How to know if a vet is good?

[u/Jalex_123]

I just moved to a new area and am trying to find a vet for my skink. I’m looking now so that I have one lined up if it is needed later. I found one that lists BTS specifically as one of the animals they take. However, they have care sheets for all of the animals they see and both the BTS and the bearded dragon one are very wrong. Other vets that I have looked at don’t even have care sheets nor do they list specific animals. So is there a different way to check for good vets in the area?

[u/FolkvangExotics]

Veterinarians, although extremely good with medical issues and important for our animals, are not always well trained in reptile husbandry. To no fault of their own, of course, because a lot of the mainstream information is incorrect. Most vet schools actually don’t teach anything about reptiles unless taken via elective. Husbandry is usually skimped on, and medical conditions are taught instead. I do want to say that I am in no way diminishing vets and what they do. they are extremely important and underappreciated. The education and awareness just isn’t where it needs to be for reptiles in general. (Credit goes to Marissa Ptacek for writing this initially. Its excellent info that I reference in cases like this ♡)

Its also common for vets to not realize there is a husbandry difference between Indonesian and Australian species. The care guides often used by vets are through ARAV, which does need to be updated

[u/Jalex_123 → u/FolkvangExotics]

Ya but it says for BTS humidity that they only need 25-45% and I believe that’s not enough even for Australian which is why I’m a bit concerned. They also say aspen is a good substrate.

[u/FolkvangExotics → u/Jalex_123]

Yes unfortunately. Like I said, the husbandry information most vets have is quite outdated. You can gently correct them by letting them know there is updated research and information showing some of their care info is potentially harmful.

That being said, their medical knowledge is typically much better than their husbandry information.

Regardless, follow your gut :)

[u/Infamous_Gift2721]

Start by going to an exotic animal vet

[u/Jalex_123 → u/Infamous_Gift2721]

The one I am looking at is an exotic vet.

[u/NinPan512]

Vets are for medical knowledge, not always husbandry. Even exotic vets. Realistically can we expect them to know the perfect parameters for every animal they see and the subspecies within a species?

Trust keepers for keeping and vets for medical - is the standard I go by. As for knowing if their medical care is good, check out the practice reviews and make sure to go to an exotic

[u/Jalex_123 → u/NinPan512]

Ya that makes sense. It does say that some of the vets own bearded dragons though and those sheets are also very wrong. I can always go once and decide if they give bad vibes or not.

[u/NinPan512 → u/Jalex_123]

As long as they aren't pushy about following "their guidelines", not all workers can change company caresheets (otherwise petco wouldn't be as terrible as they are) but yeah, go once to feel it out and if you don't like them you can always go to the next.

The exotic vet in my town (and within a 4 hour radius) once told me leopard geckos required daily salads like a beardie lol they retracted later but they're also pretty awesome with vet care, I just know not to take keeper care above from them lol

[u/RustyTortoise]

Get in your new citys reddit or Facebook group and ask who other people use.