CHOOSING A REPTILE AS A PET
General introduction
Reptiles are popular pets. Some people want to own them to be different
(never a good reason for owning any pet), some enjoy the lower cost of veterinary
care as compared to dogs and cats (this is often, but not always true), and
many people who don't have the time to devote to a dog or cat enjoy the relatively
"maintenance-free" appeal of a snake, iguana, or turtle.
Before purchasing a reptile, it would be wise to ask yourself several questions:
1. Do I want a pet just to look at or do I want to handle and socialize
it?
While many reptiles, especially those purchased as captive-born infants, allow
owners to handle them, others do not. Many of the more exotic species such as
chameleons do not allow handling and react aggressively or become severely stressed.
As a rule, if you want a pet to snuggle with, a reptile is not for you. If,
on the other hand, you want an animal you can display, a reptile deserves your
consideration.
2. How much time can I devote to my pet?
All pets require AT LEAST 15 minutes of observation by the owner each
day. The owner who fails to pay at least this much attention to his pet won't
detect early signs of disease and is really neglecting his responsibility as
a pet owner. Most reptiles need to be fed and watered daily, and often the cages
needs to be cleaned daily as well. The owner who intends to put his reptile
in a cage and observe it only once in awhile should seriously consider his decision
to care for this type of pet.
3. Can I afford proper medical care?
ALL reptiles need to be examined immediately after purchase (within
48 hours) and at least annually by a veterinary surgeon with a specific interest
in reptiles! Doing this allows early detection of disease. With very rare exception,
exotic pets usually don't act sick (or show any indication of illness) until
they are VERY SICK! As a rule, A Sick Reptile Is A Dying Reptile!
Regular veterinary care and an informed pet owner greatly reduces illness and
death in these pets (as well as the overall cost of medical care).
4. Can I make or buy the correct habitat (home) for my reptile?
At a minimum, most reptiles require a 10-gallon glass aquarium, some 'cage
furniture', a source of heat, and a source of UV light. While not expensive
or difficult to assemble, an improper environment is the second most common
source of diseases and captivity problems encountered in reptiles (an improper
diet is the most common problem).
Reptiles do get sick, and preventing illness is definitely preferred to treatment.
As an introduction to reptile diseases, owners must understand that reptiles
hide signs of illness quite well. This is called the "preservation response."
In the wild, if an animal showed signs of illness every time it felt bad, it
would easily be attacked by predators or even members of its own group. Therefore,
these animals don't appear ill until the illness is actually quite advanced.
Our pet reptiles still retain this "wild" characteristic. To repeat, "A Sick
Reptile Is A Dying Reptile"! It's very important to take your pet to the
veterinary surgeon at the FIRST sign of illness. Waiting to see if things
get better, or treatment with over-the-counter medications, especially those
sold at pet stores, only delays proper treatment and often results in expensive
veterinary bills and a dead reptile! Veterinary surgeons can do many things
for sick reptiles, but early intervention is critical!
While the principles of diagnosis and treatment of diseases is the same regardless
of the species of pet, there are important differences between reptiles and
dogs and cats. Only a veterinary surgeon with the expertise in treating reptiles
should be consulted for medical or surgical advice.
The first veterinary visit
Within 48 hours of your purchase, your reptile should be examined by a veterinary
surgeon specializing in reptiles. The visit includes determining the animal's
weight, as well as checking for lumps and bumps. The pet is examined for signs
of dehydration and starvation. A fecal test is done to check for internal parasites.
Unlike most pets, it's impossible to get a pet reptile to defecate on command
(although many will give you an unwelcome sample if angered!). A reptile's feces
is often a hard "ball" of fecal matter; analyzing this material gives little
useful information. A colonic wash, similar to an enema, will allow your veterinarian
to accurately check for internal parasites. The oral cavity is examined for
signs of infectious stomatitis (mouth rot). No vaccines are required for reptiles.
Most of the visit will probably be a question and answer session. If all turns
out well, your pet will be given a clean bill of health. Just like dogs and
cats, pet reptiles should be examined annually and have their stool tested for
parasites annually as well.
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