Vet Appointments!

[GrilledCheese]

Hi guys! Here again with a question, this time— vet appointments.

What usually goes on in a veiled chameleon vet appointment?

I’m taking Fredderick to the vet for the first time for what I’m hoping would be his annual vet but even though it’s an exotic vet clinic I’m not sure if they know about chameleons.

What do chameleons usually need to be checked on as first time patients? I would like to know if the vets actually know what they’re doing after our first appointment but I don’t know myself

 

[MissSkittles]

Well, usually the vet just holds the animal and looks at them. A good and experienced vet will listen with stethoscope and may gently palpate areas. They are primarily looking for signs of mbd, skin/scale health, bright eyes, alertness, muscle development, range of motion of extremities, breathing, general body condition (ie too thin or fat). Good vets will also take a peek inside the mouth and check the general condition, teeth and tongue and whatever else. If there is a health concern, they may want to take blood for testing or do X-rays (radiographs). Some conditions may warrant ultrasound. Do make sure to take a fresh poo sample for parasite testing. If unable to get a fresh one, make sure you can drop one off without an additional visit when you obtain the sample.
Be prepared with your husbandry info! I use our help form https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/ as a guide and write everything down and include pics of my enclosures and I give those items to the vet for their record and give a more complete idea of my animals living conditions.
I’ve been to a ‘bad’ vet who basically held my chameleon, looked at her and said all was fine. She expressed that there was no way to tell if she had eggs or not! Really?! I guess she didn’t know about x rays! She sucked in caring for my dog too.