Changing Substrate?

[Hydr1]

Well vets usually dont just learn from books and then hide in a cave. Im sure they see plenty of action..prob see more reptiles than someone thats raised a few and killed a few. Even if you killed a dragon or impacted one, there is no reason to try to convince another member here that you know better than a reptile specialist. I have seen that in posts here alot. "The vet said my beardie was impacted from reptiworms" then a member chimes in with "no. Im certain it was the sand. The sand killed your dragon"

These specialists know what they are talking about. More so than some mouth breathing teenager on the interwebz lol.

 

[Claudiusx]

Ok, well I am not going to argue with you.

You can believe in what you want.

Don't get me wrong though, vets definitely have a lot of knowledge (well some do..)
But, there is no reason to not trust in someones advice because it is contrary to what a vet said. Many members on here are much more knowledgeable than vets, and I would rather go to them with questions than any vet here in the US.

PS. I see you're in California. Would you mind telling me which vet you use? I would be curious to see if I have ever been to him/her before.

-Brandon

 

[fresnowitte]

Sorry OP for going off topic....my intentions are not to take away from your post...just reply to another reply.

Well vets usually dont just learn from books and then hide in a cave.

Hydr1 that really depends on the individual vet.... :lol:
We don't have a very good selection of herp vets in my area of California. I have to travel over 100 miles to the nearest vet that has any experience with bearded dragons. I have to tell you he may have gone to college for this, and been a vet for 20+ years, but that doesn't mean he knows everything or practices what he has learned. I find more times than not I have to tell them what is wrong with the dragon so they can run test to confirm. Seriously I've had vets prescribe Ivomectin :evil: to my bearded dragons...it doesn't take a specialist to read the manufactures recommendations :roll: ...clearly states "never prescribe to small animal or reptiles." Site effects to small animals and reptiles reads blindness, organ failure, and death. Not the specialist that I want to trust with my animals. Might have been different if he'd had told me of the possible complications. I hate to think that he didn't know.

Seriously there are a lot of vets out there that claim they see reptiles and have absolutely no experience with them.

 

[Hydr1]

I am not discounting anyone knowledge at all. Just tripping out on the fact that people are so quick to self diagnose. As for my vet, well i havent had to visit him in some years. Ive had two eastern box turtles for 15the years now. They used to get thier beaks shaved and nails trimmed over there.

http://alostaanimalhospital.aahavet.org/web1/index.aspx

here is another really good vet in Diamond Bar CA.
Diamond Bar

Tom Greek, DVM Village Animal Hospital
23379 Golden Springs Dr. Diamond Bar, CA 91765
Tel: (909) 861-7463



theres a link to thier website. I have recently moved, so I need to find a new vet near me. I will keep an extra close eye on Jerry my beardie. His new viv should be ready soon and I promise to keep only a small area of sand for him to burrow in.

how do you feel about a sandbox? i was going to make a giant rock dish from grout/foam and fill it with sand and cactus. To be honest. Jerry was an accessory to my cactus garden.



**edit.......i dont condone many medications that doctors give humans or animals. I am a bit of a holistic and health nut.

 

[jewl495]

There are vets who recommend against lose stubstrate. The last vet I took Jazz was very happy I didn't have him on sand. She talked to me along time about care and set up and she was on board with most everything that's recommended by members of this site. I was very impressed with her. The only thing that was different was the UVB light that I've never heard of before. Unfortunately she's not a full time vet by her choice and only comes in to help her husband out when there is an ER overload or an exotic emergency. Reptiles are her fav to deal with.
Brandon pm me with your vet of choice out of curiosity. I'm not to far from you or Barb. at least I think it was you that I saw. Your about 3 to 4 hrs south of me.

 

[fresnowitte]

Hydr1 my only issue with the sand is when people are not aware of the possibilities of danger. End of line is it's really the owners choice...I just feel it's important that anyone/all that owns any animal or reptile should be fully aware of things that could cause a danger or pose a threat to them, right?

Personally if I didn't like the tile and non adhesive lino so much because of the ease and safeness I feel with it. I could use sand, as none of my beardies really ever poop in their viv's, an I hand feed all feeders if they are in their viv's.

A sand box would be fine if you want. As I said it's really your choice and at your discretion. If they poop in it then you just have to empty, clean, and refill. Still would be much easier than emptying the entire encloser, right?

 

[Hydr1]

yeah, i def would not want to buy, clean or replace sand for a 6'x2'x2' viv. Thanks for the discussion. Not trying to rock the boat here. Keep up the good advice lizard lovers.

 

[fresnowitte]

I didn't see it as rocking the boat rather stimulating conversation. :lol:

 

[Hydr1]

I have a feeling the op will be removing the walnut shells for sure.

question: should I find a new Vet and take my beardie in to start a relationship with a doctor and get him checked out? Or wait untill i notice any ill behavior? Ive raised lizards and turtles for most my life and only seen the vet a few times for shaving beaks and eye infections. Also i didnt find any info regarding herp doctors here. should I start a new thread, i found a good list of california reptile vets.

 

[fresnowitte]

It's always good to have one in your hip pocket in case you should ever need them. I don't go often for other than fecals anymore...though all of mine have been examined and established as a patient. This speeds things up a little if ever do have an emergency. It's kind of one of those things if you are very experienced with your reptiles and know how to tell when and what is ailing them then you probably won't need one as often as the person that isn't as experienced.

 

[jewl495]

question: should I find a new Vet and take my beardie in to start a relationship with a doctor and get him checked out? Or wait untill i notice any ill behavior? Ive raised lizards and turtles for most my life and only seen the vet a few times for shaving beaks and eye infections. Also i didnt find any info regarding herp doctors here. should I start a new thread, i found a good list of california reptile vets.

It's always nice to develop a good relationship with a vet before an emergency. Ask lots of questions and make sure you are comfortable using them when your dragon is sick. My first vet I liked and I still think he's good enough for fecals but when my guy got sick he wouldn't do bloodwork. I was a little shocked. So asking simple questions about how they handle treatment before your beardie needs it is a good thing.

 

[cutesiepie4ever]

Thanks to everyone for posting their ideas and experiences!! As a newbie, I definitely appreciate any and all information that I can get about taking care of my gals!! I think I've pretty much decided to change over to a different substrate that is non-particle, and possibly include a small area filled with sand for them to play in. I'll be heading out tomorrow to investigate what types of bedding are available in my area stores. And if it doesn't end up working out and they find it difficult to walk on I can always switch back if need be. I know that my one girl, Taz, had a problem when she was a baby and was not properly taken care of by her first owner before my friend rescued her. She ended up having not enough UV light that caused a growth problem. She's much much better now, but still is weaker than other BDs and sometimes has problems walking around. I hope that the change in substrate will be ok for her mobility! *fingers crossed*
Right now it's bedtime for Sam and Taz and they're cuddled up together in a corner of the enclosure, sleeping. Such sweeties!!

 

[jewl495]

She's much much better now, but still is weaker than other BDs and sometimes has problems walking around. I hope that the change in substrate will be ok for her mobility! *fingers crossed*
Right now it's bedtime for Sam and Taz and they're cuddled up together in a corner of the enclosure, sleeping. Such sweeties!!

It should help her as long as she can grip the floor. So a slate, carpet, or non adhesive shelf liner. However she probably has stiff joints do to lack of calcium. Silkworms have an enzyme serrapeptase that helps with pain. Tracie drache613 also sells serrapeptase in liquid form I believe.

 

[fresnowitte]

I use the Serrapeptase with my geriatric beardie.
Here's the link to Tracie's site.
http://www.bug-de-lite.com/Products%20Page.html

 

[cutesiepie4ever]

Thanks so much for the info!! There seem to be a lot of very knowledgeable and helpful people in this community. I'm SO thankful I've found it because you all are such huge helps for a new beardie mama!!
I'm heading out to Walmart and Pet Paradise today to look for a new substrate, a new light and some feeder bugs. Do you think that the formula you spoke of would be available in Canada, or ship to Canada? I know sometimes shipping liquids and "food" can be tricky over borders or long distances due to laws.