How to ensure your vet is Qualified?

[mcleodschams]

I have often asked myself " What should I be asking my vet to ensure she is really qualified and not just out for my money?"
What kinds of questions should we all be asking our vets to find out if they really know what they are doing?
what kinda questions do we ask our vet to ensure our pets are taken care of properly
how many chams have you treated
what types of chams have u treated
what type of husbandry for the chams do you posses
what are the temps my cham is going to be exposed to during the visit
what or will you be feeding my cham anything at all
what is your plan of action
what do you think might be wrong
maybe even ask a couple questions about things you know are wrong just to see if they give you the right answer
its early in the morning here just woke up cant really think but had to post on this as i have beeen thinking about this since my fawn passed not to long ago to egg binding. if anyone can think of any more questions for the vet please post them and i would like to start a post about questions for the vet to ensure our chams good care in there time of need
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This topic was inspired by my recent vet trips with Sonny Tomis for his tongue and fawn and after This Thread https://www.chameleonforums.com/just-make-sure-78463/
chameleonfan101 R.I.P to your Little one!

 

[ataraxia]

Do you see chameleons?
If so, How often do you see chameleons?
Ask if they are familiar with your species.
Then ask a simple question like "is a water dish ok to put in the cage" Or "is a under tank heater ok"?

If they fail those questions DO NOT take them.

 

[mcleodschams]

thanks ataraxia this will hopefully fill right up with good questions and maybe we can help out some not only chameleon but any pet owners with future vet visits to ensure our beloved pets are being properly handled like i said before in their time of need.

 

[yogi]

Thanks for this! Now i know what to ask. How long would you give a baby cham to settle in before making a first vet visit? Have only had him/her for 5 days. And what should i have in the house for just in case moments (hope none happen)

 

[Olimpia]

I've just resorted to knowing more than my vets! lol I go to whoever is the exotic vet in town and if they give me advice/treatment in line with what I know works, I accept it, and if they give me treatment that I know is crap, I decline it. I just need them for the prescription meds, at this point! Although my vet now is pretty competent and I always have an expert an hour away.

But this is useful for others, they are definitely good questions to ask. It's always better to have a good vet.

 

[lindawaz]

It is also better to "interview" the vet before you need them and have a wellness check up if they pass the test. This way they have a record of your Healthy Cham and you have established them as a patient of that vet

 

[Ace]

also a tip is if you live near a cham breeder , whether a sponsor here or a known hobbyiest breeder is to ask them which vets they go to, im pretty sure they go to ones chameleon experienced if their stud breeders or future females were in need of medical attention

 

[yogi]

Thanks, what do you put the cham in to take into the vet? can i use a clear carrier until i get there? or something dark?

 

[mcleodschams]

something dark will be less stressfull as it will probably sleep while traveling

 

[Salty]

Do you see chameleons?
If so, How often do you see chameleons?
Ask if they are familiar with your species.
Then ask a simple question like "is a water dish ok to put in the cage" Or "is a under tank heater ok"?

If they fail those questions DO NOT take them.

Love the trick question set up.... I'm going to use that.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

I've just resorted to knowing more than my vets! lol I go to whoever is the exotic vet in town and if they give me advice/treatment in line with what I know works, I accept it, and if they give me treatment that I know is crap, I decline it. I just need them for the prescription meds, at this point! Although my vet now is pretty competent and I always have an expert an hour away.

But this is useful for others, they are definitely good questions to ask. It's always better to have a good vet.

This is my routine as well.


On a side note, if you find your vet is asking you more questions about what equipment works and what doesn't, they don't know much but it may be a way for you educate them.

 

[yogi]

Thanks very much for the answers i really appreciate it alot! At least now i know a little bit more on what to look for and ask. Sad to say the store you buy them from takes advantage let alone your vet. kinda scary thanks for the heads up.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I agree with oldchamkeeper - just because a vet doesn't know every aspect of chameleon care doesn't mean they aren't willing to learn. You might be able to benefit from their medical knowledge and they can benefit from your husbandry knowledge. You aren't going to find a vet if you discard them over one wrong answer, unless you're lucky to be in the same areas of the very few chameleon gurus. They'll need to be able to answer most of them (especially the important ones) correctly. Unless they've actually kept chameleons they aren't going to know everything perfectly - many and more people actually owning chameleons learn a lot of things they didn't know joining the forums. Some vets care to learn and some don't, so that's what you need to be able to sort out. Of course they need to have a solid background in reptile medicine at least, even if it isn't specifically chameleons.

 

[mcleodschams]

I agree with oldchamkeeper - just because a vet doesn't know every aspect of chameleon care doesn't mean they aren't willing to learn. You might be able to benefit from their medical knowledge and they can benefit from your husbandry knowledge. You aren't going to find a vet if you discard them over one wrong answer, unless you're lucky to be in the same areas of the very few chameleon gurus. They'll need to be able to answer most of them (especially the important ones) correctly. Unless they've actually kept chameleons they aren't going to know everything perfectly - many and more people actually owning chameleons learn a lot of things they didn't know joining the forums. Some vets care to learn and some don't, so that's what you need to be able to sort out. Of course they need to have a solid background in reptile medicine at least, even if it isn't specifically chameleons.

tottally agree with this dont take my post as that one question answered wrong means you have to find a new vet just make sure you are knoledgable enough about them to trust in them to take care of your thanks ferritinmyshoes for adding that in.

 

[Solid Snake]

You could hand them this if they need educating:https://www.chameleonforums.com/veterinary-management-chameleons-78544/