Fecal

[UrbanChameleon]

Hey guys. I need a bit of advice. You do not have to read this whole thing. It's basically me ranting until the last paragraph. The question I need answered will be right there.


I called my local "exotic" vets office. After weeks of phone calls, I finally got someone to answer. This was our phone conversation:

Me: Hi, I'm calling regarding my Panther Chameleon. I would like to get annual fecals done every 6 months. I've been told that most places will charge about $20+ and that it can be done without bringing the animal in.

Front Desk: Umm.. we should be able to do that.

Me: Okay great.

Front Desk: What kind of animal did you say you have?

Me: A Panther Chameleon.

Front Desk: A what?

Me: Panther Chameleon.

Front Desk: Hmm.. okay. Well, I'll have to check with the vet about that. Please hold.

(Dumb music playing)

Front Desk: Alright. Well I just spoke to the vet, and she said that you will have to bring a Chameleon in for a visit.

Me: Why is that? You said that it should be fine earlier.

Front Desk: Well our vet says that Chameleon's need to be brought in for visits. Depending on whether the test is positive or negative, we would need to do treatment.

Me: Yes, I understand that. That's exactly why I called. I would like to get fecals done regularly, and go from there if the test comes back positive. He is perfectly healthy, and I would rather avoid stressing him out when I don't need to.

Front Desk: The visit will be $56 and I'm not sure on the price of the fecal. There would also be additional charges for treatment.

Me: Okay. Thank you.


I know it's a little difficult to convey via computer, but this lady changed her whole attitude after speaking to the vet. Everything was fine and dandy, until she told the vet that the call was concerning a Chameleon. Plus the fact that I've called them over thirty times (over the past 5 months) and have NEVER gotten an answer. No call backs from the voicemail I left either. This is unsettling. I will need to contact my vet if my animal is in a state of an emergency.

I do realize that I live in a small area. I'm sure that the Chameleon's they do see, are in very bad shape. I still don't think that's any reason for me to stress out my animal every 4-6 months. I don't know too many people with dying Chameleons that call in about frequent fecal samples. Obviously I know how to care for my exotic reptile. We don't need to be judged by this office for the species that we decide to keep. Sorry. I just had to get this off of my chest. I was polite, clear, and knowledgable when speaking to them. It was a blatant assumption to think anyone with a Chameleon doesn't know what they're doing. Ugh! Drives me nuts!

This is my only option, other than driving 3+ hours away. I've spoken with the staff in the Louisville office before. They were extremely polite, and asked a million questions, all of which were questions I would have asked another Chameleon keeper. I was very impressed with them. I do not mind one bit to drive to Louisville if my animals are sick. However, I know there is an easier way to get a fecal done. I want to avoid my local vet at all costs. I think I would be doing more harm than good.

So my question is.. how the crap do I get a fecal done? Will a "non-exotic" vet do it? Are there any companies online? I would feel much better knowing that my animals have been checked for parasites. I think they should have regular check ups, whether or not I think they need it.

 

[Meow Kitty]

wow, how annoying why cant they just do the fecal without bringing him in, and then if he does have parasites you can bring him in. This vet might just want to see your chameleon because their dope. But 56$ for a fecal, my neighbors a vet and did both of my chameleon's fecal tests for free. Also maybe you could go in and talk to the actual vet it seems the receptionists at vets are always "void" of whats going on.

lol local vet. Well i dissected your chameleon and he seems to fine and free of parasites, also he's dead. that would be 135$, your welcome and have a nice day.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I understand your frustration, so maybe I can give a little insight to help. A vet cannot legally prescribe anything without a valid patient client relationship. So even if they could do fecals for you, if they found anything they couldn't actually give you anything for it until they examine your chameleon and established a relationship with you as a client. So you'd have to do the exam at some point, and it makes more sense to do it in the beginning while he's healthy and strong. Then later if you did have an emergency you already have that connection. If you called my office I would have told you the same thing about the exam first.

As for the receptionist changing her story, sounds like she just didn't know what she was talking about. I highly doubt that involving a chameleon had anything to do with it at all. She was probably only half paying attention (maybe she was checking out another client at the same time) and then the chameleon part made her wake up because that was out of the ordinary. She would (or should) have given you the same answer for any animal. And I don't think she necessarily meant you'd have to come for the exam every time. Usually you do the one exam, then the relationship is there so you can drop off samples without having to be seen every time. It's different at every vet as to how often they'll need to see your cham to maintain that relationship. It's just part of the legal obligation of being able to practice medicine.

Even though you know how to take care of your exotic pet, I can assure you that is not the norm! I've met plenty of people who bring in their obviously neglected exotic pet and tell me they're doing everything right and know what they're doing. Then when questioned about details they have just about every aspect wrong, even though they thought they were the best keeper ever. So there's a reason behind the need for an exam and just it's in the animal's best interest. Sometimes it's a burden for the actual good keepers, but the bad ones ruin it for the rest of us.

 

[Meow Kitty]

What are you talking about my exotic tropical snake loves sand and the heat pads all over his cage?!?!?!!

 

[carol5208]

What are you talking about my exotic tropical snake loves sand and the heat pads all over his cage?!?!?!!

what does this have to do with anything in the previous posts??? Natalie, I agree with Ferrit and I don't think the girl at the desk changed her story, she just did not know what to tell you at first. My vet does fecals without seeing my chameleons now, but that was after seeing both of them as patients first.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I think meow was making a funny about how well people think they take care of their exotics.

 

[carol5208]

I think meow was making a funny about how well people think they take care of their exotics.

oh dah!!! Now I get it!!! I was like what the heck has this got to do with anything!

 

[UrbanChameleon]

I understand your frustration, so maybe I can give a little insight to help. A vet cannot legally prescribe anything without a valid patient client relationship. So even if they could do fecals for you, if they found anything they couldn't actually give you anything for it until they examine your chameleon and established a relationship with you as a client. So you'd have to do the exam at some point, and it makes more sense to do it in the beginning while he's healthy and strong. Then later if you did have an emergency you already have that connection. If you called my office I would have told you the same thing about the exam first.

As for the receptionist changing her story, sounds like she just didn't know what she was talking about. I highly doubt that involving a chameleon had anything to do with it at all. She was probably only half paying attention (maybe she was checking out another client at the same time) and then the chameleon part made her wake up because that was out of the ordinary. She would (or should) have given you the same answer for any animal. And I don't think she necessarily meant you'd have to come for the exam every time. Usually you do the one exam, then the relationship is there so you can drop off samples without having to be seen every time. It's different at every vet as to how often they'll need to see your cham to maintain that relationship. It's just part of the legal obligation of being able to practice medicine.

Even though you know how to take care of your exotic pet, I can assure you that is not the norm! I've met plenty of people who bring in their obviously neglected exotic pet and tell me they're doing everything right and know what they're doing. Then when questioned about details they have just about every aspect wrong, even though they thought they were the best keeper ever. So there's a reason behind the need for an exam and just it's in the animal's best interest. Sometimes it's a burden for the actual good keepers, but the bad ones ruin it for the rest of us.

Thank you ferret.

She very well could have been a new employee also. I tried not to jump to conclusions, but after spending months trying to get ahold of them, I was already frustrated. I just get that "warning" feeling, like motherly instinct about this place.

I'm not sure about the rest of the U.S., but I know an animal has to be brought in to the office for treatment in Kentucky. I was under the impression (various CF threads) that fecals could be tested without a visit. I didn't realize a relationship was needed with the doctor beforehand.

I don't know if I would trust it, but I swear I had read that you could send a stool sample off yourself. The thread stated that an animals fecal sample isn't always tested at the office itself, but sent off somewhere else. That's why I asked about alternate options.

I plan on taking my animals for regular check-up's anyways. The local office in question is an animal hospital. Would it be a good idea to get my Chameleon tested for parasites locally, but use the Louisville vet as my "main go-to"? I would rather see one doctor, but I was so impressed with the vet in Louisville. They are much cheaper treatment wise, but the gas to get there will even it out either way. Plus the stress of a long car ride on my animals. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try out the hospital. If I'm not happy with the experience, I can always go to the other one.

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

oh dah!!! Now I get it!!! I was like what the heck has this got to do with anything!

Hahaha! You guys are cracking me up!