Juno's visit to the vet

[bella3]

Hi everyone,
Alright so I'm in a bit of a situation and would like to hear people's opinion on this. So I noticed around wednesday of last week that Juno has a faint clicking in her breathing-only sometimes. At the time I just decided to keep an eye on it and see if it gets worse because it was only happening every once in a while. Well, it did get worse, and I was going to plan a vet appt to get her checked out. A quick search on this forum and I realized that the noises could be early symptoms or an RI. I called the vet yesterday (saturday) afternoon to make an appointment for Sunday. Well of course they aren't open Sunday but I was freaked out enough that I went Saturday and payed extra because it counted as an emergancy as they were done usual buisness hours. I don't have an issue paying the money, just letting you know.

My issue is that I don't know if the vet knew what he was talking about or not! He kept going back on what he originally said! First he stated that it wasn't a big issue so when I asked if I didn't need to be concerned he said that no, it might be something to be worried about.
He said take her home, watch her and then bring her back tomorrow (which is now today, Sunday) and maybe get $500-$600 X-Rays.
So I have a few questions for you all. If she does have an respiratory infection do we need X-Rays to diagnose that? And the vet said that if I do the X-Rays and they come back showing something he does blood work which she needs to be put under for, and then maybe injections. I am starting to feel that I am also putting her at a risk by giving her gas for her blood work! Lastly, do X-Rays usally cost this much? As I said before, I will pay, but I just would like to know if this is unreasonably over-priced.

Juno hasn't basked since she has been with me, and its't pooping every day. I am going to switch the basking rocks (she now has one thats off the ground and doubles has a hide) by putting a flat one in, bump up the temps and cover three sides of the glass with a visual. Pink T Monkey has been helping me out greatly with this, and I am just truly hoping that I haven't done something wrong.
I reserched BTS for months and months before I got one, and just hope that I didn't make a stupid mistake.
Any advice, or opinions would really be appreciated.
Thank you so much in advance.

EDIT: I should add that Juno seems fine in every other way, eating, exploring etc.

[Karen]

I'm pretty sure the only thing x-rays might show is if there is any fluid buildup in the lungs. My first BTS had pneumonia when she came to me and had to get x-rays done to help be sure of that. The x-rays were certainly not $500 - $600. I think they might have been $60 at most, and the whole bill for all her testing and meds came out to around $400. The vet didn't do any blood work at all, just a tracheal wash. I'm not quite sure where that price is coming from, but you might want to get a second opinion from another vet if you can.

[bella3]

Thanks Karen, that's what I was thinking it may be. I took her to the vet again today and again at first he said it's serious then he said it's not critical or serious, so I am going to go to a different vet and get a second opinion, because I suspected that $500 is far to much. My only problem now is I have no idea weather it's serious or not!

[Bird_Brain]

I have never had to do bloodwork on a reptile, but Im surprised that it would have to be put under to draw the blood? Hopefully others can comment on that who have experience with it. As far as radiographs (xrays), around here they cost no more than $80 per radiograph. When I had my female kei done to see if she was gravid, it cost me around $25. I do have a feeling that I got a price break since I used to work there though (I went and got them breakfast since they gave me a discount lol). Of course you are located in Canada and from what I see, it hasnt been till recently that reptiles have really became popular (look how many new Canadians we have had the last couple years!). So finding a vet that is able to diagnose and treat a reptile may be more expensive up there?

Good luck and make sure you have maintained daytime temps 24hrs a day until you figure this out! Keep us posted, and I would have done the same thing as you and get a second opinion!

[bella3]

Thanks! I am going to another vet probably Monday or something because I'm still nervous about a possible RI, and hopefully if she needs X-Rays they will be a little cheaper.