verified and get meds. I don't trust vets with tortoises.

 

[KTyne]

Thanks guys! Thankfully we have an amazing exotics specialist near where I live. It's the best reptile vet around and is recommended by the local Reptile and Amphibian Society as well as basically everyone within 2 hours drive that owns reptiles, hahaha.
Sucks though because they also won't treat an animal without seeing it. If I brought a fecal in and it tested positive for parasites or what have you I'd have to bring her in anyways. :\

 

[peasinapod]

Thanks guys! Thankfully we have an amazing exotics specialist near where I live. It's the best reptile vet around and is recommended by the local Reptile and Amphibian Society as well as basically everyone within 2 hours drive that owns reptiles, hahaha.
Sucks though because they also won't treat an animal without seeing it. If I brought a fecal in and it tested positive for parasites or what have you I'd have to bring her in anyways. :\

My vet doesn't treat without seeing as well, but he will do fecal checks without the tortoise being there. Will he check the sample straight away? I only get the results the next day, so bringin my tortoise wouldn't achieve anything.

As long as it isn't every day I don't think your tortoise will be all that traumatized.

 

[KTyne]

Yeah you can bring in a fecal and they'll check it but if anything shows up you have to bring the Tortoise in for an exam before they'll give you any medication or anything. I realize it's a liability thing but it's still annoying, lol.
I'm more worried about the fact that it's winter and it's difficult to keep these guys warm on the journey when it's like -30C out. :\

 

[Jodie]

Maybe nothing will show up and problem solved.

 

[KTyne]

That's very true, lol. It costs about $60 for just a fecal though, so lame! I wish vet costs were as cheap here as they are in the States. :\ I think I'll get her checked out after Christmas. Right now money is tight (for everyone I assume!) and a month back we had to fork out a bunch of money to deal with my Cat having a UTI.
I have no worries with her right now so the check up can wait a month. ^_^