So much for vet care! Need Advice

[Pinky81]

Ok so I went onto this site:

http://herpvetconnection.com/wiscon.shtml

and found a vet near me..Ron Beatty, DVM...first red flag when he tells me that UTHs are not recommended due to possibility of burns...so I asked how do you suppose I get belly hear to my Leo he tells me the best set up is a adjustable red lamp...Ummmm REALLY?

Then he goes over what foods Clyde eats and asks "so you can't get him to eat any greens?"
WHAT???

So Im so like turned upside down at this point I just wanna get out of there..so he suggested that I give Clyde Metacam for inflammation to get clyde more comfortable..and if I wanted we could do antibiotics oral incase the burn is deeper.

Now Clyde has some rusty hue to his tail still but VERY VERY slight!!! Much better then yesturday.

So I tell him no antibiotics and yes to the metacam cause I figure it can't hurt to make him more comfortable. Then he tells me that clyde would get it as a shot for the next 5 days...Im like can't I do oral metacam...he said oh yea I just didn't know if you knew how to give a Leo oral medication. Third Red flag he didn't know how to hold the Leo still...I had to show him how to pick clyde up by the tail to examine his belly!

Needless to say that was a totally ridiculous event, and I refused to let him give any metacam at the office cause i wanna find out from you guys if its safe for Leo's! Ive heard of Metacam for dogs but not reptiles.

SMH!!!! Im soooo irritated by this whole thing! So is it safe to give clyde this metacam to help him be more comfortable after this burn. Like I said he maybe has VERY VERY slight rusty hue to his tail mostly but a tiny bit on his belly...but No blisters, or skin peeling or ANYTHING like that!

What are you thoughts guys?!?

 

[Holly12]

Well frist off the vet is a idiot lol I wish that you live close to me you would love my vet and well not trying to be funny but I have never heard of metacam lol. I thought it was so funny when the vet ask you you can't get him to eat any greens lol. This vet knows nothing about reptiles and should not be giving any advise. I hope your boy gets better my thoughts are with you.

 

[im faster]

I hope you didnt have to pay for that.. as for what to do about it i dont know

 

[Thorgecko707]

Metacam is an anti-inflammatory. Are his muscles tense? No. Do you need metacam? No. That is ridiculous. That vet could have had you kill your Leo by stuffing veggies down it's throat if you didnt come here. BBB anyone?

 

[Holly12]

Metacam is an anti-inflammatory. Are his muscles tense? No. Do you need metacam? No. That is ridiculous. That vet could have had you kill your Leo by stuffing veggies down it's throat if you didnt come here. BBB anyone?

Thats what I was thinking too he could of killed he leo what a ass lol sorry but this is so wrong. :main_angry:

 

[Pinky81]

I hope you didnt have to pay for that.. as for what to do about it i dont know

Yes I did pay for this...I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe he brain farted and thought he was thinking about a beardie. But as Im walking out of the appt I just thinking to myself WTF just happened. Plus I just got off of work, rushed home to get clyde and rush him in...so Im not sure if my brain was even there 100%...Im sure it wasn't cause I am still WTFing!!!

Clyde did seem uncomfortable as I can imagine you would feel with a sun burn over you body..so thats why I took the metacam, but I DID NOT want the MD to give any till I passed it by someone else.

Im just floored that I did the right thing by going and finding a vet listed on a reptile vet site and walked into that dumpster fire!!!

Well there could be worse things then being suckered out of money...Clyde just gobbled down 8 crickets even after all the BS at the vet so Im feeling ok with not giving him any medications.

If not anything this story will benefit someone, Im just glad Clyde is doing ok...I DO think that the triple AntiB ointment did more then anything else! So thank you friends....Im going to go to bed with WTF in my brain :main_huh:

EDIT: I submitted a complaint to this website above. W T F!

 

[fl_orchidslave]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience Mel. Here's something my vet told our herp society when he came to speak: some vets have ego problems, and will lead a client to believe he can diagnose any animal and treat it. It's not true!!! Well the ego part is. Many have a wonderful practice for dogs, cats, birds, exotics like ferrets and hedgehogs. But their experience with cold blooded animals is limited at best. They will send a client away with a "diagnosis" and a bag of meds, along with a lighter wallet. Some vets are willing to telephone consult with experienced herp vets to help an animal- that is if their ego isn't too enormous. So the one you went to has seen a bearded dragon. I wonder if he's seen more than one.

I don't know where in Wisconsin you are, but if you contact the Chicago Herp Society (google), they may be able to refer you to a vet not too far away. Distance is subjective to each person, my vet is 2 hours away if I had to make an emergency appointment.

It's real important that we seek qualified herp vets for the safety of our beloved animals. And refer others!

 

[Pinky81]

So here is what I think I might do is stop up to the Animal Emergency Center tomm after work, and ask their Reptile vet if he has recommendations of herp vets in the area. I could have taken Clyde there but as you can only imagine taking your leo to a Pet Emergency room is like financial suicide LOL. But maybe they have ideas...

The more and more I think about this the more angry I am for actually not saying something...Im not always the most outspoken person and I trust people who are in position that make them "in the know" but I think this will be a huge learning experience for me!!! Live and learn right!

Still no answer about the Metacam...CAN IT BE GIVEN SAFELY TO A GECKO FOR PAIN RELIEF???

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Have you looked at the metacam website? It is not a reptile medication and I wouldn't trust that vet to convert anything for a reptile to a proper dosage amount. If you bought that stuff at their office, I'd return it unopened and demand a refund.

 

[Thorgecko707]

I've been researching it on google and all I can find is they DO use it for pain in reptiles. Do to size an anti-inflammatory is a strong pain killer for geckos. I also found that if the gecko is in pain it shouldn't eat. How bad is the wound? Through years of having leopard geckos I've found they are really hardy animals. Definitely find a reptile specialist to talk to.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Ahh ok, thanks Morgan. I still wouldn't use it unless prescribed by a trusted vet. An anti-inflammatory drug seems like an overkill in this case.

 

[Pinky81]

Im not going to use it. Clyde seems fine, he's moving fine. I didnt know that I should not have feed him...thing is I don't know for sure how much if any pain he may be in. I do know his normal behavior and he went on the hunt last night so i thought well he must feel well enough to eat after all that crap at the vet so I thought hey let him feed.


Thanks everyone for the support. I am definitly going to stop up to the animal Emergency center today and talk to their exotics specialist.

 

[Holly12]

Pinky I am so happy to here that clyde is eating and that he seems to be doig okay sorry that you had to deal with this nonesense. Please keep us updated on how he is doing.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Mel, I'm glad Clyde is doing better. Sometimes they just need a couple days to recoup and regroup. Def get a solid vet lined up before you need one again!

 

[Pinky81]

Amen to that Laney! Clyde is doing well...not hungry tonight but he did chow yesturday.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

WOW. I'm so sorry you experienced this, but I AM glad you actually took your gecko to a vet. Most reputable breeders don't even do that! I would suggest going to the ARAV website to see if they have a list of herp vets.

I apologize that I didn't see what the problem you are having with Clyde is?

 

[Pinky81]

THANKS Marcia! so i was checking clyde's bottom this AM and well he let me know that he's DONE!!! OUCH!! That blood line is actually a flap of skin, I can lift it up around my nail! Might have to have the Doc at work look at it Its pretty big flap may put me on antibiotics...Im diabetic so prone to infection...BOOOO my finger HURTS!!!! Well atleast he's well enough to take a bite outta crime!!

 

[sausage]

im so sorry to hear you got a bad deal silly man
metacam is to strong for such a small reptile and it causes liver failure pritty quick. i used it for a spinal injurie on my cat and thats what it caused and i woz told its pritty comon to do that
leos seem to bounce back really quick any way so good luck x

 

[JordanAng420]

Usage of Metacam in reptiles is technically "off-label usage" so i'm impressed that ANY veterinarian would sign his or her name to that prescription...especially in a debilitated reptile as you describe.

To Sausage...we should talk. This sounds like something else was involved, Metacam or not. Metacam does NOT directly "cause" liver failure in an animal, especially if used correctly.

 

[JordanAng420]

some vets have ego problems, and will lead a client to believe he can diagnose any animal and treat it. It's not true!!! Well the ego part is. Many have a wonderful practice for dogs, cats, birds, exotics like ferrets and hedgehogs. But their experience with cold blooded animals is limited at best. They will send a client away with a "diagnosis" and a bag of meds, along with a lighter wallet. Some vets are willing to telephone consult with experienced herp vets to help an animal- that is if their ego isn't too enormous.

It's real important that we seek qualified herp vets for the safety of our beloved animals. And refer others!

ABSOLUTELY AGREE!!!! I have worked for these types of veterinarians!!!