PetHobbyist.com's 11th Annual Chat Month Complete Chat Month Schedule and Transcripts Subscribe to our free email newsletters about pets and animal issues Email Address:

PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Doug Mader, MS, DVM to our 11th annual Chat Month..

PHFaust: Dr. Mader, a graduate from the University of California, Davis in 1986, is the co-owner the Marathon Veterinary Hospital, a referral hospital in the Conch Republic. Dr. Mader is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine and Feline Practice) and a Fellow in the Royal Society of Medicine.

PHFaust: Currently he is the consulting veterinarian for the Marathon Sea Turtle Hospital, the Monroe County Sheriff's Zoo, the Key West Aquarium and the Theater of the Sea. Dr. Mader is an internationally acclaimed lecturer and is on the review boards of several scientific journals. He has published numerous articles in scientific and veterinary journals, national magazines, and, is the author/editor of the Elsevier publication, Reptile Medicine and Surgery.

PHFaust: To us reptile keepers, he is the man who wrote the book on veterinary medicine!

PHFaust: Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls I present Dr. Doug Mader!

PHFaust: And Might I add, I have seen him speak, if you ever get the chance please visit where he is speaking, and be prepared for a good time!

DMaderDVM_nr: Thank you for the opportunity to participate in your chat room. I hope this is an enjoyable learning experience. GA

PHFaust: So good to have you!

kennethjmullins: i rescued a burms python he has a splinnter in his eye do to med issues with my self what can i do to help his eye out

kennethjmullins: i dont have the money for vet right now

DMaderDVM_nr: A splinter in the eye, especially if it has penetrated the cornea (clear part) is an ocular emergency. It really must be seen by a vet. GA

DMaderDVM_nr: I realize that vets have a cost, but, what is the eye worth? The eye is not far from the brain. If the eye gets infected, it could potentially lead to the death of the animal. ga

Barbs13: Thanks for being here Dr. Mader. I have a seven-year-old leopard gecko. Sometimes he doesn't completely shed his skin around his toes and I have to soak his feet in warm water to gently remove it. What else can I do to help him shed better? Is this a humidity issue?

DMaderDVM_nr: Yes - most of these problems are directly related to husbandry issues, specifically humidity. Does it have a hide/humidity box? You can also try applying Vaseline intensive care to the feet and toes. ga

mromero92: Ok i have a pair of childrens pythons that are about 10 months old and they will not take food from me. i have tried everything including splitbraining, and feeding in a paper bag overnight. They show no interest in food. their temps are about 90 on the hot side and 80 on the opposite. their humidity is around 50%. I have had them for over two weeks.

DMaderDVM_nr: Anorexia is a sign, not a disease. Since they are both not eating you have to be concerned with commonalities - such as husbandry issues. Genetics may also play a role, but would be harder to evaluate. Best to have them checked by a qualified vet. Also, 2 weeks is not that long. Give them a chance to settle in. They will probably do fine. ga

kich4theanswer: Good Evening Dr. Mader. Just want to let you know that I really enjoy all of your articles in Reptiles Mag. I’m currently an undergraduate major in Biology and I was just curious in what you majored in as an undergraduate?

DMaderDVM_nr: Thank you for the kind words. My BS was in Animal Science and my MS was in Animal Behavior. ga

vet2010: hello dr mader i am a third year veterinary student who is strongly interested in reptile medicine and surgery i was wondering if you have any advice on getting in the field. i was also wondering if you knew of a boarding program that is available in the states in reptile medicine the only one i have heard of is in europe.

vet2010: im talkin to douglas mader how cool is this

DMaderDVM_nr: Volunteer as much as possible, stay active in Herp societies, go to cont. ed. programs. The AVMA will be starting a Reptile Specialty Board in 2 years. ga

vet2010: o thats great

DMaderDVM_nr: And I get to talk to you!!!!! I am the lucky one!

vet2010: lol

RETIC9_nr: I have kept retics for several years in many different cages. Even with all the different setups they seem to always look for any possible escape. In doing so they get stomatitis regulary. Any suggestions on preventing this? Do you see this more often with certain species? thank you

DMaderDVM_nr: Any of the more active snakes tend to get rostral trauma. Occluding the glass, padding the inside and frequent checking of the animal is necessary. ga

Reptileszz: This may be pretty far out of line but can you recommend a vet in CT or southern Mass/eastern ny that has a lot of experience spaying iguanas? I might want to get my rhino spayed but since Charles Innis left vetting I dont really know where to turn. I do not want to just entrust her to anyone. I trust your opinion a lot.

Reptileszz: I understand if you cant recommend people. Just thought i would ask. I love your books.

DMaderDVM_nr: Dr. Innis is a rock star, and he is going to be hard to replace. Go to www.arav.org and go to their vet directory. This is the site for the Assoc. Rept. Amphib. Vets. ga

PHLdyPayne: Do you see alot of impaction issues with reptiles that you see? In your view do you feel most are caused by inappropriate substrates such as calcium based sands, crushed walnuts etc or more husbandry problems, such as insufficient temperatures or dehydration?

DMaderDVM_nr: All of the above. The BEST substrate is a natural one - like dirt. People are afraid of dirt, well, because they think it is "dirty." If you bake the dirt in a cookie pan at 200 degrees for 1 hour, you will have "clean dirt." ga

Barbs13: Hi, I'm the leopard gecko lady with the toe shed prob (his toes, not mine!) - can I use Curel Continuous Comfort lotion instead of Vaseline Intensive Care? Also, What made you decide to go into reptile medicine? Again, thanks for being here, and for what you do to help reptile keepers!

DMaderDVM_nr: I have not used Curel so I am not comfortable recommending it. It may be fine, just don't know personally. My older brother was a herp fanatic - it rubbed off on me. I grew up in the Florida Keys where we have TONS of herps all around! ga

Bears_nr: What will be required for the reptile specialty? Also is there an issue without that for vets to call themselves specialists? I often question with out a certification if this is an issue?

DMaderDVM_nr: Too many details to go into here. Basically, will need either an approved residency, publications and 3 - 6 years in a reptile practice. To date, there are NO reptile specialties. I cannot call myself a reptile specialist, legally. ga

kich4theanswer: You mentioned volunteer work, being involved in herp societies, etc. As an undergraduate this is something that I’m really focused on right now since my GPA isn’t quite were I would like it to be. It’s only my second yr undergrad, but it seems likely I’ll be graduating with a 3.5. Are there any other things that I can do to increase my chances of getting into a Vet school? I’m determined :)

DMaderDVM_nr: Your GPA is far more important than volunteer work. Study, study, study. ga

DMaderDVM_nr: Oh, and one more thing, study! ga

kich4theanswer: haha thanks!

Barbs13: What do you think about the new reptile regulations, HR699 and S373, and the document, "Broken Screens" regarding snakes?

Barbs13: I think it relates to pythons and constrictors.

DMaderDVM_nr: I think politics are going to make our hobby very difficult. Get involved and make sure that you contact your local, state and federal representatives with your views. ga

Barbs13: I will, thanks!

PHFaust: And for those who haven't already, please fill out the PIJAC questionnaire online. There is a link on our main page!!!! Especially if you are a breeder of any python species!

vet2010: i was wondering if one is boarded in europe and comes back to the US can they still be considered a specialist or do they need to be board certified in the US

DMaderDVM_nr: They are considered a specialist in Europe, are respected here, but are not considered a specialist by the standards established by the AVMA in the US. ga

vet2010: o ok

boop_nr: Can you tell me a little bit about the sea turtle hospital? Also is there one injury that seems the most common in the turtles that you deal with?

DMaderDVM_nr: Please visit the web site: www.turtlehospital.org

DMaderDVM_nr: We see a lot of boat prop injuries and also fibropapilloma disease. ga

sean46877: We have a 4 year green iguana male that seems like he has arthritis in his toes. His husbandry is good I think. He eats good and otherwise seems healthy. Not sure if could be gout or something else? What should our vet look for in your opinion? I'm not a vet, but we have your 2'nd edition.

DMaderDVM_nr: Septic joints (infection in the toes) and gout are the two most common problems. X-rays and blood analysis, especially a test for Uric Acid levels, may be needed. ga

RETIC9_nr: Are there any aspects of the pet trade that you disagree with or disappoint you?

DMaderDVM_nr: Yea - don't get me started. Animals are often sold/bought because they are "cool." This is often done with disregard for the animal's best interest. ga

PHLdyPayne: Lately there has been some debate on the forums here about having higher basking temperatures available for basking reptiles. Do you feel having higher basking temperatures available, along with cooler areas, better for reptiles kept indoors, or is it better to have them kept in lower ranges of basking temps to ensure they bask longer and thus exposed to the lower levels of UVB put out by most reptile UVB lights?

DMaderDVM_nr: Those are two separate issues. A herp will bask until it reaches its preferred optimum body temperature. They

DMaderDVM_nr: don't have any way to self regulate their UVB exposure. You have to be careful with basking so that the animal's don't accidentally get burned. ga

Reptileszz: What is your take on the possibility that D3 can be obtained strictly from diet plus supplements vs the use of UV for basking lizards? I think they need UVB but a lot of people seem to think D3 can be derived from diet alone for like bearded dragons etc.

DMaderDVM_nr: There was on published paper out of the National Zoo many years back that suggests herps are unable to assimilate oral Vit D3. From spending many many hours in the wild observing animals, I cannot express how important UVB exposure is to these captives. ga

Austin-1: Dr. Mader: thanks for being on here for us.

Do you think it makes any difference to reptiles (boas/pythons in particular) if they have an ‘enriched’ environment: a ‘natural’ vivarium, w/ live plants, branches, natural sub, etc., as opposed to ‘sterile’ newspaper-and-hide enclosure? In short, do they really care at all if they’re cage is like they’re native environment, beyond what is strictly necessary for physical health (i.e. humidity, temp, hiding area, food, water). I’m specifically thinking of Philippe de Vosjoli’s ‘The Art of Keeping Snakes’ where he says that it’s basically cruel to keep snakes in the way they are most popularly kept today: pg. 11 & 12 of his book (a system he calls LAM: Laboratory Animal Method).

What, in your experience w/ snakes, do you think?

DMaderDVM_nr: My Master's degree is in Animal Behavior. I am all for a natural environment. I think it does make a difference to the caged animal. ga

Austin-1: What leeds you to this conclusion?

Austin-1: sorry, didn't mean to be out of turn there.....

Austin-1: Follow up: what is it that makes you think snakes really care? really, how do you tell what the snake is thinking? I've been mauling this over for quite a while...not sure what to think...

DMaderDVM_nr: Cindy - is there any way I can post a photo for people to see? ga

DMaderDVM_nr: Done - This is a photo from a watering hole near my house. Note that there are this year's babies in the shadows, two adult females and the Alpha male iguana. These animals LIVE for the sun. They bask all day long! ga

PHFaust: [b]Here is the link while Dr. Mader answers that question! http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/7758WILD_IGS-med.jpg[/b]

DMaderDVM_nr: We have no way to measure that. It is anthropomorphic to assume that they have feelings. However, I have seen differences in reproductive performance and health status in colonies that are kept in different conditions. This is personal observation over 30 years. ga

kich4theanswer: Studying is key! I appreciate the adviceJ. My next question is this, are there other opportunities after ungrad if hypothetically speaking, I nail a GPA around a 3.5-3.6? As far as programs or classes that I can take to increase my background/ chances of a grad school.

DMaderDVM_nr: Let me tell you a personal story - My undergrad was not too good - only a 3.3 I had a 3.97 in grad school. It still took me 4 applications to get in to Vet School! Don't give up!!!! ga

JimG: In the past, I have had issues with baby Leopard Geckos with a “failure to thrive” for lack of a better term. I have seen it mentioned by other keepers in forums so it seems fairly common. They begin to lose weight and stop eating even when kept alone. Any thoughts on a medical explanation?

DMaderDVM_nr: Way too complicated. Vast majority of these cases involved deficiencies in husbandry. This immuno-suppresses the animals then they fall ill to opportunist pathogens (e.g.. cryptosporidiosis) ga

coco_nr: can you tell me what is being done with the large pythons in the everglades and the keys? I noticed in your intro that you are helping with this program. I am glad to see someone who understands herps and herps as pets is involved in this...

DMaderDVM_nr: Wow - it is fun. These big guys are apex predators and do not like being handled. I am involved with a project that is trying to trap them alive and relocate them. ga

Barbs13: Dr. Mader, I'm a published writer who creates articles based on interviews. Is there anything that you recommend when it comes to writing about reptiles, and especially, writing and interviewing the people who care for them? For example, what is the best way to approach a busy reptile breeder or reptile veterinarian for an interview (ahem)? :)

DMaderDVM_nr: Offer to wash their car :)

Barbs13: Thanks!

DMaderDVM_nr: Seriously, call and set up an appointment. That is the courteous way to go about it. Good luck! ga

jparker1167: i was wondering what is your opinion on venomiods, do you believe it as any long term affect on the animal how easy would it be for the person to mess up the surgery

DMaderDVM_nr: When done properly there are no long term effects. I have done many over the years and the animals do fine long term. That said, I have also seen some badly botched surgeries. These can do harm to the animal and potentially, the handler. ga

jparker1167: thanks

RETIC9_nr: are there any animals in the reptile trade that you think should be illegal and why

DMaderDVM_nr: I think that CITES protected species should not be in the pet trade. Proper permitting and education will help prevent damage to the species. ga

KLG: Hi Dr. Mader - thanks for being here! Just curious to know what you think about albino lizards & UVB exposure. Do the benefits outweigh any potential risks? Is it the same balance a keeper must strike between too much & not enough exposure, but paying closer attention?

DMaderDVM_nr: Albinos are more susceptible to UV skin damage. The thing is, I am not convinced that artificial UV can inflict enough damage to make a difference. Putting one of these animals outside in the real sun can be dangerous. ga

KLG: Thx!

kich4theanswer: i'm sorry I'm having server troubles. Thank you for the encouragement Dr. Mader. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you tonight and I thank you for taking time to answer questions from all of us. Have a good evening.

kich4theanswer: thats all I wanted to say :)

DMaderDVM_nr: All the best in your professional goals! ga

Reptileszz: ditto

Austin-1: Yes, thanks very much.

vet2010: yeah i would also like to say thank you and hopefully one day i can be as good and as well known as you in the field

vet2010: really cool talking to you hopefully ill get to meet you some day

DMaderDVM_nr: I look forward to it. If any of you are ever in the Keys, please stop by and visit the Turtle Hospital. ga

PHFaust: OK I am taking host privileges and asking the actual final... Doug, where are the pythons being relocated out of curiosity?

DMaderDVM_nr: Good question - the Fish and Wildlife service is taking them. They said zoos, but ...... ga

PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us here at kingsnake.com, Thank You for taking your time to chat with us. Transcripts will be posted with in a few days. Once again, Thank you Dr. Mader!

DMaderDVM_nr: Thank you all. Happy herping!

PHFaust: Please visit the turtle hospital website at www.turtlehospital.org

PHLdyPayne: it was wonderful to have you here Dr. Mader!