How To Research A Veterinarian

Background Information

Dr. Gecko strongly recommends that you locate a qualified reptile veterinarian BEFORE you bring your new leopard gecko home. You will be grateful that you did so in the event of an emergency that requires immediate and qualified veterinary treatment.

Reptile medicine is a very specialized field and not all veterinarians are qualified to treat reptiles nor are all vets comfortable with treating reptiles. Veterinary care for reptiles is very different from veterinary medicine for other pets such as cats and dogs.

Your qualified veterinarian can be your best friend and an ideal partner for ensuring the proper health and care of your leopard gecko. You should always be able to contact a veterinarian for any concerns that you might have, even if they are not emergencies.

Dr. Gecko also recommends that you make an appointment with any prospective veterinarians to gather some background information on them to make sure this is the veterinarian that you want treating your leopard gecko.

Questions To Ask

Do you personally keep reptiles?
Approximately how many reptiles do you treat per month?
Have you ever treated leopard geckos before?
Have you successfully treated leopard geckos before?
Is your staff trained on how to handle and care for reptiles?
Do you have the appropriate heated cages and supplies for leopard geckos that may require hospitalization or other medical procedures?
Do you receive regular medical updates on the latest reptile medicines and techniques.
Are you containing your medical education in regards to reptile veterinary care?
Do you know any other reptile veterinarians that you can contact if more information or insight is needed on a specific case/problem?
What are your policies regarding emergency situations/problems?
Are you available after hours?
Do you accept credit cards? Do you offer payment plans?

Once the interview is over, you should put some time aside for yourself to think about several things including:

Did the veterinarian appear interested in you and your leopard gecko?
Do you feel comfortable with this individual?
Did the veterinarian appear caring, knowledgeable and willing to help you?

How to find a qualified veterinarian.