Petsmart hospital examination
- Thread starter kudi
- Start date
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Do they take care of chameleons well? I highly doubt Petsmart has a good vet staff. They rarely know anything about chameleons.
Kmw
New Member
I would not take my chameleon to petsmart for an exam. If you can find a vet in your area that knows reptiles, especially chameleons. I don't believe that most, if any, of the petsmart vets have the herp knowledge you need; but that won't stop them from taking your money and giving your chameleon a once over and saying it's fine.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Elizadolots
New Member
I suspect they will not take a reptile as a patient. At least my Petsmart won't. I asked because I thought it would be good to have a close place if I needed fecals done, but they said "no, nothing to do with reptiles at all".
ReptileLover0423
Member
Yea 95% of Pet Smart employees don't know a thing about the animals they sell. They like to make people think they do but when you join an awesome forum such as this one and find out everything they told you about your cute little reptile you just brought home is far from the truth, you think twice about asking Pet Smart employees fro advice. Not saying that all are like this but the majority is. 
Elizadolots
New Member
Let's be clear here: there is a HUGE difference between the PetSmart employees and the PetSmart Vets. Many of the vets are vets with practices in the area in addition to their gigs at PetSmart (the Banfield Pet Hospital is what they call it). You can run into a vet from your local office if you take your pet to Banfield.
What's excellent about Banfield, and why I've used them a couple of times for lesser dog issues, is they are open 7 days a week for fairly long hours, so if the dog needs an anal gland treated, I can take her after work or on Sunday without an extra charge.
What's excellent about Banfield, and why I've used them a couple of times for lesser dog issues, is they are open 7 days a week for fairly long hours, so if the dog needs an anal gland treated, I can take her after work or on Sunday without an extra charge.
romulan
New Member
I know, Eliza
My comment was more directed towards reptilelover and the people that tend to attack "big box" pet store employees for their lack of knowledge
Most of them are just teenagers or people trying to make ends meet. I would hope that most of them have an affinity for animals, but it is better to do YOUR OWN research before making a purchase on something like a veiled, rather than listening to such empoyees
My comment was more directed towards reptilelover and the people that tend to attack "big box" pet store employees for their lack of knowledge
Most of them are just teenagers or people trying to make ends meet. I would hope that most of them have an affinity for animals, but it is better to do YOUR OWN research before making a purchase on something like a veiled, rather than listening to such empoyees
Calypso
Member
I know the Petsmart people where I live actually told me that they took a Jackson chameleon that had an eye infection to a local specialized exotic vet, and even then they lost the little guy. I asked them why they didnt take it to Banfield and the reptile lady that I always talk to laughed. At the same time, the lady should have given them proper foliage to climb on and this could have been prevented. I remember week after week I would come in seeing the little one always walking on the ground. Sad to think about
ReptileLover0423
Member
I'm not knockin anyone. Sorry if it sounded so. I understand that they're not experts and most trying to make ends meet. I was just stating that the majority of those employees aren't knowledgeable enough to be giving advice, especially on husbandry and such.
Elizadolots
New Member
Oddly, I think we all sort of agree that the PetSmart employees are not experts on chameleons and cannot reasonably be expected to be experts.
However, the thread is about the VETS at PetSmart and they are good vets, not random low lifes who just happen to be around. But they will not handle reptiles, that seems to be a company rule. I suspect it is because many/most of the vets are not exclusively on staff at PetSmart they are "floaters" who work in many of the local pet hospitals. That means there is no way to guarantee that someone with reptile experience will be on duty when you bring your pet in.
I have to say, I prefer a vet who says "no, I don't have the knowledge to help your pet" to one who decides to just try stuff that's worked on non-reptilian species.
However, the thread is about the VETS at PetSmart and they are good vets, not random low lifes who just happen to be around. But they will not handle reptiles, that seems to be a company rule. I suspect it is because many/most of the vets are not exclusively on staff at PetSmart they are "floaters" who work in many of the local pet hospitals. That means there is no way to guarantee that someone with reptile experience will be on duty when you bring your pet in.
I have to say, I prefer a vet who says "no, I don't have the knowledge to help your pet" to one who decides to just try stuff that's worked on non-reptilian species.
ReptileLover0423
Member
I concur.
You should call Seattle reptiles its in Everett but I'm sure they can find a vet in your area. The people there are very helpful! I can PM the phone number to you if you like.
Chamlo
Member
The Garland animal clinic does reptiles monday and tuesday if your in Spokane. I took my veiled in and got a great exam done. Dr. Webber is a very smart woman with chameleons. The exam cost $50. Very good in my eyes. They treated him nicely too when they didn't have to check in mouth for infection . Btw a fecal from them is $22
. Btw a fecal from them is $22
