REPTILE VET

Reptile Veterinarian Serving Akron & Barberton OH

We are a full service reptile vet clinic that provides care, diagnosis, and treatment to reptiles including all types of snakes and lizards. Routine examinations are the best way for us to determine the current health or potential future problems of your pet. Mild changes in normals can quickly lead to big problems, and since reptiles commonly hide health problems, examinations are essential. The earlier the detection, the better the chance of cure. To accomplish the goal of keeping your pet happy and healthy, we recommend the following reptile veterinarian services

Reptile Routine Exams

Routine examinations are the best way for us to determine the current health or potential future problems of your pet. Mild changes in normals can quickly lead to big problems, and since reptiles commonly hide health problems, examinations are essential. The earlier the detection, the better the chance of cure.

Having the proper environment is probably more important with reptiles than with any other type of pet. Subtle environmental deficiencies can result in major illnesses. Part of your pet’s routine exam will be a thorough discussion of its home environment. We’ll help you come up with the best set-up for your home situation.

Examples of Tests Offered:

  • COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC): A CBC is great laboratory tool that allows a veterinarian to “peek” inside your bird. By assessing the variety of blood parameters we can detect infections, viral diseases, blood parasites, response to disease, and states of anemia to name a few. This test can be done in our office at the time of your bird’s exam to aid in our ability to assess your pet’s health.
  • BLOOD PROFILING: A blood profile or serum chemistry series is a group of blood tests used to assess various organ functions or disease states. Kidney function, liver abnormalities, pancreatic disease are but a few of the conditions a blood profile can help evaluate.
  • SEROLOGIC TESTING/SPECIFIC DISEASE TESTS:
    Serologic tests use a combination of technologies (including state-of-the-art DNA probe tests) to screen your pet for the presence of various contagious diseases. Some examples of common tests used are:
  • CHLAMYDIA TESTING: Chlamydia, or parrot fever, is a contagious bacterial disease of birds that is also potentially contagious to humans. A variety of symptoms can be displayed and some birds can be healthy acting carriers. Although a culture is the “gold standard” for testing, a number of different tests are available to use in different situations to screen for this important disease.
  • PBFD: Psittacine beak and feather disease is a viral disease capable of infecting a wide variety of bird species. This potentially fatal disease can progress slowly or rapidly and involve a range of feather and beak lesions. Although no cure is currently available, this test can be used to help screen for the presence or absence of this disease in your pet.
  • POLYOMA: Polyoma virus is another potentially devastating disease of pet birds that has a variety of presentations and outcomes. Lesions can involve feathers or cause widespread tissue destruction and acute illness. Testing as well as a vaccine is available for this disease.
  • PACHECO’S: Pacheco’s disease is a highly infective herpes virus of birds. Disease can be rapid, widespread, and fatal or sporadic with asymptomatic carriers. DNA testing is now available to help detect and prevent this catastrophic disease.

Reptile Wellness Exams

To better aid us in diagnosing potentially hidden problems with your pet, we offer wellness screens. These are a combination of laboratory and radiographic tests that in conjunction with a thorough physical exam can give us a better picture of your pet’s overall health status. With their secretive nature, this is the only way to get the “true” picture of you pet reptile’s health. Liver, muscle, kidney, and even nutritional disturbances can be quickly and easily assed with a small blood sample. Wellness screens are an essential part of a comprehensive wellness program for your pet. Don’t wait until its too late, early detection is the key!

Reptile Diet and Environmental Consultations

Reptile Parasite Control

The keys to good health for your exotic pet start with proper diet and environment. These are specific for different types of reptiles and minor deficiencies can result in major health problems. All foods are definitely not created equal, and in some cases some foods can actually be harmful to your pet. In addition, with many reptiles vitamin/mineral supplementation may be required to fully maximize your pet’s diet. Careful though! Oversupplementation can often be worse than under supplementing. We’ll advise you on the best arrangement and diet for your pet.

Whether wild-caught or domestic raised, single pet or part of a large collection, parasites can be a threat to your reptile’s long-term health. External parasites such as mites and ticks can cause serious anemias and transmit disease. Internal parasites can affect growth, cause obstructions, and result in wasting syndromes. Proper, early treatment is the goal and this requires accurate early diagnosis to be accomplished. We’ll use one or a combination of tests to determine the parasite status of your reptile then rid them of any problem that may occur.

Reptile Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Surgical Procedures

Sometimes more involved treatment regimens are required to handle your reptile’s problems. In those instances, we can help you out with a wide range of diagnostic, treatment and hospitalization options. Radiographs, ultrasound, endoscopy or in-depth laboratory work-ups are available to tackle the toughest reptilian diagnostic challenge. If hospitalization is needed, we utilize individual climate controlled incubators and supply supplemental feedings as needed. Oral and injectible medication, fluid therapy, nebulization treatment, and nutritional supplementation can all be utilized for treatment of your reptile’s ailments.
Should a surgical procedure be required, we’ve got the experience, expertise, and specialized equipment required for the smallest reptile or most involved procedure. Tumor removals, fracture repairs, c-sections, and hysterectomies are but a few of the reptile surgical procedures we commonly perform.

Reptile Emergency Care

Our office is open for your reptile’s health care needs Monday through Friday 8:00-6:00 and Saturday 8:00-4:00. If emergency care is required after these hours, you can rely on our 24 hour emergency facility- the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. Metro is located at 1053 S. Cleveland-Massilon Rd. in Copley (330-666-2976) and is there to assist with any of our client’s problems. At Metro we have veterinarians and technicians on duty 24 hours daily to address your needs. Metro’s staff doctors rotate through our clinic on a regular basis to assure that they are comfortable addressing the problems of our bird and exotic owning clients.

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