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Issue #8 Volume #2

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Coverpage


A Lesson Learned the Hard Way


by Paul Galinis of the Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society
One week I am the proud owner of an albino corn snake (Elaphe guttata) with a mild case of mouth rot and the very next week I'm in the back yard burying her. What happened?! Well, I'll tell you the story.

A few years ago in my earlier days of keeping reptiles I noted that "Peggy," my albino corn snake, had a minor case of Stomatitis (mouth rot). At that time it was the first time one of my snakes had had this disease, and I felt a little apprehensive about treating her myself. My research indicated that the standard treatment for the condition is hydrogen peroxide and Beta dine, but I still felt wary of doing my own medicating. I wanted to be sure. So I went to a professional. That's where my sad story began to unfold.

I contacted an animal hospital where they claimed to work with reptiles and took Peggy over. The vet confirmed my diagnosis, but instead of treating Peggy with hydrogen peroxide and Beta dine, he gave me some Baytril. I was to inject the Baytril into the snake's muscle every second day. This proposed treatment was new to me, but I had confidence in the vet. After all, he was the doctor. The vet showed me the procedure, I paid $65.00 and left.

I got home feeling pretty good. I had taken my pet to a professional, and she was going to be okay. About two hours after I arrived home, Peggy started having a bad reaction to the Baytril. The next morning she still appeared to be in trouble, so I called the vet. I was told not to concern myself and to continue with the treatment. One week later, Peggy was dead.

The vet claimed they treated reptiles, but they couldn't even cure a simple case of mouth rot!

About a month after Peggy died I bought a small boa constrictor. This Boa too developed a case of mouth rot. This time I went to the Pharmacy and spent $8.75 for the hydrogen peroxide and Beta dine. In two weeks the Boa was fine. Since the unfortunate incident with Peggy, I've used this method a number of times. It has yet to fail.

I've learned two lessons from this bad experience. If you've done your homework, trust in yourself. If you've done your homework and are still apprehensive about what to do, do your homework on your local vet!

[Paul's story makes an excellent point. The vast majority of vets who work with reptiles are reliable but it's still wise to ask other experienced herpers whom they trust to treat their animals. Reptiles are still not mainstream pets, so make sure your vet is certified by the Association of Avian and Reptile Veterinarians or other such organization. -Greg Wentzell, Editor]

From The Forked Tongue the monthly newsletter of the Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society.

LINKS

  • Snake Care FAQ
  • Care Sheet for Snakes
  • The Avian Veterinarian
    Getting to know Dr. Burkett

    My name is R. Gregory Burkett. I am a veterinarian in Durham NC. I have a practice that is exclusively avian. I treat all kinds of pet birds: parrots, finches, canaries, ostriches, emus, rheas, chickens, ducks, geese, and wildlife.

    I, with my wife Missy Ripple, own and operate The Birdie Boutique. Our shoppe is dedicated to pet birds and bird supplies. We sell hand fed baby birds and a full line of supplies. We also have a mail order bird supply company called Diamond Avian Distributors.

    All of the birds we sell in The Birdie Boutique are raised in our own breeding facility. We currently have over 150 pairs of breeders covering more that 35 different species. I oversee the entire operation and work in conjunction with Missy to make sure we have the healthiest babies available.

    I began with birds in 1980 as a hobby. I graduated from vet school in 1993 and began my Practice, Avian Veterinary Sevices, immediatley after graduation. I have a large caseload (more than 30 cases in a 4 day week) and (5-10 emergencies each week). Missy and I met in 1990 and began talk of an all bird pet shoppe and The Birdie Boutique was born 2 years later and is a huge success.

    I cannot do all of this alone. I have a terrific wife and a great staff.


    Dr. Burkett contributes answers to Acme Pet's expert Q&A pages, as well as avian related information pages located in the Avian library. You can ask Dr. Burkett about your pet bird by submitting your question here or by calling 919-490-3001 for an appointment for a personal phone consultation.

    Links

    Product Review
    The Bird Tutor® Digital Speech Training Device

    Who among us has not admired a feathered friend that greets its owner by name, or recites popular phrases or even short poems? If you have ever taught a pet bird to speak, then you know that the transition from peep to poem is not an easy one - for the bird or for the owner! Still, there is an undeniable feeling of pride once your pet bird does speak.

    The difficult bird training process has become much easier with the Bird Tutor® Digitial Speech Training Device. Record your favorite words, phrases, or other sounds, and the Bird Tutor® will repeat the recording to your bird while you go about your business. The Bird Tutor® is a compact device, with digital electronics encased in sturdy plastic. Simply hold down a button, and record your bird's lesson. You decide exactly what you want your bird to hear! The lower-priced model (Bird Tutor 20) can store two 20-second recordings, while the higher-priced model can store two 90-second recordings. Both models operate using a 9-volt battery or an optional AC adaptor. Unlike bird-training records, cassettes, and CD's that are available, the Bird Tutor® allows you set the duration of each training session, and the intervals between training sessions. This is important because the energy level and attention span of birds can vary depending upon their species, age, and general demeanor. Too much training is known as saturation, and too little training can lead to boredom. Two dials on the Bird Tutor® allow you to select a training session from one to twenty minutes long, with break periods ranging from five to 100 minutes. The unit automatically shuts off after eight hours. All you have to do is remember to turn it back on the next day! The Bird Tutor® is a product of Global Engineering. For more information, visit their website http://www.tiac.net/users/jimkl.


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