i am makeing my first vet appointment for my suggies and was wondering what they all do in a general exam? i know i am getting a fecal smear. i am just wondering if i should get a general exam as well?

thank you

They should definitely do a general exam at the same time. Mine weighs them, listens to their heart, looks at their ears, eyes and always in their mouths at their teeth. It's also a great time to have their nails clipped!

Be sure you have a fecal float done too! It's a separate test and can detect parasites that a smear can't; and vice versa. Both are important.

Yeah! What they said! LOL!

Yup, bring some fresh poop. I also ask them to clip some hair and look for mites in the microscope like one might find on opossums or cats. I will often treat a new rescue with Revolution for cats as that can deal with many parasites in one easy step. Better safe than sorry especially when all of your other animals are concerned.

I agree with what has been said already, but you might not have a choice but to get the general exam. Obviously you SHOULD get one, but my vet will only see animals that he's examined before, unless of course it's an immediate life or death situation. Not sure how many vets do that, but just something you might want to know. :)

I like the hair clipping idea. I've never had any of my gliders treated with Revolution, though we have it for our cats. How much do you use, and how do you prevent the other gliders from grooming it off?

A single drop at the back of the neck onto skin, perhaps where the clipping was taken, and then you quarantine a colony animal for one or two days to keep others from grooming the area. If it is a rescue/newbie, odds are they come in alone, so it's a moot issue. Treat them asap and then do the normal quarantine for some time to make sure the animal is healthy.