What makes a good GP Vet?

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ninz

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So I have two options for vets.

Either I go to CJ Halls Vet where I also take my budgies. They look at birds, lizards, snakes, rabbits, guinea pigs etc.

I can also go to Anne Taylor, she was mentioned on the Guiinea Lynx vet list.

Both are really good...

On the forum, many people mention how they do not want their guinea pigs to have GA. Some vets do it and others don't, so I asked my vets (CJ Hall about it). This is what they replied...

Dear Nina,

Thank you for your email. Firstly we believe in offering our patients the best possible care there is available. As a result we do not believe in clipping rodent or rabbit teeth as this can cause permanent damage by fracturing the teeth and leading to subsequent problems. We burr the teeth here using dental burrs. Molar burring thus needs to be done under anaesthia as there is no way this can be done effectively conscious. Again if attempted conscious it can either cause injury and/or a poor 'job' will be achieved. If you would like to arrange a dental check and discuss treatment further then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely, CJHall Vets

What do you all think? I do not have any experience with guinea pigs so I have no idea what to expect.

When is a GA not reccommended?
 
AFAIK Simon does burrs without GA, but Furry Friends or Suzy will confirm!
 
I personally don't agree with doing dentals with out GA... Unless absolutely necessary...
Think about the stress cause by being full concious and being gagged and having your teeth filed... That's an extremely stressful thing to go through...
As long as a vet does anistetics with gas instead of injection I see no issue... Gas is nearly 100% safe on a healthy guinea pig...

All the dentals that have been done on my animals they are all knocked out for and I have never had any issues... A friend of mine who has had LODES of dentals done and she has never had any issues with an dental under anistetic... And I trust her judgement 100%...

I would be happy with the vets response...
x
 
I initially designed my medication pockets for a lady whose elderly guinea pig needed regular dental burring on the molars. She had been trained by Vedra to do the dental work herself without GA but needed restraining help. (The piggy got very stressed when towel wrapped)

It would require further training for your vet to do the burring without GA if they are not fully trained rodentologists. If you can find one who will do this without GA then please use them. Your vet is correct about the benefits of not clipping the teeth (I think) so the answer was the best you can expect from them and they obviously have your piggy's best interests at heart. Without the further training they might make a poor job of the teeth without GA.
 
Thanks everyone.

My vets (CJ Halls) is excellent. I trust them with my budgies and my vet will actually sit down and explain everything to me. I once went in there with so many questions and he was so patient with me, explaining and even asking if I would like to ask more.
However, they may be brilliant with birds but I was not so sure about guinea pigs. It makes sense that if they are not experts in guinea pigs then doing something without GA would cause stress for the animal and perhaps accidents and mistakes.

Here is another vet called

Anne O'Meara BVetMed MRCVS

Anne qualified from the RVC in London in 1984 and started her career at the RSPCA Harmsworth hospital. She has been at the Ewell surgery since 1994 and has become widely recognised as an expert in guinea-pigs, with pet owners travelling from all over the UK to see her. Anne spends most of her free time exercising her horse, Crispin, and walking her rescue dog Lexie.

I think she does things without GA. Would it be better to go see her?

I am thinking that soon as I get my guinea pigs, I should go get a health check just so that I know from the very start that everything is ok. Also, it will give me a chance to ask her as many questions as I have. I know this forum is brilliant with so many knowledgeable people but it would definately reassure me if a vet was to say the same.

Just hope the prices aren't as expensive! £50 for just a health check for budgies... wonder if its the same for guinea pigs hmmm
 
Anne O'Meara IS Anne Taylor - she got married! And is now O'Meara.

She sees all mine, she does use GA's to do anything they are needed for, when Noodles had a bladder stone just right at the entrance to her lady bits she gave her a tiny whiff of gas to put her under enough to get it out without distressing her. However she is not one to slice and dice without cause, and every op and procedure we have done we have talked through carefully. She x-rayed my Whisks without GA twice.
 
LOL I was wondering why I was given two names....

Sounds like I will be in touch with her soon :) I just want someone who knows what they are doing and if they don't... then to be able to get a second opinion off someone who does know.
 
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