This is probably going to be an essay, but I want to try to address all your concerns the best I can to thank you all for taking the time to help me! I am not going to try to justify anything or tell you all vets are the best, we can improve, just as everyone else can! This is hopefully only the start!
Suzygpr - Dental problems are the bane of our lives and dependant on the pig it can be very difficult. I have already discussed Simon Maddock with our vets to try to get them to look into it more, as I will be doing myself. When I discussed xrays with my vets, they did say they had had abuse in the past from people who felt they were just trying to get money off clients, which then made them loathed to offer in future. I have explained your views on this and they have promised to try harder! We have had little experience with towel wrapping but after a demo with Haggis today they have promised to try in future if xrays are needed as a first option. The concern they had was getting them to stay still versus repeated xrays and the risks this poses to both the guinea pig but also to staff from repeated xray scatter exposure. We will try harder! I am working on a syringe feeding hand-out to go with all syringe feeds but will also be organising further staff training. We do have a slightly wider range of antibiotics - Haggis is on Septrin currently - but I will be researching others. Neutering is an interesting one, we do very little guinea pig neutering anyway but I will definately be making sure everyone knows that is the case as, unfortunately, the default is to assume they behave the same as rabbits! I am doing more reasearch on that myself at the moment (not because I don't believe you - but so I can give them the facts so there is no doubt!) and will be working on that. Frusemide doses are something I am working on too, they could be a lifesaver and must be looked at as it is not currently standard for us. I hope to tap your knowledge to the fullest extent!
Wiebke - There are problems with contacting specialists simply because it is difficult for a practice to always know WHO is best to get in touch with! We have, in the past, contacted a local 'exotics' practice only for me to find through here that you, as the owners and experts, don't particularly rate them! It is very difficult in these cases to know that what they are doing is not correct, but this site and this forum is a great research for those willing to look so I am trying to rectify this. The probiotic is one I am again researching to try to come up with solid proof to insist on the vets doing, again the problem in the past has been complaints over cost so they have been recommended but not insisted upon. I am thinking of pushing the importance of keeping the guts moving with my syringe feeding sheet if I can. We have a 24 hour surgery in case of emergency, but again, I really do see how important this is. It influences my own choice of vet!
first_time_piggie_mum - This is a massive problem for all pet owners, I do agree. I see both sides of the arguement on this. It is so difficult for pet owners to decide if they should pay these extra charges or not, but very difficult for the vets too. In our surgery, the vets working in the day have to do the on-call for the out of hours. The out-of-hours charge is partly to cover costs, you are correct, but partly to ensure that calls are actual emergencies. While most of us are sensible people, we regularly get calls from people saying they think their pet has fleas and needs to be seen immediately and similar - if there is no increase in charges out-of-hours the same clients would, time and time again, come in when suits them best, not taking into account the vets or nurses having to turn out to see them. There are also local practices not carrying out ANY out of hours service, or having services miles away, and these clients also may come to us out of hours, so the staff would get no sleep at all. Please understand, I am not saying this is right or what I want, but there is a lot to consider with these charges and it is a hard thing to decide as a practice manager. I have passed on the concerns with the other information as something people look at for their practice so thank you.
Connie - This is a problem I hear of a lot and depends more on your vet's personality than anything else! They should do this and I have been telling them just that today, just making sure they know how important it really is.
Liane - Again I agree with you, they should be listening at taking a full and balanced history. As for the handling, I think they all just need more practice! I have been trying to give handling lessons on various species at work and have found it really allows them to understand the animals more so it is a VERY good point.
Lil - I worry about this too. The problem we have with this is that there is only so much you can teach some people. The ones who want to know are here, are doing research and asking the questions. The ones we want to target, the people giving them poor care or not feeding them right etc are not the people bringing them to the vet when ill or getting them checked when they first get them or anything like that. I have looked at Guinea Pig Clinics for first time owners, but I don't think there would be much take-up. I will keep looking into it though! :p
Amanda1801 - I agree. The attitude is disgusting, but none of my vets would dare. I take on anything, small furries, reptiles, wildlife and love them as my own - they are all alive and deserve the same care and appreciation.
Pebble - Thank you for your reply - much appreciated. I am looking for up to date books to help us and looking for more cavie contacts for a start! The pro-active stance I have explained talking to Suzygpr - but you can obviously see both sides with your response. We need more clients like you - but also to be offering this additional care and I have discussed this with my vets again. We try to avoid the 'Baytril and resee in a week' attitude, but I think the main issue is that an increase in knowledge IS needed to help treat those symptoms and this I am working on. We do try to offer updates over the phone or by email if the vet does not need to see the piggie, but that is a concern, I do understand that. The costs of GA's and Xrays can seem high, but are often justified by the staff and amount of work and monitoring neededas well as equipment upkeep and xrays (NOT that I am saying you are querying that - just to try to be as transparent as possible) - this can seem like a huge pressure on some owners we know. Discussing information with forums can seem obvious, and is easy for me as a nurse, but can seem to come across as weakness for a vet. If you spotted your vet discussing your pets case on a forum would you continue to trust them? Not to mention client confidentiality? A difficult one to work on, but at least I can feedback
|) I am working on some continued professional development in house over the facts you mention, we don't have significant cavie deaths, don't get me wrong, but you can never stop improving. I am working on the specialist thing, but for now we just want to offer the best we can for the clients we have! And thank you :red
Little Pig - I am working on it - it it something so easy to overlook but needs to be done! I am hoping to do client handouts but also increase demonstrations to improve understanding. Your point about clients and other vets is also often the case and a situation that needs improving.
Winkie - Your right, there is not. It is just knowing WHO to go to and who to ask, something I am looking to improve so the avenues are opened wider!
Glynis - I can't help with making those in the know spread their knowledge more, but if I come up with any information sheets or similar I will be looking for feedback from you all and they can be spread wherever you may want them if they are good enough!
Basically, THANK YOU to all of you. Please keep thinking and posting and I will keep trying to improve things for our piggie masters! If you have any questions about my replies please do come back to me, communication is one of the most important things in the world
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