Dr. James Hilla - Callahan Animal Hospital

I have heard lots of good things about this vet. He used to own an extensive collection of reptiles, especially snakes. This is where I will be going if my ball python or one of my three veiled chameleons need to see a vet. Didn't see this vet on list, wanted to add him and a new location that was not in West Knoxville area for those of us in North Knoxville.

I had bad experiences with this particular vet. Glad to hear yours was better than mine but I don't go to this clinic or recommend them for anyone else because of the ordeal we had to go through with them.

Just like any other vet or doctor even, everyone has there preference and experiences.

I'm convinced that what happened to my albino gopher snake there (behind closed doors where I couldn't follow) killed my snake within hours of his "treatment". I took him in because he was constipated and hadn't passed stool in weeks which is entirely odd for any colubrid. When we arrived, he was uncomfortable but alert and was slithering around the table or on me like he always did. When they brought him back to me, he was lethargic and wouldn't even flick his tongue. He was just listless and not at all himself. He died that night and I called the clinic back the very next morning. They seemed indifferent to the event and Hilla was dismissive, explaining that it could have been a cancerous growth causing the problems. As of yet, I have not met a snake with cancer. That's not to say that it doesn't happen but my gopher was the third snake I had taken to Callahan and told might have cancer and sent home with baytril (I used to take snakes from the pet store to Callahan). No refund and no sympathy. It's still a sore subject even though it happened years ago.

I am very sorry to hear that. But thanks for the info. I am new to the reptile vet thing. I would like to get all the info I can.

Thanks!