Thinking about a reptile as a Pet? Do you already have a reptile as a pet? If so, you might be surprised to know that most of the problems we see in these species are preventable. That’s right, preventable. The best thing you can do as an owner of one of these unique creatures is to fully understand how to optimize their health. There are only two kinds of reptiles, completely healthy and not healthy. The only way to have a completely healthy reptile is to create and maintain the best possible environment, feed the best types of food, and seek regular veterinary care. Why?” Because just keeping a reptile in captivity is a stress to them and this stress keeps the door to illness open.
The last part, seeking regular veterinary care, is the easiest. All you have to do is come into our office, we do the rest. For juveniles we recommend check ups as often as once a month and for adults twice a year. During a check up we do a complete examination, monitor normal development and weight gain or loss, assess the diet, and discuss the environment and how to optimize the patient’s health. This may involve testing and treatment for parasites (intestinal parasites are very common in any reptile), x-rays, and even blood tests. We want to understand the patient’s current health, hygiene, diet, and environment so we can make recommendations to optimize each one of these. Whenever possible, species specific recommendations are made and it is surprising how big a difference a little change can make.
Having a reptile for a pet requires a lot of work on your part to understand the specific requirements of that species. Requirements for food, climate, cage setup, normal physiology, light and dark, and common problems vary from species to species. Getting these wrong is the most common reason we see sick reptiles. We can help, but we cannot do it all. Having a completely healthy reptile can be a bit of work. Once you get it right, it is extremely rewarding.
Peace of Mind
