Choosing a vet for your snake

[ajwill]

I've done a bit of searching and can't find much on the topic of vets. I'd like to get some ideas on how you choose a vet, how you know they're right for reptiles, how often we should be visiting and anything specific to ask/talk about.

So there are a few vets in our area who say they 'specialise' in reptiles and I'd like some way to judge their knowledge ahead of time. I'd rather we found one that works from the start and stick to them.

How do you know if a vet is actually as good with reptiles as their website claims?

How do you pick if you have a few who look like good options? (Or does anyone on the the Northern Beaches in Sydney have one to recommend?)

We're planning on taking our new diamond python for a check up as soon as we choose the vet, but how often should we be going after that? Is an annual check up a good basis to plan for?

Do we take our feeding/care records along to the vet?

And once we get into the clinic, is there anything specific we should be asking the vet/talking about?

 

[Chris1]

Hard to judge their knowledge so its probably best to ask for recommendations (as you are doing)

I see David Vella at northshore vet (crows nest) and highly recommend him.

the vet will ask you a bunch of husbandry questions, you can take feeding care records if you like, but it isnt necessary as long as you can remember roughly what youre doing.

A check up is really a pointless exercise, id suggest you put the money aside for a day when the trip might actually be necessary.

 

[hypertension]

Hard to judge their knowledge so its probably best to ask for recommendations (as you are doing)

I see David Vella at northshore vet (crows nest) and highly recommend him.

the vet will ask you a bunch of husbandry questions, you can take feeding care records if you like, but it isnt necessary as long as you can remember roughly what youre doing.

A check up is really a pointless exercise, id suggest you put the money aside for a day when the trip might actually be necessary.

Agree with Chris on this, reputation is something that someone will recommend a vet on.

As for regular visits this will depend on the vet, if he/she thinks you are doing everything right they will tell you not to do regular visits unless you have an issue. However I know one vet that will advise you to come back from time to time if you are new and he thinks you may need help to start off.

 

[pinkmus]

Mike Cannon in Wollongong and Robert Johnson in Penrith are both good exotics vets IMO.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Good luck on finding a really good knowledgeable and competent reptile vet, so far I've tried a few recommended local ones and have had some bad outcomes for my sick animals (some treatments even pushing a couple over the edge and resulting in their rapid decline and death shortly after being treated .... )

I've formed the opinion there are no good reptile vets in my area at all, despite some saying they are very experienced with reptiles. VERY HIT AND MISS.

- - - Updated - - -

I've done a bit of searching and can't find much on the topic of vets. I'd like to get some ideas on how you choose a vet, how you know they're right for reptiles, how often we should be visiting and anything specific to ask/talk about.

So there are a few vets in our area who say they 'specialise' in reptiles and I'd like some way to judge their knowledge ahead of time. I'd rather we found one that works from the start and stick to them.

How do you know if a vet is actually as good with reptiles as their website claims?

How do you pick if you have a few who look like good options? (Or does anyone on the the Northern Beaches in Sydney have one to recommend?)

We're planning on taking our new diamond python for a check up as soon as we choose the vet, but how often should we be going after that? Is an annual check up a good basis to plan for?

Do we take our feeding/care records along to the vet?

And once we get into the clinic, is there anything specific we should be asking the vet/talking about?

You can only really go on what other reptile keepers say about the reptile vets they take their sick reptiles on. Not very a satisfactory situation I know.

 

[littlemay]

David Vella and Joanne Sheen at North Shore Veterinary Clinic in Crows Nest are excellent, have seen my animal many times.

 

[Leasdraco]

Good vets usually become known to most people in the hobby through word of mouth.

 

[ajwill]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. So far things are going swimmingly, feeding and handling really well, but definitely want to have someone lined up in case they're needed.

 

[Vengeance]

Another recommendation for Robert Johnson in Penrith here. When I lived in Western Sydney it was worth the fourty minute drive to get to his practice. He is very knowledgeable, speaks in a language I could understand and is patient when listening to me describe symptoms. I've only ever taken one of my skinks there for two checkups (one to ascertain if a tail bend was signs of MBD the other was to diagnose cataracts). Both times I was rather happy with my appointments, even if one of them resulted in the knowledge that my skink would never see again.

Back on topic, I chose which vet I'd go to after reading through various recommendations both on this forum and elsewhere. Sure there were heaps of vets closer to where I lived, but the peace of mind going to a exotic vet with heaps of prior experience was worth the extra travel. That's not to say a standard vet won't have experience with reptiles, it would take some asking around is all.

Good luck with finding a reliable vet near you!

 

[ronhalling]

This is a great forum and has some of the most knowledgeable (short of actually being vets) people within it's pages, and some of the best advice i have ever seen has come from here, but in my opinion if you live in a particular area and want to know what a particular Vet is like you might be better searching for a reptile facebook group in your area and join, this forum is Australia wide and you will get a fair bit anecdotal advice, but a local group will help you form an opinion easier as well as finding feed and equipment outlets that do good deals for local groups, as i said if it is advice on a particular subject you are after then this place holds everything you will ever need, but finding a good rep vet is best done at the local level. ...............Ron