Advice On Vets In Birmingham Area.

[Bella123]

Hi,

I was wondering if any one has used the following vets in Birmingham for guinea pigs?

Vets for pets/ Pets at home - Chapal Lane, Selly Oak

White cross vets - Alcester Road South, Kings Heath,

Oaks Veterinary centre - Watford rd, near Cotteridge.

Pdsa - St matthews rd, Oldbury

Rspca - Frankley Green,

If you have, how good are they with guinea pigs, would you recommend them, what is it that they have been treated for at these vets and what was your outcome.

Thanks everyone

 

[sport_billy]

@alisont What vets do you use mate?

Will do some digging for you. There are several good vets around the Wolverhampton area.

 

[sport_billy]

What's the problem with your piggy?

 

[Bella123]

@alisont What vets do you use mate?

Will do some digging for you. There are several good vets around the Wolverhampton area.

Hiya
Thanks for the reply.
Just wanted to find out for future reference for my guinea pigs when they get sick.
I would like to use one of the vets I've mentioned. The nearer to my local area the better, which is selly oak, weoley castle.
Any experience with the vets I've listed would be great
Although it may be very helpful, Wolverhampton is a bit far from where I live, sorry for the inconvienience.

 

[sport_billy]

Hiya
Thanks for the reply.
Just wanted to find out for future reference for my guinea pigs when they get sick.
I would like to use one of the vets I've mentioned. The nearer to my local area the better, which is selly oak, weoley castle.
Any experience with the vets I've listed would be great
Although it may be very helpful, Wolverhampton is a bit far from where I live, sorry for the inconvienience.

I do understand, I have asked around for you. This one below used to get lots of positive reviews

Manor Vets Edgbaston
Marie Kubiak
371/373 Hagley Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham, B17 8DL
0121 4292829

We found our amazing vet by ringing around and asking questions. We were in need of a dental expert and luckily there was one a few miles away in Wombourne but before that we'd used several vets all of them poor in knowledge.

I would advise contacting the ones local to you asking them if they have a vet with experience of guinea pigss

 

[Bella123]

I'm glad you found a great vet for your guinea pigs. It nice when you find the right one.

I did make a few phone calls just recently, Manor vets consultation fees are the most expensive the others I mentioned are cheaper.
I just know that Manor Vets in Edgbaston is highly experienced with guinea pigs as they specialize in their vet care.
The others I spoke to on the phone like vets for pets selly oak, kings heath white cross vets, said they were experienced but because there not listed on this forum in the guinea pig vet locator, I don't know whether they would be any good, I just want to be sure that my piggys are going to be in safe hands.

Do you have any ideas on the sort of questions I could ask to get to know the experience of the vet?

 

[sport_billy]

I'm glad you found a great vet for your guinea pigs. It nice when you find the right one.

I did make a few phone calls just recently, Manor vets consultation fees are the most expensive the others I mentioned are cheaper.
I just know that Manor Vets in Edgbaston is highly experienced with guinea pigs as they specialize in their vet care.
The others I spoke to on the phone like vets for pets selly oak, kings heath white cross vets, said they were experienced but because there not listed on this forum in the guinea pig vet locator, I don't know whether they would be any good, I just want to be sure that my piggys are going to be in safe hands.

Do you have any ideas on the sort of questions I could ask to get to know the experience of the vet?

The reason they aren't on the locator is because no one has recommended them yet unfortunately. That's the thing with vets you never know till you go there... the locator has been built on word of mouth and recommendations, there will be lots of excellent vets out there we have never heard of

I would ask if they are willing to treat off license if needed such as prescribe Septrin for a Urine infection etc.... many antibiotics while safe are not licenced in the UK for use of pigs, lots of vets will only prescribe baytril while an excellent antibiotic for some bacterial infections others are needed occasionally. Maybe enqiuire if they have any experience of dental work on piggies/

 

[Bella123]

The reason they aren't on the locator is because no one has recommended them yet unfortunately. That's the thing with vets you never know till you go there... the locator has been built on word of mouth and recommendations, there will be lots of excellent vets out there we have never heard of

I would ask if they are willing to treat off license if needed such as prescribe Septrin for a Urine infection etc.... many antibiotics while safe are not licenced in the UK for use of pigs, lots of vets will only prescribe baytril while an excellent antibiotic for some bacterial infections others are needed occasionally. Maybe enqiuire if they have any experience of dental work on piggies/

Will do, thanks!

 

[sport_billy]

@Bella123 My bad... @furryfriends (TEAS) had already told me the vet at Manor has left so scrap that one.... sorry

 

[sophadopha97]

I use Vets4Pets Shelfield - it's over the other side of Birmingham to yourself but they're absolutely brilliant.

I did have a look a couple of years back when one of my old piggies had an abscess after neutering and Manor Vets wanted £90 just to bring over my details from my current vet. It seemed absolutely extortionate.

Vets4Pets Shelfield deal with all the piggies in RSPCA Walsall care so they're used to different situations :-)

 

[Bella123]

I use Vets4Pets Shelfield - it's over the other side of Birmingham to yourself but they're absolutely brilliant.

I did have a look a couple of years back when one of my old piggies had an abscess after neutering and Manor Vets wanted £90 just to bring over my details from my current vet. It seemed absolutely extortionate.

Vets4Pets Shelfield deal with all the piggies in RSPCA Walsall care so they're used to different situations :-)

Thanks for that info, I might look into vets4pets, I have already had my piggys nails cut with the nurse there and they were very good. So it's reassuring to know this about another branch.

 

[sport_billy]

I use Vets4Pets Shelfield - it's over the other side of Birmingham to yourself but they're absolutely brilliant.

I did have a look a couple of years back when one of my old piggies had an abscess after neutering and Manor Vets wanted £90 just to bring over my details from my current vet. It seemed absolutely extortionate.

Vets4Pets Shelfield deal with all the piggies in RSPCA Walsall care so they're used to different situations :-)

They also saved Megan's life a pig we adopted from Walsall who had horrendous neglect injuries. They are a very good branch and as mention above look after all of the Walsall RSPCA piggies

 

[alisont]

@alisont What vets do you use mate?

Will do some digging for you. There are several good vets around the Wolverhampton area.

I use Clent Hills vets in Hagley village Stephanie there is very piggy savvy and has a keen interest in guineas. I have also heard very good reviews of Marie who was at Manor vets but think she has moved - possibly to a vets in Lye near Stourbridge - I'll try to find out.

If serious dental issues I'd consider getting to Simon Maddock at the cat and rabbit clinic in Northampton.

 

[Tim]

I use Clent Hills vets in Hagley village Stephanie there is very piggy savvy and has a keen interest in guineas. I have also heard very good reviews of Marie who was at Manor vets but think she has moved - possibly to a vets in Lye near Stourbridge - I'll try to find out.

If serious dental issues I'd consider getting to Simon Maddock at the cat and rabbit clinic in Northampton.

I'm sure she works at Black Vets in Stourbridge

 

[Lady Kelly]

Thanks for that info, I might look into vets4pets, I have already had my piggys nails cut with the nurse there and they were very good. So it's reassuring to know this about another branch.

Its difficult with a franchise like vets4pets as the quality comes from the vet and not the branding. I use a vets4pets in Leicester and the staff at this particular branch are fairly knowledgeable (and knowledgeable enough to say when the piggy needs to see a specialist vet). The good thing about vets4pets is that they tend to have staff profiles on their websites and you can see what experience levels different people have. On the page for the one I use it shows that one has a qualification in small animal surgery while another 3 have an interest in small animal medicine. Not the same as a very qualified small animal/exotics specialist but a very good starting point. I use these as my general vet, first port of call, fairly simple issues and times I'm not massively concerned. I have also got two specialists (more expensive) within a 30 min drive which I will go to for more complex issues and usually at the recommendation of my usual vets. I have also used the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton for dental work previously, its an hour drive for me but knowing the specialism is there to treat without anaesthetic is reassuring.

I would personally recommend finding a good general vet locally and also having a specialist in mind you can go to if things get really bad

 

[Bella123]

Its difficult with a franchise like vets4pets as the quality comes from the vet and not the branding. I use a vets4pets in Leicester and the staff at this particular branch are fairly knowledgeable (and knowledgeable enough to say when the piggy needs to see a specialist vet). The good thing about vets4pets is that they tend to have staff profiles on their websites and you can see what experience levels different people have. On the page for the one I use it shows that one has a qualification in small animal surgery while another 3 have an interest in small animal medicine. Not the same as a very qualified small animal/exotics specialist but a very good starting point. I use these as my general vet, first port of call, fairly simple issues and times I'm not massively concerned. I have also got two specialists (more expensive) within a 30 min drive which I will go to for more complex issues and usually at the recommendation of my usual vets. I have also used the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton for dental work previously, its an hour drive for me but knowing the specialism is there to treat without anaesthetic is reassuring.

I would personally recommend finding a good general vet locally and also having a specialist in mind you can go to if things get really bad

This is definately something I'll will be looking into, and yes I do agree the quality of service is all dependent on the staff which is there at the time.

 

[alisont]

Found Marie she works Wednesdays at Blacks vets in Lye.

Mrs Marie Kubiak - Blacks Vets

 

[Tim]

Found Marie she works Wednesdays at Blacks vets in Lye.

Mrs Marie Kubiak - Blacks Vets

I was nearly right!

 

[Bella123]

@alisont I'm thinking about using Clent Hills Vets in Hagley in the future for more serious issues.

I read in another post that you recommend Rod Stroud.
Do you know how much consultation fees to see him are?
How much are they to see Stephanie? How good are Rod and Stephanie as vets?
Would you recommend them for something serious like a spay?

Sorry for all the questions, just thought it might be helpful for others too.

 

[alisont]

Bella please ask away any questions I'll try to check in to look for posts.
Rod Stroud is a great vet - I've known him for years and he worked wonders with my dog and also worked well with a dental rabbit of mine who lived until 15 and had kidney cancer eventually.
Rod is confident and will research for further information.
Rod told me to start seeing Stephanie Greenwood as she is a very rodent savvy vet she has grownup with small furries and is very enthusiastic, friendly and I liked how she handles/talks to the animals, she genuinely cares for them.
Price wise you'd need to ring them, think it's £16 something for a small animal consultation. Friends say it's more expensive than some but I've not had any animals have surgery apart from when I had my dog - his two lots of surgery worked out at several thousand but the insurance luckily covered it.
I'm happy to take the animals there and bonus is it is 5 minutes away.
I'd be happy for Stephanie or Rod to neuter Chester my single boar guinea pig - but hoping to find a baby boar to bond him with via a rescue.