Rat
Rescue :: Finding
a Good Small Animal Vet
Finding a Good Small Animal Vet
Many of us have a vet who is excellent
with a cat or dog, but when it comes to your other smaller,
less ‘common’ pets such as a rat or a guinea, you could feel
that your vet isn’t as full on with your furry friend as he
or she can be.
You cannot blame your vet – they cannot know everything about
every species – or they may have a real aversion to your beloved
pet! (A ratty loving friend took her rat to her normal vet and
he was scared stiff!)
So, how do you go about finding a vet who is good with small
animals?
Of course, the best time to research vets is before your pet
gets ill – or even before you get your pet. Never try and ‘wing
it’, hoping that your furry will never fall ill. If you get
to the stage where your pet is ill and you consult an inexperienced
or unhelpful vet, then sadly it could be fatal for your pet.
First of all, check out your local/usual vet. Ask if any of
the vets there have a special interest in your species of animal
and, if so, ask for an initial chat and take your pet along.
That way you can see how the vet reacts to your pet – does he
or she pick up your rat and kiss him on the head or does the
vet keep their instance and only handle your rat if forced to?
How do the veterinary staff react to your pet too? Do they
play with him or are they standoffish? You need to feel confident
that should your pet need to be treated at the practice that
you’d feel happy leaving him there.
Ask the vet the following questions:
If you are comfortable with the vet, see how receptive they
are to new ideas. Luckily for us all of our vets are willing
to do research or look at information we’ve found on the internet
when something unusual crops up with one of our rats.
If you are unlucky to come across the small minority of vets
that have ego problems – ie they dismiss your ideas and suggestions
as they know best – then it would be best not to sue them unless
you are willing to stand up to them.
If you still don’t have any luck finding a vet you feel happy
with, then you can also ask around for a small-animal friendly
vet. Use online forums as these are always a good place to start
- many have a ‘Recommended Vets’ section - or contact a breeder
or a rescue near to you and see who they use.
Keep plugging at finding a vet – eventually you’ll find one
you like and trust. And hopefully, one you won’t have to use
very often.
