What are good "first aid" items to keep on hand?

[MelissaM]

After hours and hours of reading others posts, I think we can all agree how quickly things to change. Knowing myself, I know its better to be stocked for the worst. Otherwise I'll go NUTS waiting on something to be shipped.
My resources for exotic care are very limited (haven't had to use it yet - only had my rescue since Monday - but I've already done my research and programmed the only 2 vets within 400 miles in my phone). I made an emergency visit to the city Tuesday for lighting & heating stuff, but trips to the city are normally limited to once every month.

My mad money funds fluctuate throughout the year and now is a good time to stock up items for anything and everything we might need for the unexpected. I'm placing an order with bearded dragon.co to stock up items like replacement bulbs, vitamins, etc., I already have all the "extra" items listed in the care sheets posted by Brandon for newbies - what to buy - in my shopping cart. What are other items good to have on hand that have a good shelf life?

 

[Taterbug]

I get my bulbs (and most other things) on Amazon, they seem to have the best price and free shipping on many things if your order limit is met. They also have pretty good selection of products.

Some ideas:
Backup heat bulbs - I swap mine out sometimes if house temp fluctuates. They also burn out unpredictably. I use household bulb not reptile ones.
Thermometers - I use digital probes, IR guns and weatherstations - they are all useful in differnt situations
QUAT cleaner - I like f10 but bd.co sells one
Probiotics - keep cool/dry but not sure about shelf life, good for use when using antibiotics
Bee pollen - I sprinkle on food occasionally it keeps well when cool/dry. Some folks find it useful as an appetite stimulant.
Providone Iodine (betadine), chlorhexadine for first aid
Animal shipping packs for heat failures, and possibly a foam cooler depending on how cold it might get

If you are nerdy like me you can end up investing a lot in tools/equipment...not nessisarily emergency times but:
You get equipment/supplies for doing simple fecal checks (pinworms, coccidia) at home.
Radiometer for UV readings (helpful for setting up high power lights and verifying bulb life. Some bulbs well outlive their recommended replacement time)

 

[MelissaM]

I get my bulbs (and most other things) on Amazon, they seem to have the best price and free shipping on many things if your order limit is met. They also have pretty good selection of products.

Some ideas:
Backup heat bulbs - I swap mine out sometimes if house temp fluctuates. They also burn out unpredictably. I use household bulb not reptile ones.
Thermometers - I use digital probes, IR guns and weatherstations - they are all useful in differnt situations
QUAT cleaner - I like f10 but bd.co sells one
Probiotics - keep cool/dry but not sure about shelf life, good for use when using antibiotics
Bee pollen - I sprinkle on food occasionally it keeps well when cool/dry. Some folks find it useful as an appetite stimulant.
Providone Iodine (betadine), chlorhexadine for first aid
Animal shipping packs for heat failures, and possibly a foam cooler depending on how cold it might get

If you are nerdy like me you can end up investing a lot in tools/equipment...not nessisarily emergency times but:
You get equipment/supplies for doing simple fecal checks (pinworms, coccidia) at home.
Radiometer for UV readings (helpful for setting up high power lights and verifying bulb life. Some bulbs well outlive their recommended replacement time)

Thanks for heads up about amazon. I feel a little comfortable ordering all the supplements & vits from this site for the moment until I gain alittle more knowledg about what everything is. Since this site is dedicated to BD, I know thats the species I'm buying for rather than accidentally get something that is for a horse or elephant

It's funny you mention the fecal checks, because I have that in my cart, but didn't want to mention it for fear people would think I'm nuts. Ha

 

[MelissaM]

Speaking of fecal checks, I'm thinking I want to get the treatment meds in case something comes up positive. It seems panacur seems to be the go to for ringworms?

 

[Taterbug]

Your not weird, to me at least. I think the poop checks are kinda fun. :0 if you have a smart phone with a camera you can even take pictures thru the scope. Did you get the kit with the little scope? I got a kit (without the scope) from them too, after I'm out of fecalators (the cups) I might get mcmaster slide. I've spilled or botched enough samples that it seems worth a try. A stable level surface to prep the slide on is realy important.

I got toltrazuril from them, it is way better for coccidia than sulfa drugs - it isn't prescribed as much since it's designed (funny you mention it) for horses and more challenging to get in small reptile doses. It worked better and with fewer side effects than the albon.

I also have (I think panacur?) for pinworms which I've never had to use. I am not confident in my ability yet to check other parasites though, so for me it's still worth getting an annual fecal by a vet, many send them out to a lab that does more advanced testing than a float can.