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Barbering/overgrooming/normal. Is My Piggy Savvy Vet Really Piggy Savvy?

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AbiS

AbiS

Adult Guinea Pig
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When Toby & Barney had been living with me for a few months Barney got a cut on his face that I ended up taking him to a vet for - I just picked the closest vet to me (less than 5mins away) as I was not really aware of piggy savvy vets. Anyway, I wanted them to have a health check so decided to refer to TGPF vet locator and so took them to a vets 15minutes away. There was a named vet on the list so I made sure to take them to her. She checked them over and said they were very healthy but said that there was either some barbering or over-grooming going on as Toby had bald patches on the inside of his ankles on his front legs (not totally bald - just very short hair). It wasn't something I had ever really paid attention to. She didn't mention it with Barney but when I got home and was telling MrS about it, I had a look at Barney and realised he is just the same. This was back in April and I haven't thought about it much since then.

Just recently, I was looking through the Gorgeous Guineas website and they say that it is normal to have a bald patch there. I am now wondering how piggy savvy the vet is. Is it normal for them to be bald there? If so is that not something a piggy savvy vet should know? There is another vet who I know is most definitely piggy savvy about 40mins away. I am not sure if I should change or give the closer one a second chance. Problem is that the second chance will come when one of the boys is poorly and do I want to take that chance? Is this a vet that should be on the vet locator? What do you guys think?
 
Hi Abi, I think the vet your are referring to is at Durham. I asked for her to be put on the list because of her association with NEGPR & at their 5th anniversary do last year she did 2 talks on guinea pig health. I missed the first one but the second on diabetes was very informative. I know of other people who go there & think she's great. If is is DS she is also on NEGPR list of recommended vets. I think that the particular problem with your piggies isn't a big health problem & something probably most vets won't get asked about but if you're not happy then best to try the other vet 40 minutes ago which I think is probably the one I use if it's in Stockton. There is another excellent vet at Forest Hall, Newcastle. If you want her details, please pm me.
 
Thanks Stewy - it was the Forrest hall one that I was thinking of changing to. I am happy with your recommendation though - if you think she is good I will stick with there for now. She did seem to know what she was talking about - it was just that one little thing that stuck in my mind. I shall try to stop worrying!:nod:
 
All my piggies have had bald spots on their front paws like this, I always thought it was down to when they clean themselves, their paws get a lot of use lol :) Personally it wouldn't stop me using a vet, it's probably not something as obvious as the bald patches behind their ears & unless they have had piggies of their own they might not ever notice them :)
 
Oh dear you'll have to join the queue, mine see the vet at least once a week for one of them; yesterday it was a piece of dry skin on an ear; I thought it could be fungal so now I am £40 poorer & waiting for the results of a skin scrape for nothing hopefully lol :)
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Oh dear you'll have to join the queue, mine see the vet at least once a week for one of them; yesterday it was a piece of dry skin on an ear; I thought it could be fungal so now I am £40 poorer & waiting for the results of a skin scrape for nothing hopefully lol :)
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When MrS is poorly I tell him to take some painkillers, have a nap and quit whinging! However, it is action stations with full blown panic if I even suspect that there might be something slightly wrong with the piggles!
 
I took my 3 new girls to the vet on Monday because I thought one was pregnant. They're all just greedy little things, getting bigger. I've only had one vet free month since January last year.
 
All my piggies have this bald patch and i too thought it was normal lol Debbs Stafford is certainly highly recommended and did also do 2 fab talks at the NEGPR 5th Birthday. I wouldn't let the situation put you off but it may be worth trying Judith at Forest Hall as that is where most supporters of NEGPR go to and I've not heard anyone have any concerns :)
 
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