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Rutherford Veterinary Clinic

11464-17 Avenue SW

Edmonton, Alberta T6W 2S5 CA

1(780) 761-0350

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  • Home >
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  • Reptiles

lizards on a log

People with limited living quarters may find that reptiles such as lizards or turtles fit perfectly into their lifestyles. Before deciding on a reptile, learn as much as possible about them and their needs. Poisonous snakes and certain reptiles should never be kept as pets. Ask your veterinarian about the suitability of a particular animal before you make your decision. There are many things to consider before committing to a reptile as a pet. 

Finding out if a Pet is Legal Where You Live
Many areas have enacted laws pertaining to keeping reptiles. Some are general and some are quite specific; in many places any reptiles that are considered dangerous (venomous snakes, alligators, etc.) are illegal but some places are even more restrictive (for example, in some states all constricting snakes including ball pythons are illegal).

Salmonella Risks and Prevention
All reptile owners need to be informed about Salmonella infections. While the risks shouldn't keep most people from keeping reptiles since with the proper management the risks are minimal. Still, owners should be aware of the risks, and the US Centers for Disease Control recommends that certain risk groups should be careful about contact with reptiles and amphibians.

The Importance of Light and Heat
Many problems with keeping reptiles can be traced back to not providing the proper environmental conditions, particularly heat. Proper lighting is also important for many reptiles. The equipment to provide the proper heat and light to captive reptiles is often quite expensive, but is absolutely essential to keeping pet reptiles healthy. It is important to find out exactly what conditions your reptile needs and never cut corners when it comes to meeting those conditions!

Why Choose Captive Bred Reptiles
There are numerous reasons why you should pick a captive bred reptile if at all possible, as explained here.

How to Pick a Healthy Reptile
It is important to keep in mind that depending on where you get a reptile, it may be very stressed, dehydrated, and prone to illness. Here are some items to look for when buying your reptile to increase the chances of picking out a healthy pet reptile.

While there are many types of reptiles that could be good pets, here we cover a few you could consider.

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  • Choosing Your Pet
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    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Exotics
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Reptiles
        • Lizards
        • Turtles
    • Small Mammals
      • Ferrets
      • Rabbits
      • Domesticated Animals
        • Prairie Dogs
      • Pocket Pets
        • Chinchillas
        • Guinea Pigs
        • Hamsters
        • Hedgehogs
        • Rats
    • Livestock
      • Cows
      • Donkeys, Horses & Mules
      • Goats
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
      • Sheep
  • Living With Your Pet
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Children and Pets
    • Providing Care
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  • Newsletter Library
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    • Recognizing Illness
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    • Cats
    • Keeping Pets Healthy
    • Fleas & Parasites
    • Pet Dangers
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    • Newsletter Archive
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      • Unbelievable Pets
  • Video Newsroom
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Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am

8:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am

8:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am

8:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am

8:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am

8:00 pm

Saturday:

10:00 am

5:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

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Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Say

  • "First vet for my first pet! It is a really wonderful experience. They have really lovely staff members and even take us to tour in their really fantastic clinic!They have different room for different animal so they can feel great without other pet smell. We see that they pay a lot of attention on our puppy and give a lot of great advise for me as a new owner and we are really surprise that when we use the little tricks that the doctor told us, our little puppy feels nothing when she's doing her shots! My puppy even give the doctor a high five after the shoot is done! We can see all their staff members love animal and we are totally coming back for coming appointment!"
    Tina Li / Edmonton, Alberta
  • "Just as I posted on my Facebook wall, try Dr Hany Naguib at Rutherford Veterinary for the most excellent and thoughtful care! Tucker and I have never experienced better!!"
    Michele Hamilton- Friesen / Edmonton, Alberta
  • "The staff at Rutherford Vet are outstanding! Very helpful, caring and obviously very passionate in caring for animals! I will highly recommend them to everyone!"
    Cheryl Moroszczuk / Edmonton, Alberta
  • "We first visited Dr. Naguib several years ago when our dog Flûte, a cock-a-poo, had had several months of repeated skin irritations which often lead to infections. At that time, he told us that non shedding dogs were often subject to skin problems due to a reaction to protein and recommended a dog food in which the protein is hydrolyzed. Flûte has been happily eating this food and has been allergy free since that visit. Recently, we visited Dr. Naguib in his own clinic which is a very welcoming and state of the art facility. He quickly diagnosed an acute problem and kept Flute for further tests. Shortly after taking x-rays, he sent them to us by e-mail and communicated with us by phone to enable us to understand what we were seeing."
    Michele Foley / Edmonton, Alberta

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