Educating a Vet. Help please.

[noidea]

Hi all.
So my question is, we have a family vet we have always gone to with all of our animals however he doesn't have a very good knoweledge of snakes and other reps. He still thought Anteresia species were still all classified as liasis childreni(We have since bought him up to speed on this)
He is a wonderful guy who has a genuine interest in our snakes and I like the fact I can generally tell him what I need and how to treat ailments with the snakes. (And before anyone says find a herp vet I genuinely trust his judgement and he always looks at the best interest of the animals)
My question is our latest issue has bought us to dissagree on something.
We have a childreni who IMO has skin worm he is a new addition and in strict quarantine form our other snakes. I have explained to him how most remove these critters and this is where the argument comes in he beleives to lance the worms and remove them with out first anethetising the snake is cruel and in the end not neccessary as in his opion would be lancing dry abcesses which he feels is uneccessary because worming the animal should be sufficient. What I am after is some info and facts that I can present to him to show him that it is infact benificial and does work. Also pics of this procedure would be fantastic. I personally am not trying to undermine his knowledge nor his trained profession I just know how eager he is to learn about everything reptile with the amount of herps entering the evryday pet trade. Your opions are greatly appreciated.

 

[Kitah]

Can't help too much as I don't know that much about skin worms. What I found though was that they're filarial subcutaneous worms in reptiles, so basically they're found under the skin. From what I've read they do lance the wound to remove the parasite. Heres one reference I've found that was a study on these filarial subcutaneous worms in chameleons; it mentions in the 4th paragraph that the worms were removed surgically.

http://veterinaryrecord.bvapublications.com/cgi/reprint/149/19/596.pdf

not sure if this would help, but you never know goodluck!

 

[notechistiger]

That fact that he isn't a herp vet means that he won't know what he's talking about. In some aspects, of course he will. However, he has neither the knowledge nor training to correctly treat and care for reptiles. That, to me, is a very dangerous risk for you to do. I know you said you trust him, but I'd really advise finding a herp vet, and only take your other animals to him.

 

[pepper]

I agree with Notechristiger you really need to find a good herp vet...... I'm having the same issue with my vet as I trust him and he is a great vet and very willing to learn about herps. I took one of my snakes to him and he was great. But I think I need a second opinon.

So what I'm going to do is take the snake to a herp vet and then ring my vet and tell him what the herp vet said and what treatment he suggests. I think it would a good idea if you did the same , that way the other vets are being educated on how to treat herps as well. Reptiles are being more popular now and I'm sure it wont be long before most vets are able to treat them....

I think they all need to do some sort of brush up course on reptiles.

 

[hallie]

I agree with Notechristiger you really need to find a good herp vet...... I'm having the same issue with my vet as I trust him and he is a great vet and very willing to learn about herps. I took one of my snakes to him and he was great. But I think I need a second opinon.

So what I'm going to do is take the snake to a herp vet and then ring my vet and tell him what the herp vet said and what treatment he suggests. I think it would a good idea if you did the same , that way the other vets are being educated on how to treat herps as well. Reptiles are being more popular now and I'm sure it wont be long before most vets are able to treat them....

I think they all need to do some sort of brush up course on reptiles.

Good advice, get your vet to call a recommended herp vet and discuss the procedure with them...

 

[AUSGECKO]

I think you vet does have the best intentions for you and your animal but it really isn`t worth risking it, I would take it to an appropriatly qualified herp vet and then inform your vet of the outcome. Im sure he`ll understand.

 

[Hoon84]

If he has a genuine interest in herps, and wants to treat them, perhaps he should go back to uni and get the appropriate qualification.

 

[LullabyLizard]

Please get a reptile qualified vet. I know he's your mate, but it is best for the snakes

 

[wokka]

I doubt that you would find many vets, herp or not, who would support cutting animals without anethetic.Vet are bound by ethical codes.

 

[Kyro]

I think the best option here is to give a few reputable herp vets a call & ask them if they would mind your vet giving them a call for advice. I'm sure your vet wouldn't be offended by this as he clearly has your animals best interests in mind.

 

[Helikaon]

you can remove them surgically as mentioned whether you use aneasthetic or not is up to you and the vet, or you can worm the reptile, this will kill the cysts and the snakes body will break down the dead worms and the cysts will go away. you are both right. just depends on what you wish to do. praziquantel in the drug needed to kill it. it will need multiple wormings as the blood flow to the metacysts is minimal.


looks like your new snake has had a meal or two of frogs in the past.

 

[ally_pup]

Please get a reptile qualified vet. I know he's your mate, but it is best for the snakes

Were noidea is situated there are NONE whatsoever hearp vets around

 

[iceman]

clayton knight, IMO is the best herp vet in oz, he's on the sunshine coast, get your vet to give him a call.

 

[weet-bix]

So you are asking for info to "educate" your vet from a herp forum.........hmmmmmm is that ringing alarm bells for anyone else. Surely he should be talking to other QUALIFIED herp vets to get his info from and not a bunch of keyboard warriors.

Even you arent qualified to "educate" him as the info you have may not be correct.

 

[Nagraj]

What I am after is some info and facts that I can present to him to show him that it is infact benificial and does work.

I'm afraid your vet is right. A single skin worm is not going to cause the animal any harm and the only reason to remove it is for your aesthetic reasons.

 

[geckodan]

If he has a genuine interest in herps, and wants to treat them, perhaps he should go back to uni and get the appropriate qualification.

Thats a great idea, whoops, except that very little herp medicine is taught at uni and there are certainly no "appropriate qualifications" to be gained. Most of us herp vets learn from having a genuine interest and learning as we go.
I would advise you get your vet to join the online vet only discussion group "Unusual and Exotic Pets Special interest group" maintained through the AVA. He can ask all he wants on any topic and will only get answers from other herp vets. PM me if you want further details for him.