Re: First Vet appt tomorrow WHAT should I look for ? Another ?

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Posted by Ig Chick on March 11, 2001 at 18:18:10:

In Reply to: First Vet appt tomorrow WHAT should I look for ? Another ? posted by Christy on March 11, 2001 at 14:36:01:

I've been tricked by retained shed before and I felt really stupid afterwards! Rigt after Bender (he was adopted out a week or so ago to a great guy! yea for Bender!!) first arrived, it looked like he had some sort of brownish/yellowish infection covering his vent area. Turns out it was about a half dozen layers of retained shed that had gotten stained by the betadine in his bath.I asked around to see what other folks do for that much retained shed and other than soaking in a warm tub, no one had any words of wisdom. A vet we heard speak several months ago explained that a bath, while it will over time help to soften the shed, really doesn't "help" remove it in the conventional sense of the word. He suggests boosting the humidity and darn if that didn't work like a charm!

As for what to look for ... hmmmmmmm well, they should do a physical exam, look at the skin, the belly, toes, feel for anything like lumps or swollen organs and look inside the mouth to check for absesses, etc. We usually get bloodwork done but that doens't always tell us anything. The blood tests usually run were designed for mammal pets, not reptiles. So, other than checking calcium and sodium levels as well as liver and kidney functions, I'm at a loss to say anymore on that topic. One of the most useful tools we have found is the xray. Not only are we able to check for gravidness but we can also look at bone structure and density. When it comes to fecal tests, all reptiles have some sort of parasite or another and many of them are "unknows" even to the vets. Our vet found an "unknown" parasite, organic in nature, in several fecal samples we brought to him. They researched until they were blue in the face and still couldn't find anything. Now, they make us bring in samples from everyone every time we bring anyone in so that they can keep trying to figure out what it is.

I really adore our vet because in addition to being a great guy, he teaches us what we are looking at and explains everything. He never runs a test or performs a proceedure without fully explaining it before hand and giving us all the options. After a visit someone from his staff usually calls here to check on whoever has been in. We really couldn't ask for better.

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Re: First Vet appt tomorrow WHAT should I look for ? Another ? Christy 03/11/01 (1)
- Re: First Vet appt tomorrow WHAT should I look for ? Another ? Ig Chick 03/11/01 (0)

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: I've been tricked by retained shed before and I felt really stupid afterwards! Rigt after Bender (he was adopted out a week or so ago to a great guy! yea for Bender!!) first arrived, it looked like he had some sort of brownish/yellowish infection covering his vent area. Turns out it was about a half dozen layers of retained shed that had gotten stained by the betadine in his bath.I asked around to see what other folks do for that much retained shed and other than soaking in a warm tub, no one had any words of wisdom. A vet we heard speak several months ago explained that a bath, while it will over time help to soften the shed, really doesn't "help" remove it in the conventional sense of the word. He suggests boosting the humidity and darn if that didn't work like a charm! : As for what to look for ... hmmmmmmm well, they should do a physical exam, look at the skin, the belly, toes, feel for anything like lumps or swollen organs and look inside the mouth to check for absesses, etc. We usually get bloodwork done but that doens't always tell us anything. The blood tests usually run were designed for mammal pets, not reptiles. So, other than checking calcium and sodium levels as well as liver and kidney functions, I'm at a loss to say anymore on that topic. One of the most useful tools we have found is the xray. Not only are we able to check for gravidness but we can also look at bone structure and density. When it comes to fecal tests, all reptiles have some sort of parasite or another and many of them are "unknows" even to the vets. Our vet found an "unknown" parasite, organic in nature, in several fecal samples we brought to him. They researched until they were blue in the face and still couldn't find anything. Now, they make us bring in samples from everyone every time we bring anyone in so that they can keep trying to figure out what it is. : I really adore our vet because in addition to being a great guy, he teaches us what we are looking at and explains everything. He never runs a test or performs a proceedure without fully explaining it before hand and giving us all the options. After a visit someone from his staff usually calls here to check on whoever has been in. We really couldn't ask for better.

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