A reptile vet is a veterinarian that specializes in reptiles and the study of their behavior. They are trained to handle reptiles and help them adjust to life in captivity. A reptile vet will take care of your reptile pets medical needs. Some of these include vaccinations, routine checkups, heart worm testing, flea treatments and even surgical operations if necessary. Depending on the type of reptile you have, they may also be involved in breeding management.
In the past, veterinarians were not very specialized in reptile medicine but with the advent of modern medicine things have changed. Today, your veterinary technician or guide will know a lot more about reptiles than your grandmother did. They have been trained specifically to provide assistance to reptile pet owners. This knowledge and skills are transferable to any animal owner so if you plan on taking your reptile pet to the vet, make sure you choose someone with the proper credentials.
You can usually find a good reptile vet by asking your friends and family members for recommendations. If they have had any reptiles as pets or are aware of any good vets then they will be able to give you some names to research. Don’t forget to check out the phone book under “Reptile Veterinarian” or ask your local pet store for a listing of good reptile veterinarians. Once you have a list of several possibilities for your veterinarian look at each one to make sure they are well qualified to handle reptiles.
If you do not know anyone who has a reptile pet then you will want to check with the American reptile registry. This registry is run by an organization called the Association of Reptivists. They have come up with a pretty good list of approved veterinaries in the United States. All veterinarians listed with the association are either fully certified or they have qualified to be a reptile vet under the criteria set by the association.
reptile keepers will also want to check with the state Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. This board requires all reptile keepers to meet a minimum level of education and training. There is a minimum age limit to adopt a reptile, but there are no legal minimums for entry into the industry. Check with the reptile keepers association to see if your prospective vet is certified to practice.
The American Herp keepers Association also has information about veterinarians. Here you will find a great place to find information about reptile and herp pet care. They have a lot of helpful articles and a section that provides a list of vets who specialize in reptile species. Look for a list of breeders of reptiles that are associated with a specific help type. A breeder who specializes in a single species is better than one who specializes in a wide variety of reptiles. You may also find information about reptile keeping and what to look for in pet stores, along with a list of the reptiles and herp medicines that work.
Another important source of information is your local bookstore or librarian. Books on keeping reptiles can tell you about species, their care requirements and where you can get the best information about them. Reptile journals are a good place to find recent reports about reptile species. Some librarians keep a reference library that includes reptile books, and you should not have any problems finding some relevant information that might be of interest.
Bonus points for using a good reptile vet. Some veterinary schools offer a certificate program that is related to reptile medicine. This program allows students to earn a degree in reptiles that relates directly to the coursework. This is an important addition to making sure that all the students are well qualified to provide the best service possible to reptile owners. With the certificate program, students will be prepared to fill in the required positions once they graduate.
