Anna-Marie

Exotic animal veterinarian. I like medicine, reptiles, tea, politics, crosswords, and video games. She/her.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@united That will bring comfort to the passengers who missed their connections and will be staying overnight with no changes of clothes. We were already 2 hours delayed, and the gate check process prolonged that to 2.5 hours as people desperately tried to repack their belongings.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

Shout out to @united for making people gate check their bags due to 'no more room' in the overhead bins, only for more than half them be empty. Flight is delayed and people will be missing their connections -- a personal item will not be enough for an unexpected overnight stay.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

I'm not very active on public social media anymore, but if you're looking for bluer skies I am there as well with the same handle. 💙

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

As a veterinarian who treats tortoises and parrots that can outlive their owners, PLEASE think about your pets in your estate planning. Too many beloved pets end up in overwhelmed rescues.

[Ben Pershing @benpershing]

Congratulations on your new tortoise. The catch: It could live another 130 years. Meet tortoise estate planning. “It’s like a piece of property or some family heirloom.” Read ⁦@elizacollins1⁩: https://t.co/ZNMujxT3cv

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

If my puns keep you in stitches, if you think snakes are sew cool, or if you enjoy the crossword themes I weave, I'm on another social media app, too -- same username. See you there!

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@ZotVet @BSAVACONGRESS When I explain "gold standard" I mean the best evidence base (for testing) or the most accepted treatments with best outcomes. I always offer gold standard, but I do not pressure clients into it, and I offer alternatives based on finances, goals, and individual patient needs.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@GreggDvm @drsarahebuck I wholeheartedly love what I do. I thrive at work and I take extra opportunities to study, lecture, mentor, and research. I have supportive friends and family as well as hobbies outside of vet med.
It's still a constant weight on my mental health, and I still struggle.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@not_vet How utterly depraved. One of my techs tried to come to work in crisis and I helped her get home safely, checked on her throughout the day, and helped her make a plan to get help. We have to change the systems that cause the trauma and burnout, not praise "resiliency".

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

It's hard to pick a favorite 🐢, but this cutie prefers 3 Down.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

Don't get me wrong: I support responsible pet ownership, I love seeing tortoises as patients, and I actively work toward bettering their care in captivity. I even have a rescued Russian tortoise myself! However, I also recognize problems in the exotic pet industry.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

As an exotic vet, I see so many impulse-purchased "assorted tortoises" -- if the owners don't even know the species, how can they possibly provide appropriate care? Responsible pet ownership begins with knowledge of care needs and the ability to provide for them.

[Dr. Jonathan Kolby @MyFrogCroaked]

It made me sad to see this "Assorted Tortoise" at @PetSmart in NYC yesterday. Not all tortoises are the same with respect to how big they grow & the care they need. I think these #animals deserve more care & respect starting before they're sold. #WildlifeTrade #reptiles #pets

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@MyFrogCroaked Not to mention supporting impulse purchases of animals that live (by their own label) 50+ years and are overflowing at reptile rescues and humane societies already.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@SwflTurtle @MyFrogCroaked @PetSmart I agree it's a Russian tortoise. They were reclassified (again) in 2021 back into Testudo by the Turtle Taxonomy Working Group:
doi:10.3854/crm.8.checklist.atlas.v9.2021

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@Afro_Herper @LAZoo Fantastic!!

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@madmcbutters Congratulations!

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@Sarah_J_Voss My path was boring (prevet-5Y post grad: Exotics), BUT I learned things on every rotation and through every discipline that I use daily. I think exposure to varied facets of the field is immensely important for students.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@thepuzzlesoc My name anagrams to "a fauna informer" which fits my profession (veterinary medicine) so well that I haven't looked for others.

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

@DebbieC35330900 @Anonyvet Chameleons are especially easy to glue yourself to (in my experience).

[Anna-Marie @ruoff47]

I LOVE these lizards!! Seeing one in the wild feels magical. #FoundThatLizard

[Dr. Earyn McGee, Lizard lassoer 🦎 @Afro_Herper]

Part of the luck of seeing a Gila monsters, Heloderma suspectrum, is being in the right place at the right time like my friend @canicas who took this photo. If you want to see rare species you have to put time in the field! Can you #FindThatLizard? Let me know w #FoundThatLizard