How far is reasonable to travel to a vet?

[caitlinly]

Last time I took my chin to the vet I wasn't overly pleased with their knowledge of chinchillas, but I'm having a hard time locating an exotics specialist near me. How far is reasonable to travel with a chin especially if it's sick and needs the vet? Also in an emergency should I go to my local vet and sacrifice knowledge for time or should I travel a lot further to someone with more experience?

Just to clarify, my chinchilla isn't ill just now, I just want to be prepared before something happens.

 

[greychins]

For minor things, like respiratory infections, stitching up bite wounds, etc I go to a vet that's down the road, literally not more than 5 mins from here. But for major things, the vet I go to is in the city, and on a good day it takes me 1 hour 30 mins - 2 hours to get there. But they know what they're doing, which is important. I like my local vet, but they're clueless when it comes to complicated things so it doesn't matter that they're close...

 

[Snickers]

I travel 45 - 1 1/2 hrs. The distance is shorter but when you hit LA traffic it's the worse.

 

[becky12883]

For minor things I have a vet that's about 15 minutes away, she's not completely comfortable with chins but will see them for minor things. For anything major, the closest good exotic vet is a hour and a half in the Twin Cities.

 

[BookWorm]

I drive an hour to get to the vet, but then again, I'm from the middle of nowhere, so that's a short jaunt for me.

 

[Narcissus]

my personal opinion is that no distance is to far. For minor things i would go to a vet close to you. For anything that requires more knowledge that i go to whatever distance i have to in order to get proper care. i personally treat my animals like my children, i take my kids to a doctor close to me for minor things, but if my children need a specialist then i don't care how fr i have to go... we just go. I am lucky to have that ability, i realize not all people can.