Are you the lucky owner of a pet reptile or amphibian? Finding a vet who specializes in reptile care and is located nearby is important for the welfare of your animal—not only for medical emergencies but for regular physical check-ups.
You may already work with a great general veterinarian, however, it’s important to find the right vet for the unique needs of your exotic. Doing so helps ensure your husbandry is more than adequate and helps avoid critical mistakes in care or prescription drugs (of which the consequences can be deadly and, sadly, is not unheard of under the guidance of an inexperienced vet).
Here’s a pro tip to help you in your search: If a vet is board certified for birds then it’s likely they are skilled with reptiles. The reverse is true as well; vets who have expertise in any of the most common exotics (as in, animals other than dogs or cats) will commonly have clinical experience with birds, small mammals (ferrets, chinchillas, hamsters), and reptiles.
Explore these fantastic resources to find a reputable reptile vet near you:
- Reptile Vet Search via Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV)
- Small Mammal Vet Search via Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV)
- Avian Vet Search via Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV)
- You can also try calling your local, general vet and asking for a reference to a nearby specialist.