booshified
New Member
I am looking for a good reptile vet in san diego. My female is showing all the signs of egg binding and not laying. (cant find my camera or else I would show u guys). I want to get her in within the next two days.
Vet in San Diego
- Thread starter booshified
- Start date
Kent67
Retired Moderator
Hey, I just woke up and got your message. You should try, in this order, Dr. Tom Boyer at the Rancho Penasquitos San Diego Animal Hospital and then Dr. Rosanne Brown at the Rancho San Diego Animal Hospital if he isn't available. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
I know something else that's brown too...
I've gone to see Jenkins (avain and exotic) and Brown in Rancho SD.
My prized panther twice fell from the top vine in his cage
and damaged his eye while climbing about in his cage (mating season).
Although I am somewhat pleased with the conservative recommendations
from Browns staff for treating my panther... as planned.
it didn't work out that way at all.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I am NOT PLEASED with how either how myself or my animal
were treated while there at Dr. Browns Vet Clinic.
There is NO WAY I'm comfortable with a technician attempting to monkey grab my
injured pet off my arm ( VERY incorrectly I might add) wisking it away from me
into the backroom out of my sight where it was given an "assessment"
even before I was asked I was in there for or it's history.
(oh, we can't have him in the lobby... they bite. )
I was NOT to be reunited with my panther until after "it's inspection" and vist for it's safety...
I learned that while it was out of my sight samples and mouth scrapings were
taken from it (greatly added stress for an already injured panther)
and a second tier vet discussed what she thought was wrong with it.
Sitting alone in the examination room I was ushered into
I had to correct and adjust her diagnosis several times based upon it's past history
-before agreeing to a course treatment plan.
After treatment was decided upon, I was then told that a billings assistant
would be in to discuss how I was to going to pay my bill. (used car lot tactics indeed!)
Only then was I allowed to re-enter the lobby to pay for the visit
and waited for my animal to be returned to me (after I paid of course).
I was then informed that my medications would be changed and substituted!
Not only that, but they were now going to be liquid that must be taken with food as well.
My cham is EXTREMELY TAME and will not even gape at me for any reason.
attempting to feed a jaw locked chameleon is near to impossible when it's not hungry or not feeling well.
ESPECIALLY when you don't want to disturb it's head containing a damaged and swollen eye turret!
This is when I started to get visibly upset and asked to see the vet again
or Dr. R. Brown herself to discuss (no luck there speaking to "Dr. Brown")
It was explained to me that "they're sorry" and I have an outstandingly
attractive animal, I was "just have to make due" because they "ran out" of
what they thought I needed to care for my animal to begin with, agreed too and PAID FOR!
With the holidays upon me I was forced to go along with this as there weren't
any other "qualified" vets available for the emergency and they already had my money.
They dismissed my preference for Im injections at home. Informing me that in order to
get receive any injections it would require another appointment and billed office visit!
they would NOT provide me with the meds -clearly against their policy.
It was at that time a young assistant went back to fetch my animal and return it to me.
Honestly it was in worse shape then when I came in.
It's lips were inflamed and roughened from where it was clearly forced
to open its mouth and have samples taken. Dark and stressed coloration and to top it off
the injured eye hadn't been properly cleaned leaving me to ask for some
q-tips and ointment to perform it myself there in the office.
All this while I endured basic questions regarding the lifespan and enclosures
required to keep panthers in captivity from the staff....
I gave the vet my phone and fax numbers so that she would fax me
the lab test results I paid for and left... less than pleased.
While I got a phone call regarding the tests ...
I was not faxed the information as I had asked so I could see the results myself
My animal refused to eat for days after the visit from the manhandling
and rugged stress inducing "care"
I was only able to give him 2 forced doses of the
"prescribed meds and vitamins" over the x-mass holiday.
While we've still got a prized breeder, we've lost the eye and I believe that
might not have happened if he was better cared for while in the hands of
Dr. Browns "technicians" and that a topical ointment (BNP)
and injectable anti- biotic /inflammatory combo as planned had been provided.
I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon to Dr. Browns Rancho San Diego office's.
While Dr. Jenkins office doesn't have the reputation of Dr. browns locally
I'm sure that the care would have been much better or at least not any worse.
I don't want to badmouth someone off of just one emergency visit
but this wasn't at all what I was expecting based upon what I've heard re: "her reputation".
and I'm still quite upset about it.
Good Luck (ymmv)
I've gone to see Jenkins (avain and exotic) and Brown in Rancho SD.
My prized panther twice fell from the top vine in his cage
and damaged his eye while climbing about in his cage (mating season).
Although I am somewhat pleased with the conservative recommendations
from Browns staff for treating my panther... as planned.
it didn't work out that way at all.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I am NOT PLEASED with how either how myself or my animal
were treated while there at Dr. Browns Vet Clinic.
There is NO WAY I'm comfortable with a technician attempting to monkey grab my
injured pet off my arm ( VERY incorrectly I might add) wisking it away from me
into the backroom out of my sight where it was given an "assessment"
even before I was asked I was in there for or it's history.
(oh, we can't have him in the lobby... they bite. )
I was NOT to be reunited with my panther until after "it's inspection" and vist for it's safety...
I learned that while it was out of my sight samples and mouth scrapings were
taken from it (greatly added stress for an already injured panther)
and a second tier vet discussed what she thought was wrong with it.
Sitting alone in the examination room I was ushered into
I had to correct and adjust her diagnosis several times based upon it's past history
-before agreeing to a course treatment plan.
After treatment was decided upon, I was then told that a billings assistant
would be in to discuss how I was to going to pay my bill. (used car lot tactics indeed!)
Only then was I allowed to re-enter the lobby to pay for the visit
and waited for my animal to be returned to me (after I paid of course).
I was then informed that my medications would be changed and substituted!
Not only that, but they were now going to be liquid that must be taken with food as well.
My cham is EXTREMELY TAME and will not even gape at me for any reason.
attempting to feed a jaw locked chameleon is near to impossible when it's not hungry or not feeling well.
ESPECIALLY when you don't want to disturb it's head containing a damaged and swollen eye turret!
This is when I started to get visibly upset and asked to see the vet again
or Dr. R. Brown herself to discuss (no luck there speaking to "Dr. Brown")
It was explained to me that "they're sorry" and I have an outstandingly
attractive animal, I was "just have to make due" because they "ran out" of
what they thought I needed to care for my animal to begin with, agreed too and PAID FOR!
With the holidays upon me I was forced to go along with this as there weren't
any other "qualified" vets available for the emergency and they already had my money.
They dismissed my preference for Im injections at home. Informing me that in order to
get receive any injections it would require another appointment and billed office visit!
they would NOT provide me with the meds -clearly against their policy.
It was at that time a young assistant went back to fetch my animal and return it to me.
Honestly it was in worse shape then when I came in.
It's lips were inflamed and roughened from where it was clearly forced
to open its mouth and have samples taken. Dark and stressed coloration and to top it off
the injured eye hadn't been properly cleaned leaving me to ask for some
q-tips and ointment to perform it myself there in the office.
All this while I endured basic questions regarding the lifespan and enclosures
required to keep panthers in captivity from the staff....
I gave the vet my phone and fax numbers so that she would fax me
the lab test results I paid for and left... less than pleased.
While I got a phone call regarding the tests ...
I was not faxed the information as I had asked so I could see the results myself
My animal refused to eat for days after the visit from the manhandling
and rugged stress inducing "care"
I was only able to give him 2 forced doses of the
"prescribed meds and vitamins" over the x-mass holiday.
While we've still got a prized breeder, we've lost the eye and I believe that
might not have happened if he was better cared for while in the hands of
Dr. Browns "technicians" and that a topical ointment (BNP)
and injectable anti- biotic /inflammatory combo as planned had been provided.
I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon to Dr. Browns Rancho San Diego office's.
While Dr. Jenkins office doesn't have the reputation of Dr. browns locally
I'm sure that the care would have been much better or at least not any worse.
I don't want to badmouth someone off of just one emergency visit
but this wasn't at all what I was expecting based upon what I've heard re: "her reputation".
and I'm still quite upset about it.
Good Luck (ymmv)
Last edited:
Justin Carl
Avid Member
you should put something like this in the paper.
call and find out with the Better Bus. Bureau
call and find out with the Better Bus. Bureau
Kent67
Retired Moderator
Wow. Sorry to hear you had that experience at Rancho S.D. From our discussion before, it sounded like there is no way the eye could have been saved. Wasn't it punctured/ruptured?
I suggested Dr. Boyer first because of location and chameleon experience, however Dr. Brown and the staff at Rancho San Diego continue to be my exotic vet of choice. I've been taking chameleons there since 1992 for everything from mouth infections to surgeries and have always been very pleased with the knowledge and care they've shown. Admittedly I haven't been there in close to two years so a number of things could have changed, but, even though they are farther away than any of the other choices, I will most likely go there again the next time I need a vet.
I suggested Dr. Boyer first because of location and chameleon experience, however Dr. Brown and the staff at Rancho San Diego continue to be my exotic vet of choice. I've been taking chameleons there since 1992 for everything from mouth infections to surgeries and have always been very pleased with the knowledge and care they've shown. Admittedly I haven't been there in close to two years so a number of things could have changed, but, even though they are farther away than any of the other choices, I will most likely go there again the next time I need a vet.
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
Yeah, kent I didn't think going in there that there was much hope for it.
But after going over several possible situations that could be played out
(based upon the anatomy and eye structure details I've haven't studied in depth)
it was concluded that a conservative approach was best
That the eye had a good chance of being saved.
leaving open more radical options later.
The eye turret was quite swollen but infection wasn't being a real problem
the BNP ointment that I had immediately used after the damaging fall seems
to have kept infection largely at bay. I believe the whiteness I saw was from a
misaligned iris from the swollen eye lid -not infection.
It's difficult to inspect when they're trying to keep their eye closed
from the ointment on it already.
Like I said up front I was "pleased" with the plan...
it wasn't "what I wanted to hear" about a complete recovery and 20/20 vision
- but it wasn't "eye removal" and decapitation either.
What got me was how both how I, myself and my animal were treated while there.
I didn't like it. maybe I'm being sensitive.. but I don't think so.
Especially being kept alone in a "examination room", unable to have him present
when discussing his condition right there and then with the vet.
THEN to have a young billing and payment girl come in and discuss my billing options
after the course of treatment has been decided upon.
That's totally backwards and it came off to myself as a unacceptable way
to do business.
Kent, let me ask:
Did they pull your animal(s) away from you after you walked in?
Personally, I'm used too and I want to be there when someone is handling my sick animal
at the very least to reduce the stress levels upon the creature.
I can tell you that their staff WASN'T what I was expecting (although nice)
They didn't know how to handle the animal nor realize that oral liquids w/ food doesn't work
I sure don't like the switched medications to something that is going to be
difficult to provide, use, intended for birds not reptiles as an oral med with forced feeding.
Nor how he was examined without my being there.
I can give my own injections without a $45 dollar office visit
and whatever BS injection costs they think they can toss in while
he's in the backroom again and I'm confined to the examination cubical.
Granted it was the holidays and an emergency appointment
but still... I'm not going to excuse what I experienced that evening.
Things could have certainly been better.
YMMV and I hope it does.
But after going over several possible situations that could be played out
(based upon the anatomy and eye structure details I've haven't studied in depth)
it was concluded that a conservative approach was best
That the eye had a good chance of being saved.
leaving open more radical options later.
The eye turret was quite swollen but infection wasn't being a real problem
the BNP ointment that I had immediately used after the damaging fall seems
to have kept infection largely at bay. I believe the whiteness I saw was from a
misaligned iris from the swollen eye lid -not infection.
It's difficult to inspect when they're trying to keep their eye closed
from the ointment on it already.
Like I said up front I was "pleased" with the plan...
it wasn't "what I wanted to hear" about a complete recovery and 20/20 vision
- but it wasn't "eye removal" and decapitation either.
What got me was how both how I, myself and my animal were treated while there.
I didn't like it. maybe I'm being sensitive.. but I don't think so.
Especially being kept alone in a "examination room", unable to have him present
when discussing his condition right there and then with the vet.
THEN to have a young billing and payment girl come in and discuss my billing options
after the course of treatment has been decided upon.
That's totally backwards and it came off to myself as a unacceptable way
to do business.
Kent, let me ask:
Did they pull your animal(s) away from you after you walked in?
Personally, I'm used too and I want to be there when someone is handling my sick animal
at the very least to reduce the stress levels upon the creature.
I can tell you that their staff WASN'T what I was expecting (although nice)
They didn't know how to handle the animal nor realize that oral liquids w/ food doesn't work
I sure don't like the switched medications to something that is going to be
difficult to provide, use, intended for birds not reptiles as an oral med with forced feeding.
Nor how he was examined without my being there.
I can give my own injections without a $45 dollar office visit
and whatever BS injection costs they think they can toss in while
he's in the backroom again and I'm confined to the examination cubical.
Granted it was the holidays and an emergency appointment
but still... I'm not going to excuse what I experienced that evening.
Things could have certainly been better.
YMMV and I hope it does.
Kent67
Retired Moderator
No, never. Visits were always like any other dog or cat vet appointment. Wait with the animal in the lobby until called, then go into the examination room, give history to technician, and wait for the vet. They were always very gentle when needing to handle animals and would usually let me do a lot of it. I never had a payment girl experience either. Heck, there were times when due to school or work I was unable to make it to scheduled appointments and my mom, who knows next to nothing about reptiles, took one of my panthers there for me. After every single visit, no exaggeration, she remarked about how impressed she was with the place overall.
What vet did you see? I've only seen Drs. Brown, Peterson, and one other whose name is escaping me at the moment.
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
Oh I can't remember right now
I'll look it up on the paperwork when I get home.
I don't want to pin anything down on her as being any kind of culprit.
I found her perspective to be a reasonable one.
What my problem was with "how they ran things" over there.
That's an office procedure and policy thing that shouldn't be happening. (imho)
not even cool at all.
I'll look it up on the paperwork when I get home.
I don't want to pin anything down on her as being any kind of culprit.
I found her perspective to be a reasonable one.
What my problem was with "how they ran things" over there.
That's an office procedure and policy thing that shouldn't be happening. (imho)
not even cool at all.
