General Care Discussion :: Vet?

[julie373]

I located a vet in my area that specializes in exotic animals, and it's 5 minutes from my house! They are also an emergency clinic and open 24/7 365 days. But it got me thinking, in a couple of months should I take my turtle in just for a regular check-up? Or is that silly? My financee gave me a funny look when I suggested it. But I would feel better with check ups like once a year to know if my turtle is healthy

[Safdar]

Oh yes a regualr check-up would be wonderful
I woulndt think it would be silly
Youll learn more about your turtle and if hes doing okay

If i had the capacity i would definently go on a yearly regular check up
Go for it

[SpotsMama]

I'd take my turtle in and get a checkup to meet the vet. Maybe take a stool sample to get it checked for parasites. I think it would be worth it to know if the vet really knows anything about turtles. You should be able to tell by asking a few questions and seeing what he/she says. If you don't get a good feeling, then you should probably try another one. It could be expensive, but if you do it, then down the road when you really need a vet, you'll know that you've got one you can trust.

But don't let anyone give him shots! There've been some turtles on here that have gotten shots from vets that really didn't know about turtles and the results were disasterous. If you've got a perfectly healthy turtle and the vet wants to give him a shot, then run don't walk to the nearest exit.

[steve]

I agree with SpotsMama, let them check your turtle and you can check them out. It took me 4 tries before I found a vet I was comfortable with.

Here's my "Choosing a Vet for Your Turtle" article.

[industrial_girl_2000]

It's not silly at all! Great idea, actually, especially if the turtle is under 4 inches. The babies are more susceptible to illnesses. A vet can help detect problems before they start.

[marisa]

It's good to get to know the vet in advance. If you have confidence in him/her, if you should have an emergency in the future, you'll know where to go without having to seek out a vet you don't know at a stressful time.

A check-up is never a bad thing.