Hi all!
It's been almost a month since we got our Bearded Dragon and I realized that I never come across any info about regular/routine vet visits (just to make sure he's ok).

This info is scarce even for other species (like geckos, snakes, etc) so if you can give me an idea on when (after purchase, brumation, etc) and how many times should each species been taken to the vet for routine check-ups I would appreciate it.

Thanks =)
Ricardo

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

We generally suggest a vet check up when aquiring a new animal or at the very least a fecal. Ideally you should have a vet wellness checkup once a year. However for those with large collections that may not be practical. Again having a yearly fecal is a good idea. Reptiles conceal illness very well so when you finally see signs that they are ill or if there is a sudden change in behavior a vet trip is a good idea.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Yeah, the competency of your local vets with reptiles also has a role to play in that decision...I personally haven't found anyone here that I trust, so I rely on my handy high-powered microscope, book on identifying reptile parasites, flagyl and panacur, gram scale, and lots and lots of reading and research to get me through most problems. I've actually successfully treated mouth-rot with diluted hydrogen peroxide by swabbing out the mouth daily. My primary angst is the lack of availability of oral antibiotics in reasonable dilutions, and the lack of opthalmic antiobiotics.

Since there aren't any reputeable herp vets nearby, I took it upon myself to learn reptile medicine myself. Any problem I can't easily identify would mean a serious road trip...but most problems reptiles come up with involve parasites, or minor infections...easily treated.

I think it's something anyone who plans on owning more than a handful of herps should do--if you can't practically take your collection of 20 animals for an annual checkup, then you have to be able to do the checkup yourself.
I'm sure this is a somewhat controversial idea, but there isn't anything special or sacred about a veterinary education...and you don't need to go to vet school to identify mouth rot or spot an oocyst under a microscope.
Get yourself some text books, some guides made for veterinarians on reptile medicine, and self-educate.