finding the right vet for your familyfinding the right vet for your family


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finding the right vet for your family

Do you have furry, feathered or scaly family members that you care for? Being a pet lover comes with so many added responsibilities. Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a collection of pets that I simply adored. Now, my kids are the ones with the animal friends that they adore. Each of these pets must be seen by a vet at some point, so it was important that I find a vet that would provide care for all of their little friends. It was difficult to find just what I was looking for in a vet, but eventually, I did. My site is filled with advice for helping you find the perfect vet for the animal members of your family.

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Picky Pets: Has Your Reptile Lost Its Appetite?

If your reptile is shedding, a lot of appetite is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. However, if you pet isn't due to shed for a while and suddenly reduces its food intake or stops eating altogether, you may need to examine it and its living conditions for problems.

Is Your Pet Too Cold?

Because reptiles are cold-blooded, their metabolism will slow down drastically when they are cold. This causes them to digest slowly and lose their appetites, even when they need to eat. Examine basking lights and other sources of warmth in your reptile's home to make sure that everything is in working order. You should also consider increasing the temperature of heating elements if you can safely do so without burning your pet.

Or Too Thirsty?

If heat isn't the issue, try offering your pet moister food options than it normally eats. Thirsty reptiles may become more picky with their food and pass up dry options that feel unpleasant to eat, but they'll usually gobble up wet snacks if nothing else is wrong.

In some cases, dehydration can also make your pet too tired to move or chew its food. This can be a sign of severe dehydration, and it's important to get liquid in your pet's mouth right away. You can use an eye dropper to gently feed it water. If your reptile won't take food or liquids at all, you need to see a vet right away.

Dehydration can be caused by lack of clean water sources in the cage or by water sources which are too difficult for your pet to access. Check your pet's home if it becomes dehydrated, and make sure that it has easy access to several sources of clean water.

Or Maybe Nothing's Wrong At All!

For some reptiles, typically snakes, a cycle of binge-feeding and fasting may be normal. Pythons, for example, may eat well for a period of weeks or months and then completely stop eating for a similarly long period. In most cases, this is perfectly safe. However, if you are a new reptile owner or if your reptile is new to you and you don't know its history, it's still a good idea to get a vet check-up and confirm that your pet is healthy.

Loss of appetite can be an early warning sign for quite a few serious reptile illnesses, such as mouth rot. If your pet isn't eating like it should be and you've double checked everything in its home for problems, it's a good idea to contact your veterinarian like one from Canal Road Animal Hospital for help. The vet can make sure nothing is wrong and recommend the best foods for your pet. When it comes to reptiles, it's vital to catch illnesses early, so don't hesitate to seek help if you're worried about your pet.