Aussie Pythons and Snakes

baxtor · #1 04-Dec-07, 07:46 PM

as I have said in another thread I have a problem with one of my tigers which requires an X-ray and rather than spend six hours on the road each way to my herp vet just for pictures we thought it would make sense to get the x-ray locally and send them to the herp vet prior to a visit.
I made some phone calls and while I cannot quote word for word I was told by my local vet that they don't have anything to do with snakes other than the killing of them. I assume they mean in the course of their visits to farms etc. to treat other more worthy animals.
I thought it was a very inappropriate thing for a vet to say.
Needless to say they would not do the x-rays for me but an hours drive to hamilton and they didn't have a problem with it. In and out in ten minutes.

Pythons Rule · #2 04-Dec-07, 08:00 PM

yeah that happen's there is alot of vets that are quite heartless about snakes. but snakes are exspensive and should be treated to the best the owner can, as in taking it to where it really need's to be as in driving a wile to get to the place, as long as it's to save your snakes life there shouldn't of been a problem with the distance in the first place. I won't trust anyone bar a snake vet to deal with mine.

but in saying that you still did the right thing in the end...so whats wrong with it do you know yet?

KrimenuL · #3 04-Dec-07, 08:02 PM

What a stupid thing to say. Especially coming from someone who's job is to help animals.

Adam

baxtor · #4 04-Dec-07, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pythons Rule

yeah that happen's there is alot of vets that are quite heartless about snakes. but snakes are exspensive and should be treated to the best the owner can, as in taking it to where it really need's to be as in driving a wile to get to the place, as long as it's to save your snakes life there shouldn't of been a problem with the distance in the first place. I won't trust anyone bar a snake vet to deal with mine.

but in saying that you still did the right thing in the end...so whats wrong with it do you know yet?

i don't know what's wrong yet, x-rays are on the way to the vet.
I never had a problem with travelling, and in fact had an appointment at warranwood but the vet cancelled it as there was nothing he could do until he or somebody else took the pics. I don't mind driving twelve hours if there's some purpose to it.

ace#74 · #5 04-Dec-07, 08:12 PM

id rather vist a vet that knows thier stuff with herps than a regular vet

Casey · #6 04-Dec-07, 08:15 PM

I'v found that its not only snakes most local vets don't really like dealing with any reptile.
We had a call from a vet surgery here in Dubbo, a woman had taken her pet beardie in, it had been hit with the wipper snipper don't know how) anyway the vets told her that there wasn't much that they could do for it, and that they would give one of us (WIRES) to give her a call. Not sure what they thought we could do for it?
Luckily with our wild reps we get around here we can take them the zoo here, they have a wildlife clinic, and are really good.

PremierPythons · #7 04-Dec-07, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ace#74

id rather vist a vet that knows thier stuff with herps than a regular vet

Saying that, I think you could count ones that know their stuff (herp wise) on one hand....

baxtor · #8 04-Dec-07, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ace#74

id rather vist a vet that knows thier stuff with herps than a regular vet

My reason for posting in the first place was to illustrate the thinking of some vets when it comes to snakes.
Just to clarify what I was seeking, I was not looking for a vet to treat my snake, I already have a top herp vet to do that. I was simply looking for an x-ray machine and somebody to push the button. Nobody but me even touched my snake. I walked into the room put on some kind of lead lined apron held the snake over the plate in two positions and the vet pushed the button two times. That's all.

bump73 · #9 04-Dec-07, 08:55 PM

i took my Blueys and Beardy up to my local vet for some worming stuff, he admitted they were the first reptiles he'd had up there for over a year. He spent about half an hour on the phone and internet to other specialists to make sure he got everything right with the dosing..

I guess my point is that whilst he did'nt know what to do he knew the people who did, so rather than turn me away he went to the trouble of helping me out, and only charged for the worming stuff.

This is the kind of response you should get from a vet...
Ben

cracksinthepitch · #10 04-Dec-07, 10:42 PM

There is a vet in western suburbs of melb who supposedly specialises in native animals. Unfortunatley his nickname is Dr Death as its just to easy for him to say im sorry its terminal.
Saying this i have been advised that there are some great reptile vets in melb. So i suppose do some research first.
I sympathise with u Baxtor.

Python_Princess87 · #11 04-Dec-07, 10:56 PM

I'm very fortunate with the vet situation. I have a top reptile vet just down the road from me. Not only does he know how to treat all reptiles but he owns and breeds some as well. So its great, as we both share the love of reptiles! Just lucky i guess!!

$NaKe PiMp · #12 04-Dec-07, 11:00 PM

we have good herp vets in sydney,
but a good regular vet will still be able to treat if they have contact with another vet whos a specialist

the vet you contacted sucks

dailyskin · #13 05-Dec-07, 11:17 AM

In Melbourne, there is a vet called Dr Green, in Canterbury. I went to school with his daughter Hannah, and he is the GREATEST vet!!! His wife is a vet too, and the whole family truly LOVES all animals. He is a Herp Specialist, but the family has had snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles, primates, natives, everything!!! They rescue animals when they can, and Dr Green even got out of bed in the middle of the night (he gives his home number out!) to help try and save one of our dog's new puppies (didn't manage to

but even gave the tiny thing mouth-to-mouth)...

He is a great vet, I really recommend him!

ozianimals · #14 05-Dec-07, 02:30 PM

I think the vet you contacted would have been trying to say "We only deal with snakes for euthanasia" which is what a vet will do if they get a reptile that they can't save or a exotic reptile. If they get an exotic it's law that they euthanase it. If you take an injured reptile to a regular vet, they just don't know what to do.
In NSW we are quite lucky in this respect but in other aspects of herps the other states have a lot of advantages we don't have here.
In persective any vet with an x-ray machine should be able to do the radiographs for you..........He was just a ...........wad.

baxtor · #15 05-Dec-07, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozianimals

I think the vet you contacted would have been trying to say "We only deal with snakes for euthanasia" which is what a vet will do if they get a reptile that they can't save or a exotic reptile. If they get an exotic it's law that they euthanase it. If you take an injured reptile to a regular vet, they just don't know what to do.
In NSW we are quite lucky in this respect but in other aspects of herps the other states have a lot of advantages we don't have here.
In persective any vet with an x-ray machine should be able to do the radiographs for you..........He was just a ...........wad.

The first vet contacted did have an x-ray machine and was able to take the pics but did not want to. I think this was due to the phobia most people have concerning snakes in general and venomous snakes in particular and the reference made to the killing of snakes was definately not to do with the euthanasing of them.