Recomended Richmond Va vet

Recomended Richmond Va vet
Office: Locke A Taylor, DVM, Inc. 9023 Woodman Rd
Veterinarian: Dr. April Rice
Phone: (804) 262-8629

I talk a lot, so I am always asking herp owners about vets. I found a great Veterinarian clinic with a knowledgeable herp loving/owning vet. Clean Place, friendly staff, smooth operation seeing many and their animals. These vets showed and discussed things for almost an hour. The vet had experience as did the second lady whose name I missed. I was extremely well cared for as was my snake. On his first gasp they ran and quickly had him fitted for oxygen. I am guessing the extra oxygen gave me the moments to say bye
MY letter to a Friend (edited)
Sadly Jacob passed away last night.

Last three weeks:

Three weeks ago: He was in his hide a lot. Being my buddy that always comes out and watches me when I am in "his" office, He is one of several that immediately are examined when they do "great me". I looked inside and saw he was in shed, as my last pic was proudly showing. He ate as many of my snakes will do during a shed and a few I no longer try with because they will not eat during shed.

Two weeks ago: He did not want his food, something he often chooses. He had clear eyes, an active tongue, good muscle tone, no external parasites, and normal excrement, vent, nostrils, breathing et.....

This Friday night when I got home to feed, not only did he not want food he was not nearly as active when held, but everything else looked good. He was examined with the same results, but less active. No wheezing, clicking, gasping and an active tongue. While everything checked out, eyes, tongue, response, clear throat, no bubbles or mucus (oral exam) clear nose ect...

I did not touch him Saturday to allow him to rest.

Sunday night I again examined him, and could notice a loss of muscle tone, but only because of frequent handling he just did not seem right to me. When he gasped after 20-30 min, I hoped it was to clear his throat, hiss, cough?, anything other than my fear. I did not sleep that night, and could see his breathing was off, and for the first time I noticed a slight clicking. I contacted the Teaching Vet at VCU's hospital/school Monday morning. The only vet recommended by ARAV, and looked into another recommended vet that had come recommended by fellow herp enthusiast and owners. I like all should, realize the value of good Vets. After hearing Dr. Ware at VCU mention the wild life center, this clued me in that she was not a herp specialist as this is a wild-life rescue/center (usually wild animals not pets, a place my rehabbed raccoon was taken by my mother more than 25 yrs ago) I have know about it at least 25+ years. Her personal dr. was not available and both Dr. Ware and her vet recommended a vet I had previously been advised against this vet my several people local who had bad experiences. Having personally heard about good reptile care coming from Dr. Rice at Locke A. Taylor DMV. reported by many, I went with my gut and chose her.

I called out of my part time night job and went to her during late/emergency hours. She was experienced, and personally has at least one pet snake and a love for "all animals". She specialized in exotics and had zoo experience. She and another vet or vet/tech (I was too focused on Jacob and my fears to catch her name or position) talked with me for over an hour total time between the two, sometimes with both in the room at the same time. I was told how great a shape the snake was in (as far as care not health), they thanked me for seeking help and were honest. By now I knew in my gut, and new Jacob..... he was not well. She went over anatomy and other bodily systems within a snake as well as metabolism rates and many other aspects I was all too aware of.
They felt chances were not good by the time a snake is gasping. Everything I knew/read about snakes and snakes with RI let me know to watch his behavior. When he was not eating and seemed less active, I took note and observed him for clues, but all the info I had found listed the symptoms of clicking, gasping, mucus, et. as signs your pet might have RI. All temps are maintained within normal ranges, and maximums had not been excessive, as my gauge records temperature maximums. In this vets opinion by this time gasping starts chances are poor, based on the lungs anatomical design and function in the snake. Basically by the time the snakes long lung is allowing mucus out, she feels it is well progressed. They felt at least a month if not two is the time a snake is sick with RI before such symptoms lead to a gasping behavior at least in my case.
For an hour, during which time Jacob was receiving oxygen, many questions were asked at which point she and another vet kept assuring me, he was a well cared for snake, and with RI as I knew, many things can be the cause. They stressed that often by the time symptoms appear it is too late as wild animals will try and hide a sickness or injuries; sadly I was aware. They became more grief councilors than vets, they stayed with me to comfort me and Jacob as best any good (very caring, calming and knowledgeably). They showed me how to administer the shots that might make a difference, and prescribed a nebulizer. I new what this meant, he was at the point he was sick; she said a test to culture for the exact cause at this point would stress him more and possible kill the snake and advised to hit the infection with several antibiotic and hope for the best.
I felt the humane thing to do was to put him down, but was hoping to get a few days of treatment in before having him euthanized. He was a strong active snake and I was not ready to say bye or give up on him. AT 12:30 he was dead, and at 1:30 my mice pups opened their eyes for the first time and ironically reminded me, that with or without us, or any one animal, life goes on just not with my favorite friendly buddy.
I am so sorry this has happened and I feel terrible. Despite the lack of signs, and even though I got him to a vet that Monday, it was too late. I had only had one snake, a long owned boa I had owned since a kid die. He was poisoned; I was mad more than grief stricken. To this day this is probably why I have yet to want a beautiful boa. That and I personally decided on boas or pythons when I started collecting snakes again, due to my fears on IBD. Only my childhood companion/dog had ever affected me this way as Jacob has. I cannot say I would trade his life for anyone of my other snakes, but damn it..... he was my favorite.
Only a family member or a close friend's death has ever effected me more; more than Jacob or my childhood dog. I keep snakes because if properly fed and regulated they are easy to me. They need little attention, and every injured snake I rescued as a kid lived to be released. Snakes are my animal and Cati my plant..... feed, water, maintain. Little fuss once established. They do not require a lot of attention. But boy did that curious little guy give some attention .....what is Paul up too :-).

I am mad that I followed diagnostic procedure and not my gut. As they mentioned and I knew, a snake hides during shedding and two weeks of food refusal is no big deal. What I felt was a worry each time, I do not normally feel. A few months of no food I worry (I am a worrier LOL), two weeks I do not. But Jacob was my favorite, and second most held snake. At least two-three times a week if not daily except for 2 days after a feed. No assurance from vets eased my mind, because I had felt his change. I will miss him, and have said my good-byes throughout the night. Before I rest (up all night and have night work tonight/tomorrow) I am getting ready to return him to the earth so he may be part of the cycle of life again. I will miss the great personality he possessed and carry many fond memories. I thank you (rescuer I adopted from) for the opportunity to experience him. I could not have personally asked for any better a fit. I am so sorry I was not able to ensure he had a longer life. I also apologize for the long letter, but I want you to know. Thanks and I am so sorry to have to write this letter!

Take care,
Paul