Looking For A Turtle/reptile Vet

[Jabba]

Hi guys,

I have read the Vet threads but they mostly seem aimed at General Vets, i.e. who know how to treat cats and dogs.

However, I need to bring my Red Eared Slider turtles to a Vet - hence I need a Vet who is experienced within the field of reptiles/turtles.

Can anyone please recommend one? Preferably in the Huaykhwang area, but anywhere in Bangkok will do.

Also, if you could recommend a proper pet store with products for turtles, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

[Ploi]

Try the pet hospital at kasetsart university. I once saw a woman taking her pet turtle there. She said it had a cold!!!

[bina]

u can use baytril oral or injectable (baytril for chickens etc) for treatment for pneumonia and other respiratory diseases; salmonella can be tested for and treated to reduce the amount; shell development (pyramids or soft shells) can be from nutritional problems (too much or not enough protein, calcium + vitamin d +phosphurous, magnesium etc,)

look up melissa kaplan website for major info about turtles, tortoises et al...

this may help u for a start; we use her site and links for our sulacats (sudanese tortoises)...

not the name of a vet, i know, but might help anyway...

bina

[Jabba]

Thanks to both of you.

Bina: Could you please tell me where in Bangkok you get your turtle/tortoise products and medicin? I need to find an UVB lamp as well as some turtle medicin.

I have only been able to locate and buy turtle pellets, but it would be great if I can find some antibiotics to treat it for its beginning pneumonia.

I'd be glad if someone could please direct me to a good pet store for turtles and fish in Bangkok.

[bina]

sorry i'm over seas but for pneumonia u must also keep your reptile warm at all times; use a warming stone under its bedding but only in half of the cage/tank so he can choose to be warmer or cooler; or, use an infra red heater like use in chickeries (chicken hatchery, the baby chickens, god i forgot the word in english)

u dont need the ultra violet *it should be sunlight reptile lamp* really but in bangkok dont u have enough sun?? all u need really is about 20 minutes of sun exposure daily (not thru glass as that screens out some of the UV the tortoises/turtles need)

keep the container very clean, and check him for parasites (turtles get ticks and mites also check his under-shell and where his legs and head are joined to his shell); i think we used acritin or carambate opigal powders for poultry but a diluted amount (mixed with a a ratio of insecticide to cornstarch) ; my reptile expert is in the states and not on line so cant call and ask im sorry.

also, turtle pellets arent really good for all types of turtles: check what is best in the way of protein/roughage/ calcium for your breed...

pneumonia is usually instigated due to improper cage climate (airconditioning/dry/hot to cold back and forth changes/stress on the animal (small cage, too many specimins) or exposure to other sick animals. reptiles are delicate and susceptible to all sorts of wierd stuff.

baytril i think can be got in thailand its used for poultry;: my smallest sulicat had pneumonia and i separated him from the others, fed him separately, and kept him warmer then them... he improved w/o meds but i keep an eye. he gets cold faster and overheated faster as he is smaller. we keep their bedroom at 30 c in our winter; in summer, they dont get heated room but have free access to indoor/outdoor housing. but they are big guys.!!

the thing about reptiles is that their matabolism is very different, depending on the climatic conditions they are kept in. snakes can be sick for months, as can turtles before its even noticed; and treatment is problematic if u arent an expert. its a lot of guess work. so like i said: heat, no stress, good food , sun's rays, little handling and see what happens.

bina (edits for context etc and rambling)

went to find my faves on turtles and found these sites:

these guys have an email for specific info for med treatment, perhaps they can help.. never used them myself though.

http://www.sdturtle.org/WATER%20TURTLE%20CARE%20SHEET.htm

http://www.anapsid.org/resources/rxdose.html

this is melissa's page with doses and suggestions on how to give the stuff *u can feed it to your turtle

i think we once discussed baytril here somehwere, try asking a vet for the chemical (pharmaceutical) name for the drug, the best brand is baytril but there are others... make sure u understand the cc/kilo and the untis per cc of the amounts of the drug i.e. baytril 10% how much do u need to give or it its baytril 20% injectable, how much to give per kilo body weight of turtle, etc.

best of luck, hope this helps u in a pinch...

ps. try stores where folks buy stuff for their fighting chicken supplies, they use tons of antibiotics and vitamins for poultry... maybe outside of the city u'll find... but most vets should have enrofloxacin as it is the 'last resort when no other antibiotic works' drug for most animals.

bina