Duke's Going to the V-E-T

[Raven_Vivi]

I'm taking Kyute Duke to the vet on Friday for a check up...
Thy lady told me that the vet charges 70 dollars just for the check up without anything else ;O
But she's the only exotics vet within a lonnnggg distance that has positive feedback on her reptile expertise so I guess I'm going.

My question is:

Is there anything else the vet might do besides the checkup??
Such as Shots? Blood work?

If so; an estimated cost???

I'm paying for it myself so I want to be prepared ;P

[brunetteoctober]

the vet will probably want a fecal. from my experience they are in the $35 area.

[Raven_Vivi]

okay~
That doesn't sound too bad ;P

Hopefully my skinkers is a healthy and gets a clean bill of health ^_^

[Fatal_S]

My vet didn't do a fecal, but gave me some meds that are just basic worm-killer. Total cost me $80 CAD.

[Raven_Vivi]

what is CAD??

Do they give it to the skinkers just in case they have worms???

[sheslikeheroin]

$80 CAD means 80 dollars "Canadian" as in the national currency of canada.

[Fatal_S]

Ya, Canadian Dollars. She gives the de-wormer to all her pet store reptiles, as unfortunately worms seem to be extremely common in pet stores around here. She also told me what to look out for in regards to worm symptoms and such. She was good with Pryce, and while her info about BTS wasn't perfect (Melissa Kaplans site) I'd still recommend her. She also checked Pryce out for a URI, as he has some funny habits, but all is well. Hope your vet is as good as mine.

[Blotch]

I've taken 4 skinks to the vet - 1 died, and the other 3 were for the scan they do on pregnant mums. I can't think of the name off the top of my head - is it ultrascan? It was to check their sex but it was really bad - couldn't see anything worth looking at.

[Lisa]

If you're going for a simple vet checkup rather than for a suspected illness or injury, it should consist only of the vet checking your animal externally; they'd be looking for good skink condition, clear mouth, nose and eyes, toes and feet. They'll probably weigh him (particularly if administering a medicine). The vet should ask you questions about your husbandry and what you feed him (well, a good vet should!).

If you don't know the origins of your animal, or he eats lots of stuff from the garden then they may worm him and this is usually done orally. Once every two years is a good guide for captive animals on a varied diet.

If the vet does wish to do any more than this, such as administer other drugs or take blood or x-rays, I would ask questions as to why they think it's required. Not just because it may be an un-necessary procedure or medication that may stress him, but also for your bank balance!

[Leigh]

Hi Lisa, do reckon a worming every couple of years regardless, is a good thing then? what would you expect the vet to give (drug name) I may do this, is there an optimum time to do it eg. beginning or end of season before they brumate?

[Raven_Vivi]

thx for all the input!!~ ^^

I'll be sure to ask about what's she doing if it's anything besides a check up.

I don't want him to get sick after he starts taking meds or something;P

It happened last time to my friend's pet @_@

[aggiegirl]

I don't have any issues with a health check but I would hold on the deworming unless you detect high worm burdens with the fecal. Panacur is a good (effective, safe) drug that eliminates multiple parasites that might affect your bluey. I suspect that would be the one they will use if indicated.

[Fatal_S]

I'm pretty sure de-worming meds are quite safe to use. Every single animal (that I know of) that comes into our humane society gets a dewormer right away. In my case the vet knows many of our local pet store animals have worms, so that was the reason for a dewormer right away. It went fine, no problems, and I'm happy that I don't have to worry about worms (did watch for signs just in case though).

[Lisa]

Hi Lisa, do reckon a worming every couple of years regardless, is a good thing then? what would you expect the vet to give (drug name) I may do this, is there an optimum time to do it eg. beginning or end of season before they brumate?

Well mine get done every two years, that's what my vet recommends. He's a respected herp vet. An indoor bluey fed only prepared foods, I don't know, I've never asked since mines' diets consists of yard grubs so I'm assuming his recommendation is based on my blueys.

Mine get Panacur wormout gel, the vet gives it to them orally via a long syringe thingy. Not sure if there's an optimum time, but the first time I took mine was in late August (so heading into spring here) and so that's when they go back every year for their checkup.

According to my vet mine are all healthy, he's happy with their diet & husbandry.

[SailleSkinklover]

Panacur is what Chuffers had to clean his parasite load out. All better now!
Try and get the freshest fecal sample you can for the vet for accuracy.
I was lucky and Chuffie pooped fresh right on the metal exam table!

[Raven_Vivi]

eep~
I don't think Duke has gone poo yet...I don't think he's eaten enough to go yet anyhow ;P