What Would I Do Without A Piggy Vet?

[TheCavySlave]

So, the boys have had a checkup, and we have a couple of nearby vets, but I'm not sure how experienced with cavies they are, and in an emergency I'd want to know they're in safe hands. I've tried the vet locator but I don't think any are nearby enough

 

[chesca_27]

I guess you'd just have to google it and look around at the different websites. I have three different vets on my highstreet, but I still had to choose the best one.

 

[Swissgreys]

Our local vet is great, and I have visited her a couple of times for non emergency stuff.
I asked her a lot of questions about the amount of guinea pigs she deals with (not many), and also asked if she knew of a specialist guinea pig vet, which she does.
I think it is important to have a good 'general' vet close by, as I don't need to drive for an hour just to get eye drops or parasite treatment, but I do want to know she can discuss more complex matters (or eventually refer us if needed) with a more specialised vet.

 

[Claire W]

My vet isn't classed as a 'guinea pig savvy' vet. she is however wonderful with small animals and I have been seeing her for a few years now.

Despite not being a piggy savvy vet, she is always willing to listen to me (I have actually been known to show her this forum on her computer screen before now) and try new things so long as she is able to do her research first.

She is also willing to contact a specialist for advise if she isn't sure on something and would refer me if needed which thankfully hasn't had to happen yet.

 

[Tiny]

I have two vets I've used, one is about 400 yards away so extremely handy(!) and the other is a 10 minute train ride away. Neither are "cavy savvy"; they're just general vets, though I've never felt any treatment was compromised because of this. The closest vets has a 24hr hospital and emergency service, whilst the other has a visiting small animal/exotic expert, and when Willow was having her abscess removal they booked the op on a day he was working. @TheCavySlave I wouldn't worry too much about them being "cavy savvy", I think it's important to have a good ongoing relationship with a vet. Of course, it's a huge benefit if a specialist is accessible, but in an emergency being able to get to ANY vet promptly can be vital. Perhaps look into whether any nearby practices have 'visiting' exotic experts, for example mine works at three practices. Don't 'write-off' any vets, even if they're not guinea pig experts they may be the best place to direct you to someone who is

 

[TheCavySlave]

I have two vets I've used, one is about 400 yards away so extremely handy(!) and the other is a 10 minute train ride away. Neither are "cavy savvy"; they're just general vets, though I've never felt any treatment was compromised because of this. The closest vets has a 24hr hospital and emergency service, whilst the other has a visiting small animal/exotic expert, and when Willow was having her abscess removal they booked the op on a day he was working. @TheCavySlave I wouldn't worry too much about them being "cavy savvy", I think it's important to have a good ongoing relationship with a vet. Of course, it's a huge benefit if a specialist is accessible, but in an emergency being able to get to ANY vet promptly can be vital. Perhaps look into whether any nearby practices have 'visiting' exotic experts, for example mine works at three practices. Don't 'write-off' any vets, even if they're not guinea pig experts they may be the best place to direct you to someone who is

Thank you! Our vet is close by, and I feel that's hugely important- in an emergency, wouldn't rushing a pig to any vet be better than a long journey to a specialist?

My vet isn't classed as a 'guinea pig savvy' vet. she is however wonderful with small animals and I have been seeing her for a few years now.

Despite not being a piggy savvy vet, she is always willing to listen to me (I have actually been known to show her this forum on her computer screen before now) and try new things so long as she is able to do her research first.

She is also willing to contact a specialist for advise if she isn't sure on something and would refer me if needed which thankfully hasn't had to happen yet.

That sounds great! At the end of the checkup she asked us if we had any questions, which was sweet, and we showed her Duncan's cut (poor thing! Godfrey....!) and she said it would heal well, and it has.

Our local vet is great, and I have visited her a couple of times for non emergency stuff.
I asked her a lot of questions about the amount of guinea pigs she deals with (not many), and also asked if she knew of a specialist guinea pig vet, which she does.
I think it is important to have a good 'general' vet close by, as I don't need to drive for an hour just to get eye drops or parasite treatment, but I do want to know she can discuss more complex matters (or eventually refer us if needed) with a more specialised vet.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest! That's a good point; they could contact a specialist.

 

[Guinea Slave]

I use a great vets in Reading but many years ago they were not specialists in guineas. The local rescue and a great network worked with the vets to educate them and they were very happy to learn and listen. Now thanks to that early network of people we now have a great team of guinea educated vets who I totally trust.

When the travel got too much I went to a new vet nearer to me, I was in a similar situation to you. She was very happy and willing to learn as much as she could, she would ring my old vets for advice and speak to her vet network for advice and she turned into a great guinea specialist but sadly then left (I was gutted!). the replacement vet made it very clear he was not interested (at least he was honest) so now sadly I have to travel again but its not the end of the world and I have now found another now who is willing to learn so we start again!

My view is that even if a vet is not educated about a guineas needs, its worth speaking to them and if they are willing to understand and learn then you are not just helping yourself but also the guinea community around you.

 

[Tiny]

I don't think any vet is gonna freak out and be like "OMG what is THAT? You call it a guinea pig? It works in the imperial money system? Where's the pork on it? I've never even heard of this type of furry potato in all of my training! Is... is it like a small tailless dog...? Dogs, I can do. And the purring version of dogs... cats, I think they're called! And bald, legless dogs... um, I think the experts call them snakes. They're fine, but this..." *head explodes*