Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it really necessary to take your reptiles to the vet/ drop off stool samples to the vet if your pet appears to be and is acting fine? I have heard frequently that especially a newly purchased pet (reptile) should at least have a stool sample taken to the vet for inspection but if the animal appears healthy and is eating fine, is it really necessary? Just looking for thoughts and opinions...

Also, how often (if at all) should one take one's reptile to the vet if it is healthy? (As in if you've had a pet for a while and it's fine-- should it have check-ups?)

Thanks!

The suggestion I have heard is to have the stool looked at once a year in time to treat the snake before brumation.

If you do not brumate, I guess pick a time of year.

It's better to know there is a problem before symptoms show up. They can get internal parasites any number of ways, including from their food supply.
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata (gravid)

yes i've heard if feeding live the food can carry parasites, so in turn the snakes will get parasites. but feeding frozen kills any parasites from what i read. i have always feed frozen to all my 7 snakes from the day i got them. have never taken them to a vet for anything. now if they were to get sick, ya, i would take them. this is ME and how i take care of my snakes. i see no reason to take in a perfectly healthy animal just for the vet to do a check up and collect money i really dont' have . the choice is yours really.

I wouldn't be too sure that feeding frozen kills all parasites.
It may kill some, but I wouldn't at all be surprised if some just go dormant etc. during a freeze.

I know that a lot of meet products are put through an irradiation process for human consumption, I kind of doubt frozen mice for reptile consumption are.

And there are other ways that parasites can reach your snakes. Most people have snakes because they like them, which makes them more likely to handle snakes that friends have etc.

Good quarantine and quality food supply certainly help, but a simple stool check done by a vet is the only way to be fairly certain (and my vet said sometimes they don't catch parasites that are present even then).
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata (gravid)

All new acquisition entering my collection, regardless of source, undergo a minimum 90 day quarantine period and must demonstrate three clear fecal exams during this period, prior to entering my husbandry facility. Keep in mind, a single clear fecal may not give you and accurate representation of internal parasite loads, as eggs, developing and mature parasites are not always passed and multiple fecal exams present a better chance of catching internal parasites during their reproductive cycle.
While it’s not necessary to take your snake in for a fecal exam, as you may collect a fresh sample yourself and submit such, it is wise to have your veterinarian examine any new acquisition and an annual exam is a good safeguard to keeping your collection healthy.

Best regards,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

hey that was some good advise in those posts there. i should get mine checked but for now i just dont have the extra $$ and they do appear fine. most of mine i got as babies and have feed f/t all their lives. but one can never be to cautious.

I notice there have been some posts regarding the safety of feeding F/T prey to snakes. While there is a degree of safety, freezing is bacteriostatic, not bacteriocidic, as freezing severly inhibits the growth of batceria, but does not eradicate such completely.
The primary reason feeding F/T prey is safer than feeding live is in the elimination of any chance the prey item might injure the specimen being fed during a struggle or if the prey is not immediately eaten and left unattended within the enclosure for a period of time...

Best regards,

Jeff

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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947