Post by huronna on Oct 25, 2008 8:17:54 GMT -5
Choosing Your Vet(s)
by Lily & Katrina
Finding good ferret Vets - Before you need them
One of the most frequently asked questions on the message board has been related to finding a good ferret experienced Veterinarian.
Many times a good ferret Vet was not established in advance to someone's ferret becoming ill or having an accident and the search for a good Vet happened at the last minute. Other times, the regular ferret Vet was away, or closed during a night time emergency and another Vet had to be found quickly. In many cases one needed to be found with emergency hours. We all know how scared and stressful it is when one of our ferrets suddenly becomes ill. Flipping through the phone book to find a Vet that can take care of our kiddos just adds to this stress and puts delays on getting the care they need. Our best advice to everyone is to try and line up not just one, but at least three Vets, now, in advance of any problems. That way, if an emergency situation arises, you will know exactly where to go with your ferrets for care and you will have one less thing to have to worry about.
Katrina and I decided to try and put together some ideas to help guide folks on how to locate good ferret Vets. We hope the following might aid in finding the Vet(s) that are right for you and your ferrets.
Try to establish:
A primary Vet
A backup Vet
A Vet with emergency hours
One more extra vet (you never know, these humans have vacations, emergencies, etc. too)
Finding your Vets
First, find out if you have a well respected local ferret shelter and/or ferret private breeder locally. (If you don't have one in your area skip to next section).
To do this, check the ferret boards on-line for shelter lists and listings - the AFA is a good place to try first for listings by state. We have a ferret shelter page here on MNFF. Check your phone book too or even try calling the local Humane Society or other animal rescues in your area and ask them if they know of a ferret shelter or breeder nearby. By local, I mean anything within driving distance. Many of us have driven hours to go to a Vet we trust with the ferrets. Obviously, you want to have them as close as possible to your home in case of an emergency, however it is better to have to drive a little to get better care - if need be. In the case of an emergency - say an accident - you will want to have a Vet close by as a backup if your primary Vet is a long drive away.
If you do find a ferret shelter/rescue/breeder in your area, call them. Ask them what Vet they use. Chances are your local shelters will have not one, but a few different Vets they will refer you to. The shelter operator will be able to tell you why they use these Vets and what they consider each Vet to be best at.
For example, we have a local breeder (former rescue) in my area. I wrote to them and asked for referrals to Vets. They gave me four names and described to me what each Vet is like, and what they feel is their area of specialty. For example, one of the Vets they referred me to was listed as being the best one to go to if an adrenal surgery was needed. Now they even have a listing on their web-site of Arizona Vets and whether or not they would go to them, and why. The shelter operator will let you know what types of experiences they have had with their Vets.
There is a good possibility that if you talk to your local shelter operator, you will not need to go further than that. They will probably have the answers you need to have good ferret Vets lined up and ready.
This is great for larger populated areas, but what if your nearest shelter is hundreds of miles away?
If you cannot find a respected ferret shelter or breeder in your area:
The next step would be to talk to your local friends who also have ferrets. Find out who they go to, and why. If you know folks in your area that you trust, and that have had ferrets for any length of time, chances are they will be able to refer you to at least one good ferret Vet. You may have online ferret friends in your area and not even know about them. Try asking on your ferret boards if anyone is in your area or if anyone knows of any ferret clubs in your area. Check the Ferret Vet listings on the ferret web-sites you frequent.
However, many of us find we really do not know many folks in our own areas that also have ferrets. Therefore, we move on to option three.
If there are no ferret shelters in your area, and you do not know anyone in your area with ferrets, we suggest you "Test" your Potential Vets.
There is nothing wrong with asking your potential Vet a few questions to determine whether or not they are experienced with ferrets. Keep in mind, that some terrific ferret Vets may not know everything, but what makes them good is that they are willing to learn, and will go the extra distance to find out the proper answers when it concerns your ferret's healthcare and also that they have a tremendous love for ferrets.
We have put together some basic questions that Vets who treat ferrets should be able to answer. These are only some examples and ideas - you may have others you come up with on your own to ensure you feel comfortable with your new Vet(s).
We suggest a "well ferret" get-acquainted check-up for your ferret(s) to check out a local vet. It will cost a little, but it gives you an opportunity to see how the vet works with your ferret(s) as well as an opportunity to ask some of the following questions (another thing to be checking is their prices for these services so you have an idea ahead of time):
What distemper vaccination do they give ferrets? (We recommend the Vet should be aware of Merial Purevax and use it.)
What treatment do they give to ferrets who have an adverse reaction to the distemper and/or rabies vaccine?
Does the Vet give the rabies and distemper vaccs at the same time or do they suggest you wait in between shots? (We normally recommend a waiting period in between).
What test does the Vet prefer for ADV testing and why?
How does the Vet diagnose adrenal and what treatment options do they give and when and why?
How many adrenal surgeries have they performed; are they familiar with cryo?
How do they determine if a ferret has insulinoma and what treatment options do they advise?
How do they determine if a ferret has lymphoma?
What treatment options do they recommend for ECE?
What symptoms do they feel determines if a ferret has an ulcer and how do they treat ulcers in ferrets?
Talk to them about general care of a ferret - ask them what they recommend for diet - how often they feel a ferret should be/or should not be bathed - ask about grooming.....maybe even ask what it is to have a ferret go into Dead Ferret Sleep.
Another idea is to ask the Vet if they know of any ferret clubs, shelters, or organizations in your area. You can even ask them if they have other patients that are ferrets in case you want to get your own club started.
You might ask your vet if they are on the internet . . . are they familiar with the Ferret Health List, etc., and what do they think of the ferret health articles on ferretcentral, or even offer to print one or two of the articles off for them regarding something you're concerned about "to get their opinion on them."
All these things or even a portion of them will aid you in determining if your Vet is right for you and your ferrets.
Important: Remember that "telling" the vet what you've learned on the internet is sometimes a "turn off." It's like going to your doctor and telling him he needs to treat patients like Dr. John Carter on ER (TV show) does . . . not a good tactic. So go about it in a way that doesn't sound condescending and hopefully if your Vet hasn't heard about what you learned, they will look into it and learn also.
When you have found your Vet(s) for your ferrets:
Remember, once you find a good primary Vet, chances are that Vet may be able to help refer you to a secondary Vet and an Emergency hour Vet/Clinic that is also right for you. It never hurts to have a list of as many possible good ferret Vets available in your area. Your Vet may be away on vacation or closed when you need them. Backups are a good idea to have. You could also provide phone numbers and contact information to your vet for special "ferret vets" such as shelter vets, Dr. Williams, etc., if they would like to have them.
Keep your Vet list right by your phone. This way, if you ever have an emergency, that will be one less thing to worry about finding and doing.
The care and feeding of a Ferret Vet:
It never hurts to take a surprise treat once in a while to the vet clinic -- a copy of a new article to ask about, or a snack like Popsicles for the staff from "Fuzzie the Ferret" on a hot day, fudge or cookies for some energy, snack munchies such as nuts, or any holiday treat. These vets are a wonderful resource -- treat them as special and important to you as they truly are.
We hope this has helped you a little and that everyone with ferrets who does has not yet established their Vets will do so.
Resources:
Dr. Williams' STAR data base of Vets US & Canada
Member Recommendations for Ferret Vets
by Lily & Katrina
Finding good ferret Vets - Before you need them
One of the most frequently asked questions on the message board has been related to finding a good ferret experienced Veterinarian.
Many times a good ferret Vet was not established in advance to someone's ferret becoming ill or having an accident and the search for a good Vet happened at the last minute. Other times, the regular ferret Vet was away, or closed during a night time emergency and another Vet had to be found quickly. In many cases one needed to be found with emergency hours. We all know how scared and stressful it is when one of our ferrets suddenly becomes ill. Flipping through the phone book to find a Vet that can take care of our kiddos just adds to this stress and puts delays on getting the care they need. Our best advice to everyone is to try and line up not just one, but at least three Vets, now, in advance of any problems. That way, if an emergency situation arises, you will know exactly where to go with your ferrets for care and you will have one less thing to have to worry about.
Katrina and I decided to try and put together some ideas to help guide folks on how to locate good ferret Vets. We hope the following might aid in finding the Vet(s) that are right for you and your ferrets.
Try to establish:
A primary Vet
A backup Vet
A Vet with emergency hours
One more extra vet (you never know, these humans have vacations, emergencies, etc. too)
Finding your Vets
First, find out if you have a well respected local ferret shelter and/or ferret private breeder locally. (If you don't have one in your area skip to next section).
To do this, check the ferret boards on-line for shelter lists and listings - the AFA is a good place to try first for listings by state. We have a ferret shelter page here on MNFF. Check your phone book too or even try calling the local Humane Society or other animal rescues in your area and ask them if they know of a ferret shelter or breeder nearby. By local, I mean anything within driving distance. Many of us have driven hours to go to a Vet we trust with the ferrets. Obviously, you want to have them as close as possible to your home in case of an emergency, however it is better to have to drive a little to get better care - if need be. In the case of an emergency - say an accident - you will want to have a Vet close by as a backup if your primary Vet is a long drive away.
If you do find a ferret shelter/rescue/breeder in your area, call them. Ask them what Vet they use. Chances are your local shelters will have not one, but a few different Vets they will refer you to. The shelter operator will be able to tell you why they use these Vets and what they consider each Vet to be best at.
For example, we have a local breeder (former rescue) in my area. I wrote to them and asked for referrals to Vets. They gave me four names and described to me what each Vet is like, and what they feel is their area of specialty. For example, one of the Vets they referred me to was listed as being the best one to go to if an adrenal surgery was needed. Now they even have a listing on their web-site of Arizona Vets and whether or not they would go to them, and why. The shelter operator will let you know what types of experiences they have had with their Vets.
There is a good possibility that if you talk to your local shelter operator, you will not need to go further than that. They will probably have the answers you need to have good ferret Vets lined up and ready.
This is great for larger populated areas, but what if your nearest shelter is hundreds of miles away?
If you cannot find a respected ferret shelter or breeder in your area:
The next step would be to talk to your local friends who also have ferrets. Find out who they go to, and why. If you know folks in your area that you trust, and that have had ferrets for any length of time, chances are they will be able to refer you to at least one good ferret Vet. You may have online ferret friends in your area and not even know about them. Try asking on your ferret boards if anyone is in your area or if anyone knows of any ferret clubs in your area. Check the Ferret Vet listings on the ferret web-sites you frequent.
However, many of us find we really do not know many folks in our own areas that also have ferrets. Therefore, we move on to option three.
If there are no ferret shelters in your area, and you do not know anyone in your area with ferrets, we suggest you "Test" your Potential Vets.
There is nothing wrong with asking your potential Vet a few questions to determine whether or not they are experienced with ferrets. Keep in mind, that some terrific ferret Vets may not know everything, but what makes them good is that they are willing to learn, and will go the extra distance to find out the proper answers when it concerns your ferret's healthcare and also that they have a tremendous love for ferrets.
We have put together some basic questions that Vets who treat ferrets should be able to answer. These are only some examples and ideas - you may have others you come up with on your own to ensure you feel comfortable with your new Vet(s).
We suggest a "well ferret" get-acquainted check-up for your ferret(s) to check out a local vet. It will cost a little, but it gives you an opportunity to see how the vet works with your ferret(s) as well as an opportunity to ask some of the following questions (another thing to be checking is their prices for these services so you have an idea ahead of time):
What distemper vaccination do they give ferrets? (We recommend the Vet should be aware of Merial Purevax and use it.)
What treatment do they give to ferrets who have an adverse reaction to the distemper and/or rabies vaccine?
Does the Vet give the rabies and distemper vaccs at the same time or do they suggest you wait in between shots? (We normally recommend a waiting period in between).
What test does the Vet prefer for ADV testing and why?
How does the Vet diagnose adrenal and what treatment options do they give and when and why?
How many adrenal surgeries have they performed; are they familiar with cryo?
How do they determine if a ferret has insulinoma and what treatment options do they advise?
How do they determine if a ferret has lymphoma?
What treatment options do they recommend for ECE?
What symptoms do they feel determines if a ferret has an ulcer and how do they treat ulcers in ferrets?
Talk to them about general care of a ferret - ask them what they recommend for diet - how often they feel a ferret should be/or should not be bathed - ask about grooming.....maybe even ask what it is to have a ferret go into Dead Ferret Sleep.
Another idea is to ask the Vet if they know of any ferret clubs, shelters, or organizations in your area. You can even ask them if they have other patients that are ferrets in case you want to get your own club started.
You might ask your vet if they are on the internet . . . are they familiar with the Ferret Health List, etc., and what do they think of the ferret health articles on ferretcentral, or even offer to print one or two of the articles off for them regarding something you're concerned about "to get their opinion on them."
All these things or even a portion of them will aid you in determining if your Vet is right for you and your ferrets.
Important: Remember that "telling" the vet what you've learned on the internet is sometimes a "turn off." It's like going to your doctor and telling him he needs to treat patients like Dr. John Carter on ER (TV show) does . . . not a good tactic. So go about it in a way that doesn't sound condescending and hopefully if your Vet hasn't heard about what you learned, they will look into it and learn also.
When you have found your Vet(s) for your ferrets:
Remember, once you find a good primary Vet, chances are that Vet may be able to help refer you to a secondary Vet and an Emergency hour Vet/Clinic that is also right for you. It never hurts to have a list of as many possible good ferret Vets available in your area. Your Vet may be away on vacation or closed when you need them. Backups are a good idea to have. You could also provide phone numbers and contact information to your vet for special "ferret vets" such as shelter vets, Dr. Williams, etc., if they would like to have them.
Keep your Vet list right by your phone. This way, if you ever have an emergency, that will be one less thing to worry about finding and doing.
The care and feeding of a Ferret Vet:
It never hurts to take a surprise treat once in a while to the vet clinic -- a copy of a new article to ask about, or a snack like Popsicles for the staff from "Fuzzie the Ferret" on a hot day, fudge or cookies for some energy, snack munchies such as nuts, or any holiday treat. These vets are a wonderful resource -- treat them as special and important to you as they truly are.
We hope this has helped you a little and that everyone with ferrets who does has not yet established their Vets will do so.
Resources:
Dr. Williams' STAR data base of Vets US & Canada
Member Recommendations for Ferret Vets
