Choosing the right Vet?

[Lovette's Kara]

I am not really new, but I have a bit of a question that might be helpful to new people, so I figure this is the better place to put it because I cannot seem to post it in the vet questions and answers and I didn't know it fit the health and hygiene section either...

I live in Regina, SK and I DID have an awesome vet that was my main person to go to when I had problems with my pets, but she went on Maternity Leave. I thought, "Okay, I can stick it out for a bit" since most of the vets at the clinic were pretty nice and I felt confident that if I had an emergency I could go there. However, she no longer works there and I think she has quit for awhile to be a mom. Which means I need to find a new vet. I have no health issues currently with my chins or any of my pets, but it's always good to have one, right?

So, what should I be looking for in a vet exactly?

I mean, I know there is a "small animal specialist" here in town, but I hate her so much! I had a hamster that became dehydrated and she was going to give him a little fluid. Well, she stuck the needle right through the hamster and said "Whoops". She filled him with fluid at what I thought was an awkward position (I always thought it was too far in a downward angle for putting fluid under the scruff) and I guess I wasn't surprised (only angry and frustrated) when he started coughing up water on the way home. He died about an hour after going to the vet. Needless to say, I was enraged at her attitude, professionalism, and the fact that she couldn't do something like putting fluid under the skin (if I had the fluid and a syringe, I could have done a better job myself)... In reality, I do not feel confident in her abilities. However, as far as I know, she is the only "small animal specialist" until Saskatoon (2+hrs away).

There is ONE vet that I am leaning towards most of all, though. She is from a clinic I dealt with in the past and SHE was pretty good (there are some vets at that clinic I do not like). I had a Richardson Ground Squirrel that was injured (bought it at an auction so it wasn't used as a "whistle dog" and when it was healthy enough it was released at a friends yard) and she looked at the RGS. She did an assessment and admitted that she did not know much about them, but she called the animal hospital/school in Saskatoon and researched in vet books about dealing with wildlife. I really like how she dealt with the situation and was eager to learn, and most of all: was not afraid to admit that she didn't know, but was willing to learn and do her best to help the RGS.

So essentially, the question is what exactly should I be focusing on when searching for a vet? The selection of vets here is meager when it comes to small animals. Should I be focusing on someone just willing to look at a chinchilla or is there something specific that the establishment needs to work with chinchillas? Like the person I was thinking of, I do not believe she has much if any experience with chinchillas, but I know she would be willing to learn and find information to help if I have an issue. Should I be focusing on someone who has experience with chinchillas, and if I do not find someone (besides the "specialist"...) what would be the next best thing?

 

[minrex]

I believe that if you can't find someone who is truly a chinchilla-knowledgeable vet, the next best thing is to find a vet that you trust, and who is willing to do whatever they can to learn about chins. Vets don't become knowledgeable about a species unless they are willing to learn and work with them! I say, if you trust the vet who worked on your RGS and think that she will make every effort to learn about chins, there are much worse options than using her.

 

[Stackie]

I agree with the above. Before I moved to Indianapolis, I used a vet who necessarily didn't know everything about chins, but was willing to ask me what I thought, what I had researched, and called chin savvy vets to get 2nd and 3rd opinions. If you can't have a vet who is already chin savvy, find one that is willing to listen to what you have to say and is willing to learn.

 

[caiti]

I'm having the same problem. I know I am moving home in May and while that is far I also want to find a vet for long vacation breaks when I bring my chin home. I can't really find anyone that specifically works with chins, but I agree with Stackie and minrex. And that's what I'll be looking for in a vet as well.

Information is something you can obtain...the recollection and application of it is more of a skill. A vet can always gain information, it's whether they care to use it, how they use it and if they will go find it to begin with.

 

[Lovette's Kara]

Thank you everyone I am going to talk with that vet tomorrow, and see what she says. I don't know how much experience she has with them, but I am quite happy with the work she had done with the RGS. I think I will give her a shot, if she is willing.

 

[starleomach]

I have gone to vets with little experiance and the big thing is if they are willing to listen to you and get second opinions, In fact I find that the non-specialists do a better job IMPO

 

[ticklechin]

If you have a local rescue ask who they use, rescue chins often all kinds of issues and the vet will learn from that also.

 

[Lovette's Kara]

If you have a local rescue ask who they use, rescue chins often all kinds of issues and the vet will learn from that also.

I do not know of any rescues in my area for chinchillas.