Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A vet friend of mine needs to get atleast 2 mils of blood from a gravid dragon for a calcium test. Where would be the best place to draw it? Did anyone have this done and remember where the dragon was "poked"? thanks
-kyle
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LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE:
1.2 Kimberely rock monitor
1.1 Baja Cape Gophers
ANY Dendrobates pumillio
ANY Eastern glass lizards
thx.

from the tail , not sure how far down or how far in but i know its from the tail. i also know that you sometimes have to "find" the vein.

If I remember correctly there is a vein that runs along the bottom of the tail. Just have one person hold the dragon and the vet try to find the vein there. May take a little bit but he/she should be able to get it.

Tegan
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Tegan

Underside of the tail there's a large vein, similar to drawing blood from a cow. If this vet doesn't know where to find a vein in a lizard, I'm thinking they are not the best person to be doing this. If they don't know what they're doing, they should at least know where to find out, not rely on a patient's owner asking on a list... from working in a vet teaching hospital for many years, I'd say your vet friend either hasn't graduated, hasn't passed his boards, or shouldn't be near a reptile at this time, or at least until they've found a reliable mentor in the field.

np

A friend?? Not someone that knows what they are doing?
Veins are small and there could be alot of poking and missing. No way should anyone but a qualified person be doing this.
Suggestions to poke the poor thing in the tail "somewhere" are rediculous. That's like someone trying to get blood out of you blindfolded!!
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TheClassyLizard

He did say vet friend...but this still makes me wonder just how skilled this vet is if he/she doesn't know the best place to draw blood from reptiles. I don't think I would let any vet poke around randomly into my pet till he happens to find the vein. I certainly wouldn't let a human doctor poke me all over my arm till he actually finds the right spot. Probably pop him one.

The "friend" of mine is a veterinarian, and knows the proper procedures for drawing blood, but she works primarily with dogs and cats, etc. The animal is not mine, rather it belongs to someone who won a free visit to her clinic, and is electing to use it this way. The customer is aware that the vet is not well versed in herps.

thanks to those of you with pertinent info.
-kyle
-----
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE:
1.2 Kimberely rock monitor
1.1 Baja Cape Gophers
ANY Dendrobates pumillio
ANY Eastern glass lizards
thx.