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I've noticed that my local vet is an RCVS Accredited Small Animal Hospital.
Does anyone know what this actually means?
Does anyone know what this actually means?
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RCVS Accredited Small Animal Hospital
- Thread starter Bailey
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Hanwombat
Senior Guinea Pig
its Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and it means that they have had their practice put through a rigorous inspection carried out by an experienced vet surgeon
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Does it mean they've undertaken any extra training in small animals? Or is just the standards laid out by RCVS?
Midge&Panda
Adult Guinea Pig
The practice that I use is accredited- RCVS, there are about 6 regular vets working there and only 3 I would really trust with my girls.
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
Small animals merely means most household pets like cats and dogs - as opposed to farm animals.
It doesn't mean they will be specialised in guinea pigs.
It doesn't mean they will be specialised in guinea pigs.
How do I find a cavy savvy vet?
Not all vet surgeries have an animal hospital attached to the surgery....although they will have access to one at a nearby practice. RCVS-accredited means the hospital is regularly checked so that it conforms to the stringent standards of care, facilities, procedures etc as other posters have already said.
It does NOT necessarily mean however that they are experienced in guinea pig medicine....that is down to the experience and qualifications of the individual vets attending the practice.
I think you have asked a very important question above so I hope you don;t mind if I post a somewhat lengthy answer for the benefit of other forum users.
HOW DO I FIND A CAVY SAVVY VET?
Many cavy savvy vets are called "exotics" vets. Exotics vets often have an additional qualification besides the normal BVSc (vet first degree) and MRCVS(member of the Royal College of Vet Surgeons).
If I'm checking out a new vets then I first of all look for someone who also has a certZooMed....it means they have a lot more experience of exotics including surgical techniques and are more prepared to prescribe drug therapies off license ...(Let;s remember that only baytril is licensed for piggies....virtually no other treatment is, hence why it is difficult sometimes to convince a vet to give for instance a different antibioitic, a diuretic or heart meds).
HOWEVER.......there are some vets without this qualification who do specialise in piggies and are prepared to go "above and beyond" ..(Simon at Cat and Rabbit clinic is one who springs to mind........piggie rescues may also have vets who have a lot of experience) ..and very good they are too... So it's always best to check on the individual vets experience before you register with a practice rather than just rely on the qualifications. Dont be afraid to post on the forum asking for recommendations..... and don;t be afraid to ring a pratice and ask to see a specific vet (if time permits)
Ideally your vet should be someone who really will listen to you......and respects that fact that you, as the owner, know your piggie's behaviour and any deviations from the norm best. The vet will also be aware of their own limitations/knowledge (and be prepared to admit that to you) and yet is also open-minded enough to make enquiries of other vets or read the literature and try alternative off license meds (provided they can be backed up with another vets recommendations) if they are not sure about your piggies problems.....or find and refer you to someone more experienced.
I also prefer there to be an RCVS-accredited animal hospital associated with the practice...it means they have the facilities on site for emergency intervention out of the "normal surgery hours -monday to friday". Piggies as we all know can become ill quite suddenly.....(.usually at night or over the weekend rolleyes)..so emergency intervention over the weekend (eg tests, anaesthesia and/or X ray for stones for instance) can be quite crucial to a piggie's diagnosis and recovery.
GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VET -
RECOGNISE THEIR WEAKNESSES AND BUILD A RAPPORT TO THEIR STRENGTHS
One of my practices is really really good with piggie GA's..the other not quite so. Although none of them are (as yet) prepared to do dentals without GA, having talked with them all at great length, I completely respect their individual reasons for doing so..and we agree to differ. So despite the journey time....I will still take my dental piggies to CambridgeCavyTrust..(CCT)..and I would thoroughly recommend that every piggie owner who can make the journey to Cambridge (even if only once a year) becomes a member....as Vedra's knowledge of all things piggie is legendary.
It won;t put me off using my vets other services (One of them is now adopting the pratice of Xray without GA if possible......Yay.....piggie medicine is coming out of the dark ages!)
It's taken many frustrating years......but I have finally found two vets practices I feel comfortable going to. Both have hospitals....and therefore both have boarded sick piggies for me. Both practices have, by their knowledge and actions, saved the lives of some of my piggies (whereas my old vet...also with an RCVS hospital but no piggie knowledge.... would have just said "there's nothing more we can do"). Over the last two years I have gradually built up a good rapport with all of my new vets.
I realise that my own qualifications have a lot to do with that....and also because I have been prepared to pay for tests that many vets would normally not even think to suggest. Nevertheless.....if my new vets weren;t (a) open-minded and responsive to the information and threads I printed out for them from Guinea Lynx, Vedra at CambridgeCavyTrust, Peter Gurney's website and GPF...(one vet subsequently spent a whole day researching heart pigs in the main London library on her day off!) ..or
(b) willing to discuss frankly the risks or otherwise to a certain procedure..but
(c) most of all be prepared to intervene/prescribe accordingly for whatever piggie problem given the evidence....
.......well, there would be many more of my piggies than are currently popcorning at The Bridge tonight.
HTH (particularly for new forum members)
x
Not all vet surgeries have an animal hospital attached to the surgery....although they will have access to one at a nearby practice. RCVS-accredited means the hospital is regularly checked so that it conforms to the stringent standards of care, facilities, procedures etc as other posters have already said.
It does NOT necessarily mean however that they are experienced in guinea pig medicine....that is down to the experience and qualifications of the individual vets attending the practice.
I think you have asked a very important question above so I hope you don;t mind if I post a somewhat lengthy answer for the benefit of other forum users.
HOW DO I FIND A CAVY SAVVY VET?
Many cavy savvy vets are called "exotics" vets. Exotics vets often have an additional qualification besides the normal BVSc (vet first degree) and MRCVS(member of the Royal College of Vet Surgeons).
If I'm checking out a new vets then I first of all look for someone who also has a certZooMed....it means they have a lot more experience of exotics including surgical techniques and are more prepared to prescribe drug therapies off license ...(Let;s remember that only baytril is licensed for piggies....virtually no other treatment is, hence why it is difficult sometimes to convince a vet to give for instance a different antibioitic, a diuretic or heart meds).
HOWEVER.......there are some vets without this qualification who do specialise in piggies and are prepared to go "above and beyond" ..(Simon at Cat and Rabbit clinic is one who springs to mind........piggie rescues may also have vets who have a lot of experience) ..and very good they are too... So it's always best to check on the individual vets experience before you register with a practice rather than just rely on the qualifications. Dont be afraid to post on the forum asking for recommendations..... and don;t be afraid to ring a pratice and ask to see a specific vet (if time permits)
Ideally your vet should be someone who really will listen to you......and respects that fact that you, as the owner, know your piggie's behaviour and any deviations from the norm best. The vet will also be aware of their own limitations/knowledge (and be prepared to admit that to you) and yet is also open-minded enough to make enquiries of other vets or read the literature and try alternative off license meds (provided they can be backed up with another vets recommendations) if they are not sure about your piggies problems.....or find and refer you to someone more experienced.
I also prefer there to be an RCVS-accredited animal hospital associated with the practice...it means they have the facilities on site for emergency intervention out of the "normal surgery hours -monday to friday". Piggies as we all know can become ill quite suddenly.....(.usually at night or over the weekend rolleyes)..so emergency intervention over the weekend (eg tests, anaesthesia and/or X ray for stones for instance) can be quite crucial to a piggie's diagnosis and recovery.
GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VET -
RECOGNISE THEIR WEAKNESSES AND BUILD A RAPPORT TO THEIR STRENGTHS
One of my practices is really really good with piggie GA's..the other not quite so. Although none of them are (as yet) prepared to do dentals without GA, having talked with them all at great length, I completely respect their individual reasons for doing so..and we agree to differ. So despite the journey time....I will still take my dental piggies to CambridgeCavyTrust..(CCT)..and I would thoroughly recommend that every piggie owner who can make the journey to Cambridge (even if only once a year) becomes a member....as Vedra's knowledge of all things piggie is legendary.
It won;t put me off using my vets other services (One of them is now adopting the pratice of Xray without GA if possible......Yay.....piggie medicine is coming out of the dark ages!)
It's taken many frustrating years......but I have finally found two vets practices I feel comfortable going to. Both have hospitals....and therefore both have boarded sick piggies for me. Both practices have, by their knowledge and actions, saved the lives of some of my piggies (whereas my old vet...also with an RCVS hospital but no piggie knowledge.... would have just said "there's nothing more we can do"). Over the last two years I have gradually built up a good rapport with all of my new vets.
I realise that my own qualifications have a lot to do with that....and also because I have been prepared to pay for tests that many vets would normally not even think to suggest. Nevertheless.....if my new vets weren;t (a) open-minded and responsive to the information and threads I printed out for them from Guinea Lynx, Vedra at CambridgeCavyTrust, Peter Gurney's website and GPF...(one vet subsequently spent a whole day researching heart pigs in the main London library on her day off!) ..or
(b) willing to discuss frankly the risks or otherwise to a certain procedure..but
(c) most of all be prepared to intervene/prescribe accordingly for whatever piggie problem given the evidence....
.......well, there would be many more of my piggies than are currently popcorning at The Bridge tonight.
HTH (particularly for new forum members)
x
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