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Kellykels

Kellykels

Adult Guinea Pig
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I was thinking of taking the boys for a check over this weekend.
The question is should I take then to a Cavy vet or a normal vet.
I live in Ellesmere Port and seems the nearest Cavy vet is in Runcorn. Does anyone know of a closer vet or someone good around the Wirral/Chester/Cheshire area?
 
I would take them to a vet who's in the know regarding guinea pigs. Did you use the link to find your nearest? I have a vets up the road but chose (on advise from others here) to go to a vet that has knowledge of dealing with guinea pigs. It's quite a drive but I don't mind.
 
If you have a specific problem then certainly a cavy savvy vet would be a good idea. However, if it is just for a general health check then it may be worth contacting the local vet and seeing if they have a general vet who has some experience with piggies. At my local vet each individual seems to have their preferred area of interest whether it be equine/ small animal etc. and they are fine to deal with day to day issues (I always run any treatment suggested past this forum just to make sure!). Whilst it is great to have a specialist available to you if you have problems I do think there is a lot to be said for being in easy reach of a vet in case of an emergency or ongoing treatment - what if you needed to visit 2 or 3 times a week and the vet was an hour or more away? My plan is to stick with my current general vet but when I feel that they aren't able to offer more specialist advice, I already have a vet further afield in mind that I would contact if needed. Others may disagree of course!
 
It really depends on the experience of the general vet. I use a general vet but they are experienced with small animals. My old general vet... Well I wouldn't waste my time or money on even a check up with them considering they have to sit on their tablet looking everything up.
 
Lady Kelly said:
It really depends on the experience of the general vet. I use a general vet but they are experienced with small animals. My old general vet... Well I wouldn't waste my time or money on even a check up with them considering they have to sit on their tablet looking everything up.
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Yes that's a concern for me. My fiance doesn't want to travel too far for check ups because he's the one driving.
 
Kellykels said:
Yes that's a concern for me. My fiance doesn't want to travel too far for check ups because he's the one driving.
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I can understand that especially if it's not to deal with illness. I'm trying to think who might know that area... @VickiA possibly (my memory when it comes to who is based where completely fails me).
 
Kellykels said:
That's brilliant if they're good. I want to do what's best for the boys. I just have to persuade my partner to travel further afield so if this is a good vet that'd be great.
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The person couldn't give name of a vet there but maybe worth a ring to see if they have anyone knowledgeable with piggies there, if i get any other recommendations will pop them on this thread
 
Kellykels said:
Thank you :)
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I'm seeing a vet named Adam. I asked the receptionist if the vets are good with Guinea pigs. She said they're good with all small animals...so I don't think she quite understood, but I'll give them a go. See what happens if I'm not happy how they handle the kids I wont go there.
 
I'll go to a Cavy vet if the issue is concerning bloat or Uti's or any common/bad Guinea pig issues.
 
Kellykels said:
I'll go to a Cavy vet if the issue is concerning bloat or Uti's or any common/bad Guinea pig issues.
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See what the vets are like, if they are fairly knowledgeable and good with your boys then stick with them. A good local vet will know when something falls outside of their skill set and should be referring you on to a specialist at that point. As an example my Donald had a chin abscess in November, my vets prepped him for surgery but on second examination refused to operate as it was between two major blood vessels and they weren't confident they could remove it all. I picked him up and we were referred to a specialist who managed the operation with no problems. That's why I am always happy to see my vet first (and they are a damn sight cheaper too!)
 
Lady Kelly said:
See what the vets are like, if they are fairly knowledgeable and good with your boys then stick with them. A good local vet will know when something falls outside of their skill set and should be referring you on to a specialist at that point. As an example my Donald had a chin abscess in November, my vets prepped him for surgery but on second examination refused to operate as it was between two major blood vessels and they weren't confident they could remove it all. I picked him up and we were referred to a specialist who managed the operation with no problems. That's why I am always happy to see my vet first (and they are a damn sight cheaper too!)
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Yes. I think I'll stick to the advice you've all given. I'm also looking into insurance. Does it cover all vet bills or just big ones?
 
Kellykels said:
Yes. I think I'll stick to the advice you've all given. I'm also looking into insurance. Does it cover all vet bills or just big ones?
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It should tell you in the policy wording. There is usually an excess of £50-60 so for a lot of minor things you wouldn't be covered (eg my latest ringworm appointment with meds cost £68 so only £8 would be paid back). However its per condition so if I had the insurance and had to take him back for the same problem and spend another £68 then the whole amount of that trip would be covered. Costs can escalate, I've never had insurance and always put some money aside but then with four piggies the insurance cost starts to add up. If you end up with an unknown condition that results in scans, x-rays, meds and an operation it can be a lifesaver
 
Kellykels said:
Yes its only two piggies and it's nearly 300 pound per year.
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Yet for Donald's abscess it cost me £300 (including all visits and operation) and now £68 for ringworm. When my late bumble was messy they couldn't figure out what was wrong with her, numerous visits, scans, x-rays and antibiotics which I think came to around £200 then paid the same again for a scan and x-ray at the specialist and she ended up on pain relief for the rest of her life so in that instance it would have been good to have it.

Insurance is a posh word for gambling. It's like the insurance company are saying "I bet you £300 that you don't need it". They assess the odds and charge you, if you lose they gain £300 and if they lose they could lose double that or more. It's a difficult one to weigh up whether you desperately need it or not
 
Hi,
I know this is an old thread but I am Wirral/Cheshire and have just got a pair of guinea pigs after a long time without them and would like to add that:
Littlecroft Vets in Ellesemere port (mentioned above) is very good I have not been with a GP however the staff have a variety of pets themselves and have always been friendly and reasonably priced.
In addition to this Aardvark vets particularly Peter are brilliant He has always been gentle and compassionate with the guinea pigs and hamsters and they have had Xrays for stones given the appropriate piggy medicine, Malaseb/baytril/metacam/ivormectin etc. :)
 
I would definitely make sure whatever vet you see has recent experience with guinea pigs. You may have small animal specific vets where you are, in my part of the world they are generally termed 'exotic vets.' Yes, guinea pigs are exotic, apparently! Honestly, I think it's a great idea to find a vet with guinea pig experience now when there is no crisis. I drive about 40 minutes to our vet... he's well worth the drive. Previous to finding him, I lost a piggie to a bad dental abscess with a general vet who didn't know a whole lot about guinea pigs... at the time I was a new owner and didn't really know what the standard treatment should be, but I didn't have an area vet until an emergency came up. I really regret that experience because my piggie might have recovered with a more experienced vet.
 
To update: I take my boys to Little Croft for general stuff but Adam referred us to Birch Heath vets in Tarporley when Stripe's stone problem became apparent because they are more specialist and 'cavy savvy'.
I lost my boy, but Katy was very good and Adam I always trust him with my boys.
 
Kellykels said:
To update: I take my boys to Little Croft for general stuff but Adam referred us to Birch Heath vets in Tarporley when Stripe's stone problem became apparent because they are more specialist and 'cavy savvy'.
I lost my boy, but Katy was very good and Adam I always trust him with my boys.
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Sorry you lost your boy but it's always good to have vets that you trust. I use a general vet and there's a lot to be said when you find a good one that is interested in piggies and quick to suggest a referral when they know it's outside their expertise. This is exactly what my vets does and it helps keep the vet bills down for the more common problems. Are these vets on our vet locator? We could add them if not
 
Freela said:
I would definitely make sure whatever vet you see has recent experience with guinea pigs. You may have small animal specific vets where you are, in my part of the world they are generally termed 'exotic vets.' Yes, guinea pigs are exotic, apparently! Honestly, I think it's a great idea to find a vet with guinea pig experience now when there is no crisis. I drive about 40 minutes to our vet... he's well worth the drive. Previous to finding him, I lost a piggie to a bad dental abscess with a general vet who didn't know a whole lot about guinea pigs... at the time I was a new owner and didn't really know what the standard treatment should be, but I didn't have an area vet until an emergency came up. I really regret that experience because my piggie might have recovered with a more experienced vet.
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Hindsight is a difficult thing. You did what you could and that experience if nothing else has been educating. I felt the same way with Stripe.
 
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