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So, I have had a very VERY BAD vet experience tonight. My wife spent the morning calling around looking for a herp vet in Bakersfield, because no vet in Tehachapi treats turtles. We think both our new babies may have RI. They show most of the symptoms. So we took it to this vet that I thought was a herp vet, but got down there and found out she wasn't.

So we go into the room, she picks up Spike and starts looking at him (normal right), then she starts saying "aw he's so cute" and poking him in the face. He finally had enough and bit her finger, and she THREW HIM ACROSS THE ROOM!!! Then she started dancing like there was a mouse on the floor and she almost stepped on him!!! AHHHHH. I was...and still am....so mad!!!! She could have killed him!!!! Luckily, so far, he seems okay. No shell damage. He went farther inside his shell than I've ever seen a turtle go, for about half an hour; I could barely even see his nose. That worried me. He finally came out and now he's acting normal again. I just hope he didn't get any internal injuries.

I wouldn't even let her start to pick up Donny after that. She gave me the antibiotics I went in for and didn't charge me for the visit.

It's my mistake, for not doing enough GOOD research about the vet before we went.

Moral of my story!! Research your vet before you take your turtles. Make SURE it's a herp vet. And if when you get there and things aren't what you expected, leave and find another one. Don't take a chance like me.

Wow! That really sucks! What kind of vet was she? Sheesh! Well, good thing you got your antibiotics for free. That's the least they could do after that fiasco. I hope your RES's get better soon!

You know, I never figured out exactly what she is. She was Mexican and didn't speak much english. Didn't know that before going either.

tohmit wrote:You know, I never figured out exactly what she is. She was Mexican and didn't speak much english. Didn't know that before going either.

You should have maybe told her this then hehe.
"A Spike no le gusta que le toquen la cara por que puede morder".

translation hehe: Spike doesnt like to be poke in the face, because he might bite..
LOL.

Seriously though, i think thats our first reaction when we are bitten, but she shouldnt have done that in the first place or with your concern.

I wish to be a herp vet, but since i want to be a vet tech..i dont see it coming, maybe i can be one for a herp as well.

I hope your RES gets better!.

Well it sounds like there's a shortage of good herp vets in Tehachapi, CA. I'm sure you could set up a real nice practice there!

It was NOT your mistake. If she wasnt a herp vet, it would be her responsibility to tell you that when you called to make your appointment. And even if you didnt make an appointment, and just walked in, its her responsibility to tell you that before she touches your turtle! I would have hit that woman in the face! I would even report her for negligent practice. That was absoulety uncalled for. If she didnt have the proper training, she shouldnt have gone near your turtle. I would continue to watch him for injuries... just because he seems fine now, doesnt mean he is totally okay. I seriously dont mean to scare you, but its like a car accident... you feel fine after it happens, and the next day you have back problems... and If she did injure him, Im sure you can sue her if she wasnt a certified herp vet.

That realy sucks...I would have freaked out! What did you tell her when she threw him across the room?

Thanks for trying to make me feel better. I had a bad feeling when I walked in the room though. I should have just left.

You know what, it happened so fast I don't even remember what I said. I just know I was TICKED and took Spike and looked him over and put him back in the container with Donny, and wouldn't let her touch them.

I got really ticked when afterwards she said, "wow, I didn't know turtle's bite". then i felt really stupid for taking them there.

yea, that kind of stuff can take you by surprise. It's amazing how stupid someone can be, especially when you go there expecting to get expert help for you sick baby! Man, I would have been totally stunned too!

So, I've got another question. I'm trying to get them to take their medicine and I'm having trouble because she only gave me this oral squirt thing. I got Spike to open his mouth so I could drip it in, probably cuz he's still ticked off. Poor baby has had a rough day. I can't get Donny to open up though. They are still hardly eating anything. I tried putting it on food to give to him, but that didn't work.

Any suggestions?

It is Baytril that she gave me, which is right.....right?

I think Chibi had the same problem. There's a thread in the Urgent Care section where several people had suggestions.

Heres the link to the thread --> http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8519
Hopefully something there will work for you.

Thanks, I just read through it. I never thought of prying his mouth open. That doesn't seem pleasant, but I guess I can give it a try.

Poor little guy, he's so friendly, I don't want to make him mad at me. lol. but, if it will save his life I guess I must.

Well, I tried the Blockbuster thing and it didn't work. Donny is too small to get the credit card in there. I'm really running out of ideas. Right now I'm just hoping he'll start eating tomorrow and I can figure out what he eats and put it in his food.

so wierd. I've never had a problem getting my turtles to open their mouths. Donny is so calm when I hold him, and when I put him down he runs right back to me. SO cute, but frustrating that I can't get him his meds.

tohmit wrote:
I wouldn't even let her start to pick up Donny after that. She gave me the antibiotics I went in for and didn't charge me for the visit.

i would've been raising cain after all that happened, i don't even want to think about what i would do if the woman even considered charging me. ugh, that's a terror! what kind of idiot pokes their finger in any type of animals face?!?! especially one they obviously don't know the first thing about. ugh, she should've told you that up front!

tohmit wrote:It's my mistake, for not doing enough GOOD research about the vet before we went.

Moral of my story!! Research your vet before you take your turtles. Make SURE it's a herp vet. And if when you get there and things aren't what you expected, leave and find another one. Don't take a chance like me.

there's actually a thread that has good sites for locating herp vets in your area. i think there are some international listings as well. it's how i found my vet.

DavidY wrote:yea, that kind of stuff can take you by surprise. It's amazing how stupid someone can be, especially when you go there expecting to get expert help for you sick baby! Man, I would have been totally stunned too!

on the other hand, even the most docile creatures will bite if you continuously poke them in the face =Þ

tohmit wrote:So, I've got another question. I'm trying to get them to take their medicine and I'm having trouble because she only gave me this oral squirt thing. I got Spike to open his mouth so I could drip it in, probably cuz he's still ticked off. Poor baby has had a rough day. I can't get Donny to open up though. They are still hardly eating anything. I tried putting it on food to give to him, but that didn't work.

Any suggestions?

It is Baytril that she gave me, which is right.....right?

baytril is what my vet gave me when john had his bacterial infection. but he got shots, the vet even showed me the spot to put the needle in. john fought me on it a couple times turtles really do clamp up when they're sick (john had his third shot before he even started eating again) so it's odd they would dispense oral medication at that time. that's like doctor's giving you those giant antibiotics to bring the swelling down in your throat. can't exactly swallow them =Þ

it's all insanity!!! hehe