What information or samples will the vet require?
You can considerably assist your vet’s diagnosis and early treatment of any problems if you can provide details on your animal’s recent and long-term history. It’s an excellent idea to keep a record of every feeding – the time of feeding, and everything the animal ate. If possible, take periodic growth and weight measurements and record any physical or behaviour changes you might have noticed. Health problems can normally be seen well in advance if you monitor these variables. Also, be sure to tell your vet if you changed procedures or recently used a new cleaning agent for example. Vets also need to know if you’ve administered any of your own medications to the animal – e.g. what you used, the dose you used, and how you administered it. Before a visit, try and obtain a faecal sample. This isn’t always easy with crocodilians as they often defaecate in water. You need to collect the stool sample, rather than the watery urine and milky white urates. The stool can often be very soft and d
