When to take your pet to the vet

[MasterDrummer]

Not sure when to take your pet to the vet? I hope this can help.

If you have a cat or dog you probably have a regular vet, but if you have a rodent, reptile, amphibian, or other small animal you may not. So the first step is to find a vet that deals with your pet before they get sick.

Now for when to actually take your pet. These are not exact descriptions since I am trying to be broad for the care of most mammals.

Sudden loss of appetite- Can be caused by any number of things and is not good. get them to the vet ASAP

Gasping for breath- Can mean your pet is choking or has problems with their lungs or throat.

Blue tongue/feet (unless it's tongue is supposed to be blue)- This means your pet doesn't have enough oxygen and may suffocate.

Bloody Discharge from eyes/nose- not sure what it is a sign of but I know it is bad in rats.

Unusual Behavior- If you spot your pet behaving unusually it may be a sign the they are sick. Call the vet and describe the symptoms.

I am not familiar with all animals so There are many things to look for these are only a few examples of what to look for. I don't know enogh about reptiles to describe anything for you.
I only made a list of things common in mammals.

HTH

 

[Dwarfs]

One way to tell if certain lizards are sick is sunken eyes.
If your lizard turns pale and stops eating for a while, it may just be shedding
(I've found this with leopard geckos) If kept in temperatures too cold they may become sleepy and not move a lot. This is all from my expierience

 

[Ron]

If your having trouble finding an Exotic Animal Vet in your area, try this link:

US Exotic Animal Vets

(Vets that are mostly for Reptiles)