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Normal vs exotic vets

Honey&maple

Honey&maple

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3 year old Sow spaying- the nearest exotic vet is an hour away from me. 3 times going there for the consultation, op and post op, will be 6 hours altogether so I’m not sure if it’s worth it as I will also be much more expensive.

Normal vet is only 20 mins away and they have done Guinea pig spaying before but probably not as much as the exotic. I have already been seen here and the op is only £107

What do you guys think, does it matter that much?
 
piggieminder said:
An experienced good general vet who takes an interest in guinea pigs can be as good or better than an exotic vet. It all depends on the vet!
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The lady I saw wasn’t experienced in Guinea pigs but she was able to diagnose her . She said the other vet knew more . But I haven’t met the other one so I don’t know whether to trust it or not .
 
Piggies&buns said:
:agr:
A conversation about experience would be needed.

I personally have a general vet but they are knowledgeable and experienced in small animals, and they’ve been my vet for just over 35 years so I know I can trust them!
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That’s good to know thank you. Would this need to be a call over the pgone with the vet. I’m unsure how to have the conversation.
 
Most vets have time set aside between consults and surgeries to make phone calls, if you call up and ask if you can leave a question for a specific vet for them to get back to you, or just request a chat about going ahead with surgery they'll usually be more than happy to.

My usual vet isn't an exotic vet but is an excellent surgeon who has spayed what must be about 10 of my pigs by now, however he recently admitted doing so always made him nervous. Lately they've got an exotics specialist in who does the new, bilateral flank spays which are much safer so he's been learning from her and she's done the last 3 spays I've needed done. I must say however, recovery from my usual vets procedure due to using gas over injectable aneasthetic has always been more straightforward!

So there's certainly nothing wrong with going with a non exotic vet who is regularly seeing guinea pigs. Make sure when asking about their surgical experience, to ask what their success rate is as well.. being able to do the surgery is all well and good but if many are passing during recovery that's not great news. Surviving the surgery and making it home is just the first step! Good luck!
 
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