I feel so bad

[ZippiesPal]

She wasnt even sick or anything. I put her through a terrable experience. I took my sweet little Zippie girl to the vet today just to make sure all was good with her.
That Bozo grabbed her and flopped her around and prodded at her delicate little body, like she was a kitten or something. My poor little girl turned black and grey and fought for all she was worth.
Then at the end of it I shelled out a big pile of cash to learn that I need to take X-rays and that that vet doesnt know much about chameleons. He recdommended that I take her to a big city like Seattle or Portland if I want to know her sex for sure. I just DECIDED that she is a girl, based on what people on this site said earlier.

I hope she wont be mad at me or afraid. I will never do that to her again without a really really good reason.

 

[Chameron]

aw thats so scary what was the vet thinking

 

[sandrachameleon]

If the vet didnt know much about chameleons, I wouldnt have taken her to that vet. Nor would I pay for mis-treatment.

 

[panthercham]

She will forgive you......after a juicy feeder/treat or 3

Lesson learned - don't take her back to that vet but while she is healthy take the time to find a vet that knows more about chams. You would have felt worse/helpless if it was an emergency situation and you took her there.

 

[draetish]

I have had bad vet experiences and after leaving the vet office, I would ask myself "why did I let him do that"? I vow that if I ever have to take another cham to a vet, I will speak up and protect my cham. I know vets are there to help you, but if I learn all I can about chams, then I will know if the vet is qualified or not.

 

[Julirs]

She is a girl-what a bozo that Vet is. She does not need X-Rays. This is yet another example of a Vet that knows nothing of chameleons doing needless things and saying stupid things.

 

[ZippiesPal]

There are no vets

that know (really know) about reptiles, especialy Chameleons in my area.

This vet actualy told me that there is just not enough of a reptile/chameleon population in my area to support a specialty practice. Even if you add birds to your specialty, its still not enough. Since theres not much profit in specializing, most vets work on cats and dogs.

He did check the poop for parisites, and gave me something called NutriBac (A diatary suppliment for appetite stimulation by replenishing benificial intestinal michroflora). I think its helping. Zippie has pooped once a day since then (it was less often before), doesnt look so fat (boated), and eats prettymuch as soon as I place a cup into the cage.

She still greys up and gets all dark when I approach (she didnt before). Before, she just stayed her regular light brick red color. This too will pass. I put more brances for her to walk around on and I think she is liking that pretty well.

 

[Julirs]

I would be super hesitant to give her things she probably does not need. As Panthers mature, they poop less, and as adults once a week is pretty normal. She seems fine-let her live a normal chameleon life-with a laying bucket of course-in the case that she needs to lay eggs. Most female Panthers are very shy.

 

[Carlton]

He did check the poop for parisites, and gave me something called NutriBac (A diatary suppliment for appetite stimulation by replenishing benificial intestinal michroflora).

If she hasn't been on antibiotics for anything you shouldn't need the NutriBac. Her gut flora should already be OK. If she gets parasite treatment or gets treated for an infection maybe. There is no reason a cham should be pooping every day. Their metabolism isn't like a mammal's. Many vets try to make the client feel as if they did something by giving you a medication...even if it isn't strictly called for.

 

[ZippiesPal]

I suspected as much....



That was $165.00....

 

[justjumpit621]

There may be one in oregon, and if not, you may have to drive to california. I have to drive an hour and a half on wednesday to bring Molly to a new vet who i'm hoping is knowledgeable in chameleons.

 

[nick barta]

Check with Catherine (Paradalisgirl) or Northwest Chameleons (Sandy/Elliot) for local vets for you in the Puget Sound area.

Nick

 

[justjumpit621]

Here you go, I talked to one of my friends who lives around there and she gave me this website: http://www.herpvetdirectory.com/index.php?option=com_sobi2&catid=51&Itemid=290

 

[Seeco]

That really blows, you should post this vet's info here so we can aviod going there.

 

[Elizadolots]

"That really blows, you should post this vet's info here so we can aviod going there."

That could be bad for the board owners... What he should absolutely do is go to all local meetings about reptiles and tell his story. Let the community drive him out of business.

Hey, I'm in San Diego!! Hi!

We are sort of doing this same thing in our local community, there is a vet that is bad. Not that she's bad on chameleons, she's bad on dogs and cats and how could she be good on chameleons if she sucks on dogs?...so, we're talking among ourselves and it's had an effect. Her business is suffering. We feel bad for the people who work for her, but we know our animals get better care in other places even if that means driving. We drive 15 miles to get to our regular vet because he's wonderful, we love him, we trust him....we have not, as of yet, addressed the "chameleon" issue (lots of stuff on pugs and mixes and chihuauas).

 

[ZippiesPal]

Thanks for the links

Prosser animal hospitol IS my main vet.

Coleman Vet Clinic was the quack who manhandled my little Zippie so badly. I just didnt call Prosser because I assumed they wouldnt do Chams.

Ill call Prosser later today and see if they do Chameleons. I still wont take Zippie in unless I see a problem. I understand that chams tend to 'hide' problems, and that pushes me the other direction, tword regular visits. As anybody can tell, Im really not decided yet.

 

[justjumpit621]

I would try this one:

Exotic Pet and Bird Clinic
903 5th Avenue #101 Kirkland
Washington
98033 USA

 

[gabzzy]

i feel bad for ya 2

I stopped by the recommended vet in my area and spoke with the appointment setter about pricing and handeling, well, it seems that for a full fecal with office visit is 75$ so tomorrow at 10 am CoeChi and I are going in for a check up since he's been through a lot when I moved and we were in remodeling construction for a few weeks so the dust was flyin, but I think he has adapted very well and he is so gental that he will even cuddle with me and sleep with me wrapped up in his own blanket, he's such a trooper; my lil luv bug CoeChi!!