View Full Version : Is my vet stupid?
Kavyrie
10-25-12, 07:55 PM
Took Walter, the 12 year old ball python to the vet on Wednesday for his RI. The vet looked him over, listened to his lungs and said "Well he has some sort of respiratory issue. He has a lot of mucous in his mouth but it sounds lower in his lung so we need to do a trans-tracheal flush (fill his lungs with water and flush it out) to do a culture. But we don't do that here." She then went on to tell me how he NEEDS a BASKING LAMP and humidity only needs to be at 50%. I'm never bringing one of my snakes there again, seeing as this was supposed to be the "snake expert".
O.o put water in his lungs... do snakes live in water and i didnt know about it... WHAT A BACKING LAMP and humidity at 50% Run away from that vet and never go back!
Kavyrie
10-25-12, 09:20 PM
I swear she was getting her info from a Petco care sheet or something! She also said they are best kept in a glass aquarium with a screen top. Never going there again.
Rogue628
10-25-12, 09:38 PM
Wow. Did this vet say she was experienced with snakes?
Kavyrie
10-25-12, 09:44 PM
She is supposedly the most snake experienced staff there. She clearly has no idea what she is talking about. A simple mouth swab and culture would be too simple. I'll have to drive all the way to Waymouth to the Odd Pet Vet but at least they know what they are talking about.
Rogue628
10-25-12, 09:52 PM
Still...all I can say is wow. If that had been me, I would have told her she had no idea what she was talking about and promptly left. Her basic husbandry of a royal is completely lacking IMO.
It's been years since I've dealt with an RI, but that's not the exam my burm got, that's for sure.
Kavyrie
10-25-12, 10:00 PM
Any vet who thinks that completely wrong husbandry is the right thing and that knocking out a snake to fill/drain its lungs with fluid is the only way to do an RI culture is NOT a good herp vet. Walter already had an RI when I got him, but the room he was kept in to be away from all the other snakes was rather chilly so I took him home. I just want meds for the poor old guy and make him better. :I
shaunyboy
10-26-12, 04:51 AM
O.o put water in his lungs... do snakes live in water and i didnt know about it... WHAT A BACKING LAMP and humidity at 50% Run away from that vet and never go back!
a tracheal wash has been used for many years for taking,bacteria to be cultured from the Trachea or oropharynx of ill snakes
i believe the vet was being thorough.....
should a bacterial infection exsist,the bacteria may be a secondary symptom of another invader,such as parasites,fungus,virus,etc
i would rather have a vet that was thorough,than a vet who did nothing more than prescribe a broad range antibiotic and hope it works
re husbandry
did you ask your vet their reason for the reccomened humidity ?
i know with carpet pythons you RAISE the hot end temps by 5 degrees,to aid recovery
my answer to your question...
NO your vet is NOT stupid mate;)
cheers shaun
shaunyboy
10-26-12, 04:57 AM
Any vet who thinks that completely wrong husbandry is the right thing and that knocking out a snake to fill/drain its lungs with fluid is the only way to do an RI culture is NOT a good herp vet. Walter already had an RI when I got him, but the room he was kept in to be away from all the other snakes was rather chilly so I took him home. I just want meds for the poor old guy and make him better. :I
did you ask the vet their REASON for doing the flush ?
what if the vet thinks the RI is a SECONDARY symptom,and that was the reason for the tracheal flush.....
i would not be so quick to dismiss this vet...
most vets throw baytril,a broad range antibiotic at your snake,without a culture of any kind...
they just cross their fingers and hope it does the job
they could have swabed the winpipe and cultured the swabs,but your vet may have had other reasons to suggest a flush
cheers shaun
Zoo Nanny
10-26-12, 07:25 AM
Kavyrie did you go to Tufts?
I'm embarassed that so many people in this thread has given the wrong advice. If you don't know, simply sit back, shut ut up and don't respond!!!
Good on you Shaun for not being dumb.
YES a transtracheal wash is EXACTLY what needs to be done for an RI that may have become imbedded. 99.9999% of vets are too stupid to do this for accurate culture results.
This dude knows what he is talking about (though he is off on the heat lamp).
Snakefood
10-26-12, 09:24 AM
yup when torruk got his first RI, they just threw an anti biotic at me, it took 2 visits and 6 weeks of meds to clear it up, and if that didn't clear it up, they were just going to change meds for another 4 weeks!!
Torruk now has another ri, were going to a DIFFERENT reptile vet this morning after I drop my kid off at school and I am hoping they do not take the same approach as the last one.
Rogue628
10-26-12, 01:31 PM
Like I said, the last time I had any issues with an RI, a wash wasn't even remotely part of the exam. He did cultures but not in that form. I said the exam the last time I dealt with an RI was not done the way this snake's was. 3 shots later and my burms RI was completely gone.
My concern was with her husbandry information and a basking light. Although that's kind of old school thinking. How can you expect a vet to know anything about up to date care of an animal if they their basic husbandry is out of date or incorrect?
Kavyrie
10-26-12, 01:46 PM
They said that the swab would do nothing at all, and would have NO bacteria/virus/whatever he has and that the ONLY way to get something would be the wash. She didn't want to give me any medications until they knew what it was. That was the reason. She didn't say anything about it being a secondary symptom or anything. I don't see why she didn't do a swab. It would have at least given them an IDEA of what is going on with him.
The major thing that put me off about this vet was the very lacking husbandry knowledge. "A glass aquarium with a screen top and basking lamp work well for enclosures for ball pythons." Is exactly what is says on the care sheet that she went off of. I have seen more than enough threads to know that this is very wrong. If the transtracheal wash is what he needs then that is what he will get.
Snakefood
10-26-12, 01:50 PM
my vet just took a swab of the mucous in his mouth this morning, gave me baytril for now (wide spectrum ab) and will call me with culture results and change meds if neccesary then.
Who cares about his views on husbandry. You didn't go to the vet to get husbandry advice you went for an RI and the vet NAILED it.
If you leave this vet, you're an idiot.
Most people would give their left testicle for such a great vet.
KORBIN5895
10-26-12, 07:46 PM
Who cares about his views on husbandry. You didn't go to the vet to get husbandry advice you went for an RI and the vet NAILED it.
If you leave this vet, you're an idiot.
Most people would give their left testicle for such a great vet.
Umm I am kinda attached toy testicles ( especially my left one) but I digress, I would let this vet handle the medical aspect. They sound very thorough.
jhinton6932
10-26-12, 07:54 PM
sounds like a proper exam/diagnosis. vets usually arent experts on husbandry. its their job to treat medical issues. its the keepers job to diagnose and correct husbandry issues that may cause medical issues.
Kavyrie
10-26-12, 08:02 PM
I need to find a vet that actually does the flush. No one at that hospital has ever done it before and refuse to do it. So they wouldn't have been able to do anything for me anyways. And my care is that when I don't know what the vet is supposed to be doing but tells me things I know are wrong on how to care for my snake, then how am I supposed to feel about the rest of the information that they tell me? As far as I have been told and read, a throat swab would be sufficient for a culture to find out what's making him sick.
Aaron_S
10-26-12, 08:29 PM
I need to find a vet that actually does the flush. No one at that hospital has ever done it before and refuse to do it. So they wouldn't have been able to do anything for me anyways. And my care is that when I don't know what the vet is supposed to be doing but tells me things I know are wrong on how to care for my snake, then how am I supposed to feel about the rest of the information that they tell me? As far as I have been told and read, a throat swab would be sufficient for a culture to find out what's making him sick.
I repeat a previous post of mine. Just because it's written on the web DOESN'T mean it's fact.
Snakes love people. I know this because they go "ssssssiloveyoussssssss" every time I'm near them. Some don't say anything so I know those ones don't love me. Boom. I now deserve a second nobel prize.
jaleely
10-26-12, 10:01 PM
omg i lol'd Aaron. lololol. seriously.
Mykee...i'm afraid to ask what you gave up to have the last good vet you went to.
shaunyboy
10-26-12, 11:28 PM
I'm embarassed that so many people in this thread has given the wrong advice. If you don't know, simply sit back, shut ut up and don't respond!!!
Good on you Shaun for not being dumb.
YES a transtracheal wash is EXACTLY what needs to be done for an RI that may have become imbedded. 99.9999% of vets are too stupid to do this for accurate culture results.
This dude knows what he is talking about (though he is off on the heat lamp).
^^^^^
i have to admit when i read the op's post i thought,great for once someone found a GOOD/COMPETENT vet.....
i to was surprized,when i read everyones opinions on the suggested course of action
it also NEVER ceases to amaze me,how many vets do NOT suggest this method,when dealing with RI's
cheers shaun
shaunyboy
10-26-12, 11:49 PM
Who cares about his views on husbandry. You didn't go to the vet to get husbandry advice you went for an RI and the vet NAILED it.
If you leave this vet, you're an idiot.
Most people would give their left testicle for such a great vet.
i agree a vet should not be there to give out husbandry advice...
vets are there to have knowledge on,anatomy,disease,treatment of health issues,etc
imo it would be near on impossible,to remember EVERY reptiles husbandry needs,so i would NOT criticise the vet for,his lack of husbandry knowledge...
this is where YOU,should have EDUCATED the VET,i have found most vets,are receptive to information,learned from keepers...
as keepers we observe and learn SPECIES specific traits,imo the vets i have known,loved hearing about the behavior,feeding,breeding,etc
for instance my vet was pretty impressed that.....
the Diamond Python,goes through it's 4 month cooling cycle,with night time temperatures,as low as 50F,with only a 2 to 4 hour bask each day
i'm sure your vet,would have took what you said on board,or at the very least,it may have got him curious enough,to look it up,for his next Ball Python keeper;)
cheers shaun
KORBIN5895
10-27-12, 12:30 AM
omg i lol'd Aaron. lololol. seriously.
Mykee...i'm afraid to ask what you gave up to have the last good vet you went to.
His heart.
@op
Don't be offended but your story gets more sensational with every post.
" As far as I have been told and read, a throat swab would be sufficient for a culture to find out what's making him sick. "
Maybe I can repeat what I said originally in a different language that you speak to instill it even further? Polish, Italian?
YOUR VET DID THE RIGHT THING!!! Good god almighty.
Korbin, my exwife already had the schnutz, so I had to give him my soul. In the one time I had to use a vet for an RI I had 4 years ago, I used the University of Guelph Small Animal Hospital, the pre-eminent reptile vet and lab in Canada.
It was an emerg appt. so all in, the visit cost me $700.
He did a trans tracheal BTW...
KORBIN5895
10-27-12, 03:25 PM
Maybe I can repeat what I said originally in a different language that you speak to instill it even further? Polish, Italian?
YOUR VET DID THE RIGHT THING!!! Good god almighty.
Korbin, my exwife already had the schnutz, so I had to give him my soul. In the one time I had to use a vet for an RI I had 4 years ago, I used the University of Guelph Small Animal Hospital, the pre-eminent reptile vet and lab in Canada.
It was an emerg appt. so all in, the visit cost me $700.
He did a trans tracheal BTW...
Well I must say that's a way better deal than your left nut.
Kavyrie
10-27-12, 03:57 PM
God you guys are getting testy :P I'm trying to find a vet that with do the trans-tracheal.
When I said "As far as I have been told and read, a throat swab would be sufficient for a culture to find out what's making him sick." I meant that was before I had gone to a vet. I'm not asking my vet to know how to care for every single snake there is, but at least have knowledge of the kind of snake almost every snake owner has. I did try to explain that ball pythons don't need basking lamps, but either the vet didn't care for what I had to say or didn't care at all.
You're looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Move on and stop splitting hairs.
moshirimon
10-28-12, 07:25 PM
Yep ... your vet is stupid
Kavyrie
10-28-12, 07:34 PM
Okay I think we established that my vet was stupid for basic care on ball pythons and for not doing a swab. But was smart for advising a trans-tracheal wash. You guys get mad so easily.
KORBIN5895
10-28-12, 07:45 PM
You're looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Move on and stop splitting hairs.
Someone seems to have had a change of heart.
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