I've never had to take a tort to the vet. Although if I had to I wouldn't have a problem with it. Minus the cost but there's really no way around that.
VET
- Thread starter MORTYtheTORTY
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Arizona Sulcata said:
Just like greg's zoo I'm sure yours wouldn't need one either unless something drastic happened since your Torts all look so healthy and thriving. From hatchling to Adult, you have some good look'n torts! Will post pics of your babies and the enclosure once I get them in a few days =D I can't wait Austin, I'm soooo impatient!
Haha they'll be there before you know it! 
Arizona Sulcata said:Haha they'll be there before you know it!
I can't help it, I'm so anxious and jittery and I hate when your waiting for something or really want something bad and it makes the time so much slower HAHA Since we had daylight savings time can we jump ahead a day hahahahahaha
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He had pin worms (I think that's the right name. They're sort of U-shaped with pointy ends). They were moving in the microscope slide so they might have been larva.MORTYtheTORTY said:
MORTYtheTORTY said:Arizona Sulcata said:Haha they'll be there before you know it!
I can't help it, I'm so anxious and jittery and I hate when your waiting for something or really want something bad and it makes the time so much slower HAHA Since we had daylight savings time can we jump ahead a day hahahahahaha
My tortoises see their vet every day....hahaha. Seriously, if you are going to own a tortoise or other exotic pet, please make sure to find a veterinarian that is willing and able to meet your needs AHEAD OF TIME. Another thing, if your animal becomes ill....DO NOT ignore it until it is soo sick that is can no longer move, hasn't eaten in 2 months and its eyes are so sunken in that they can no longer be seen...WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. Resist the temptation to purchase over-the-counter antibiotics recommended by the armchair veterinarian down the street or TFO member (sorry guys and gals)...you may be altering information that I need to correctly diagnose and treat the problem. Free advice, take it or don't....just remember it. Doc
Betty's beak broke because she was biting rocks. The vet said she wasn't in pain and didn't want to sedate her to clip her beak down. It is wearing down nicely, just like he said it would.
The vet said she wasn't in pain and didn't want to sedate her to clip her beak down. It is wearing down nicely, just like he said it would.My vet has been a die-hard herper for longer than I've been alive, and one of his passions is the small breeding group of sulcatas he has currently. I trust his knowledge in herp medicine, certainly with African species (where he was a missionary for many years) and especially tortoises.
@kerryann that's great news =D
@StudentoftheReptile...I wish I had your vet LOL The vet I take my dogs and strays to, also does reptiles and the way they rip me off left to right makes me wonder. I think I will look for a vet that specifically does reps but I haven't seen one other than the one I go to =/ My current vet makes me pay more for things they and I already know..If I call them out then they will stop and be honest but it's seems it's all about money to them and lots of people go in there. I took in a few strays one time and he tried to get me to neuter/spay them <--SERIOUSLY?! I dish out so much of my own money with no help AND give them away for free to a new home if I can. I'm no Vet or Rescue but I do what I can and if I was a Vet then I would look into neuter and spaying strays but I can't do that with every stray I get =/ Since 2011 I rescued 6 strays and delivered 6 pups from one and it cost ALOT of money and the vets were no help and I've been with them since I moved out here...IDK why I haven't looked around for other vets and prices but they are closer to me so that's why I go there and they are open when others aren't. They are open till midnight every day just in case emergency.
@StudentoftheReptile...I wish I had your vet LOL The vet I take my dogs and strays to, also does reptiles and the way they rip me off left to right makes me wonder. I think I will look for a vet that specifically does reps but I haven't seen one other than the one I go to =/ My current vet makes me pay more for things they and I already know..If I call them out then they will stop and be honest but it's seems it's all about money to them and lots of people go in there. I took in a few strays one time and he tried to get me to neuter/spay them <--SERIOUSLY?! I dish out so much of my own money with no help AND give them away for free to a new home if I can. I'm no Vet or Rescue but I do what I can and if I was a Vet then I would look into neuter and spaying strays but I can't do that with every stray I get =/ Since 2011 I rescued 6 strays and delivered 6 pups from one and it cost ALOT of money and the vets were no help and I've been with them since I moved out here...IDK why I haven't looked around for other vets and prices but they are closer to me so that's why I go there and they are open when others aren't. They are open till midnight every day just in case emergency.
ALDABRAMAN said:MORTYtheTORTY said:Arizona Sulcata said:Haha they'll be there before you know it!
I can't help it, I'm so anxious and jittery and I hate when your waiting for something or really want something bad and it makes the time so much slower HAHA Since we had daylight savings time can we jump ahead a day hahahahahaha
Dude, at least half of your posts are nothing more than emoticon. Are we supposed to know what your point is?
I have a deal with my vet (because mostly what I bring him are rescued that will be adopted out). He only charges me what it costs him (no labor).
Shelly said:ALDABRAMAN said:MORTYtheTORTY said:Arizona Sulcata said:Haha they'll be there before you know it!
I can't help it, I'm so anxious and jittery and I hate when your waiting for something or really want something bad and it makes the time so much slower HAHA Since we had daylight savings time can we jump ahead a day hahahahahaha
Dude, at least half of your posts are nothing more than emoticon. Are we supposed to know what your point is?
What's your point???
emysemys said:
See..I wish I had a vet that worked with me! When I was brand new he was cheap and over time it seems like he's trying to get all my money the best way he can because he knows I'm a sucker for animals!
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Funny enough, I guess I am the odd one out. I take my torts to a vet annually. I had to find a good vet when I got Viola, because she had an upper respiratory infection, and mild shell rot. She was a pet store tortoise, so no surprise she wasn't doing so well. At least her fecal test was negative for parasites. The initial visit was discounted because I was a new client. So I just had to pay the $30 for medication. She had a few re-checks after that, with the exam fee being around $50 and any meds making visits anywhere from $70 to $80.
I take her to the vet every June even when she's not sick. My vet has a keen eye, and gives her a good look down. I see my tortoise every day, so gradual changes over time aren't very noticeable to me. Maybe her shell is looking a little more roughed up, maybe her breathing is a little wheezy...Things that happen very slowly over the next year aren't very noticeable, because I get used to seeing it. But my vet who only sees her once a year, can notice these changes. She can tell me if she's not the proper weight, if her shell is looking bad, if there's any subtle changes that I haven't noticed. I guess what I'm trying to say is that taking her to the vet yearly is ideal for me, because we can detect any subtle changes in health before they become a huge illness. Also having them outside in the summer I like to do yearly fecal tests to check for parasites, just in case. Its more preventative than anything. And when you live 50+ years, its a good thing to stay on top of your health.
Now this is what I do. Obviously I'm the odd one out. Most people here don't take their torts for annual checkups. So I'm definitely not going to disagree with anyone here about not having annual care. If you're a good herp owner, you probably won't even need it. Its probably, in the end, excessive and probably not needed, but it doesn't hurt either and you may like that peace of mind knowing your tort is doing fine, or you may be surprised at what the vet finds that you never noticed.
In the end what you do is your choice.
I take her to the vet every June even when she's not sick. My vet has a keen eye, and gives her a good look down. I see my tortoise every day, so gradual changes over time aren't very noticeable to me. Maybe her shell is looking a little more roughed up, maybe her breathing is a little wheezy...Things that happen very slowly over the next year aren't very noticeable, because I get used to seeing it. But my vet who only sees her once a year, can notice these changes. She can tell me if she's not the proper weight, if her shell is looking bad, if there's any subtle changes that I haven't noticed. I guess what I'm trying to say is that taking her to the vet yearly is ideal for me, because we can detect any subtle changes in health before they become a huge illness. Also having them outside in the summer I like to do yearly fecal tests to check for parasites, just in case. Its more preventative than anything. And when you live 50+ years, its a good thing to stay on top of your health.
Now this is what I do. Obviously I'm the odd one out. Most people here don't take their torts for annual checkups. So I'm definitely not going to disagree with anyone here about not having annual care. If you're a good herp owner, you probably won't even need it. Its probably, in the end, excessive and probably not needed, but it doesn't hurt either and you may like that peace of mind knowing your tort is doing fine, or you may be surprised at what the vet finds that you never noticed.
In the end what you do is your choice.
@Lunartwist...Gbless you! That's awesome and I bet your torts are very happy....hell, your making me very happy hahaha
Morty (and others), I definitely know what you mean about vets wanting to rip you off.
My vet is great because he "one of us" i.e. a herper. There's a lot he understands about general reptile husbandry and care that is, quite simply, not taught in veterinary school. And since we can all more or less agree that the vast majority of herp maladies occur because of improper husbandry practices, this can lead to a lot of misdiagnoses and unnecessary treatments for sick reptiles when perhaps the humidity or temps aren't quite right, or the substrate is wrong, etc.
The only other real vet in our area is very knowledgeable in reptile medicine. However, she is not what I would really call a "herper." She keeps a couple snakes and lizards there in her clinic, but she isn't really immersed in the herp community like the other vet is, and like many of us on this forum are. She can tell you a lot about the anatomy and physiology of reptiles, as well as different types of medicine and the types of illnesses they're used to treat. But she likely does not keep up with ongoing advances in what we real herpers are constantly learning about in herp husbandry. If a tortoise came into her clinic, she would probably automatically tell you it was caused by a high protein diet and poor lighting, without asking you anything about how you keep it.
That's the main difference between her and my vet. The first thing he'll do when you come in with the "patient" is push the container with the sick animal aside, and start talking with you about how you're keeping it, its set-up, etc. Most of the time, he can determine that there's something amiss with the way you're keeping it, before automatically trying to find something pathologically wrong that he can prescribe an expensive drug for.
LOL...if HSUS and PETA really want to be helpful, they could push to have it where we can claim our pets as dependents!
My vet is great because he "one of us" i.e. a herper. There's a lot he understands about general reptile husbandry and care that is, quite simply, not taught in veterinary school. And since we can all more or less agree that the vast majority of herp maladies occur because of improper husbandry practices, this can lead to a lot of misdiagnoses and unnecessary treatments for sick reptiles when perhaps the humidity or temps aren't quite right, or the substrate is wrong, etc.
The only other real vet in our area is very knowledgeable in reptile medicine. However, she is not what I would really call a "herper." She keeps a couple snakes and lizards there in her clinic, but she isn't really immersed in the herp community like the other vet is, and like many of us on this forum are. She can tell you a lot about the anatomy and physiology of reptiles, as well as different types of medicine and the types of illnesses they're used to treat. But she likely does not keep up with ongoing advances in what we real herpers are constantly learning about in herp husbandry. If a tortoise came into her clinic, she would probably automatically tell you it was caused by a high protein diet and poor lighting, without asking you anything about how you keep it.
That's the main difference between her and my vet. The first thing he'll do when you come in with the "patient" is push the container with the sick animal aside, and start talking with you about how you're keeping it, its set-up, etc. Most of the time, he can determine that there's something amiss with the way you're keeping it, before automatically trying to find something pathologically wrong that he can prescribe an expensive drug for.
LOL...if HSUS and PETA really want to be helpful, they could push to have it where we can claim our pets as dependents!
@StudentoftheReptile: Wouldn't that be something if you can claim your pets as a dependent? hahaha My tax return would be hefty (or hefty'er) hahaha is that even a word. Is there a limit on how many torts you can have? I need to double check with my county but it's not like I stick to the rules since I had alot of dogs in my home at one point but it's temporary, I'm not a animal hoarder LOL There's just alot of folks that don't care where I live.
As for the Vet...I seriously need to find a good one for Herps because I don't even trust my vet with my dogs. My Vet can't even keep up with my files properly
As for the Vet...I seriously need to find a good one for Herps because I don't even trust my vet with my dogs. My Vet can't even keep up with my files properly
All of you guys talking about vets ripping you off....just imagine what it costs to run a hospital, buy the medications, all the equipment and pay the staff that takes care of you pet when you bring them in. My girlfriend and i are both vet techs and let me tell you, most vets and vet tech are not in it for the money, we get paid very little. You can work at starbucks and make more money then what we do, but we do it for the love of the animals. Now that being said, almost every night i get yelled at by people that cannot afford to take care of their pets, i have been told that i am the one killing their animal because i am not willing to take care of it for free.....just remember everything costs money. you think they are ripping you off because you have insurance for yourself and do not realize how much it costs for medications and tests.
Another thing having a pet is a luxury not a necessity....if you cannot afford to take care of them properly then dont have them.
Another thing having a pet is a luxury not a necessity....if you cannot afford to take care of them properly then dont have them.
WOW JESST REALLY?!?!! First of all you don't know any of us or what we really go through! I've been to good vets and bad ones. The one I happen to be going to currently is BAD! I don't care about meds...yes I pay for meds and proper care but when you are being ripped off, that's not good! I looked into becoming a Vet Tech and yes I do know you guys do not get paid enough but like you said you aren't in it for the money and niether will I be once I start schooling but you know a good vet from bad vet. If my vet properly did what they have to then I wouldn't be complaining! I pay lots of money and YES I can afford and properly care for them but if you worked in my vets office you would soon see how they are at work. Not all vets are bad but it's a 50/50 so don't take things personal, I'm sure you're a good Vet tech but not everyone has integrity!
jesst said:
You do make a good point, and I did genuinely forget to mention that in my previous post.
I don't have a problem paying whatever price they charge. I know they dedicated a large part of their life to train to be a veterinarian, and I know it takes a lot to run ANY business, and a medical establishment especially. And I am certainly not implying that vet clinics should start lowering their rates or whatever.
What I do have an issue with is that the limited training they DO have regarding reptile medicine (usually less than a week during their academic career) is somewhat outdated by the time they've received their degree and they've set up their own clinic. And like I mentioned before, many so-called "exotic vets" have adequate medicinal knowledge, but very limited (if any) care/husbandry knowledge, and most show little drive to acquire that knowledge, because they already feel that they know it all because of the piece of paper they have hanging up in their office.
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