Every person who owns or is planning to have a pet should be prepared for emergencies. Just like we have the security of knowing that when we get sick we can always visit a doctor, we also need to make sure that we will have the same option available for our pets. It is a part of being a responsible pet owner. It will also give you a peace of mind.

The reptile, or herp doctors ( from 'herpetology' - science which deals with reptiles ), are the vets who took the additional training in reptile medicine. The animal world is very diverse. There are countless species of critters on our planet, and becoming a good specialized veterinary medicine doctor is quite a task. Unlike the doctors treating us, the vets have to deal with not just one type of anatomy. This is why not every 'cat or dog' doctor will be good with reptiles. The principles in treating most animals are similar, but on the other hand each group or species can be so diverse that a lot of practice and specialized field experience is the only way to become a qualified reptile vet.

Having a particular animal, a person should look for a vet that has lots of experience in treating this species. So, exoctic animal owners should look for those who have experience in treating exotic animal.

Exotic animals include fish, amphibians, reptiles, all kinds of birds and exotic mammals, and invertebrates such as tarantulas and scorpions. When looking for you vet a person should ask for one who is in particular experienced in treating one of the above.