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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2012 19:15:04 GMT -5
Ok, some of you know that I am originally from BC, Canada, but I'm currently in Toronto with Rolo for school. So, Rolo has an awesome vet at home in BC, but currently no vet here and I want to pick one out and get his files transferred before any serious issues inevitably pop up... I don't have a car, so any vets will have to be accessible by transit - I am willing to travel up to an hour and a half one direction (on transit.) I'm looking at College Street Animal Hospital simply because it is close-ish. About 30minutes transit from me. Just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with this vet? Also, I'm just worried that they won't be that knowledgeable and push tons of testing as a money grab to play off fears of illness... example, for ferrets past 2 years old they push an exam + checkup every 6 months, annual bloodtests and ex-rays, and then for past 5 years of age, bloodtests and exrays every 6 months. So, I'm just curious, does anyone actually get x-rays done every 6 months? Is this something I am supposed to be doing? My vet at home just told me about the various illnesses to expect and to do as much research as possible (there was only so much he could cover) so that I'd be able to pick up on any problems myself and THEN we would do diagnostics.... Are there any other good ferret vets in the nearby vicinity that anyone knows of? Mostly I'm just worried that they are going to be pushing all sorts of things that I just can't afford. I'd like to take him in for a checkup and BG test in september - also just wondering if anything else useful (but not expensive) I should get done while I'm there. I'm also hoping they don't push vaccines either, since my BC vet told me absolutely no more after Rolo had to spend the day in an oxygen tank thingy. |
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Post by Sherry on Aug 16, 2012 19:20:38 GMT -5
No, no need to xray every 6 months. Granted, the theory is they will see things happening when they first start, but with ferrets illnesses seem to progress so quickly that an xray from 6 months ago is next to useless when you bring them in for something that has developed in the interim.
A single one used as a baseline would work just as well IMO.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 16, 2012 19:21:35 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2012 19:40:17 GMT -5
Thankyou I will check that! I've also found Riverdale Animal Hospital in case anyone has used them and has an opinion on them. There's also Blue Cross but it doesn't specifically say anywhere if they treat ferrets. Other than a physical checkup and BG test, is there anything else I should have screened? Ohhh! I think I found a good one! www.drmunn.ca/Greenwood_Park_Animal_Hospital/SERVICES.htmlwww.drmunn.ca/Greenwood_Park_Animal_Hospital/SERVICES_files/Exotic%20mammals%20brochure.pdfSimply because they specialize in small mammals inspires confidence... especially when it comes to surgical equipment if its ever needed. No luck - checked that list, the only one remotely close to me is almost a 2hour drive with no transit directions. www.drmunn.ca/Greenwood_Park_Animal_Hospital/CLINIC_PHOTO_BLOG.htmlPictures of rat surgery - I figure if they can safely sedate a rat, they should be able to do ferret right? They at least inspire more confidence than these other vets I've listed that have weird reviews from people who've been in with cats & dogs. I think I will call and book an exam in 2-3weeks when the rush of getting back into school routine is over. I'd do it now, but I'm stilly very busy with my internship and working pretty much every other day >.< |
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Post by Heather on Aug 16, 2012 21:27:08 GMT -5
Other than the physical I wouldn't go for anything else unless you suspect something's wrong. Ask a lot of questions, basically know what the general answers are. Discuss what you're comfortable with...what are the treatments for adrenal. What surgeries are they comfortable with...costs. They can be amazing but if you can't afford their services   See if they make you feel rushed. How they handle Rolo. Are you allowed to go with him where ever in the facility. I'm allowed in the surgery if it needs be. I will not allow them to take my ferret away. Some places will not allow you to accompany your ferret even for euthanasia. Poke about what their ideas are on natural diets. You have to be comfortable with your vet. ciao |
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 16, 2012 21:51:20 GMT -5
Why not give Ferretaid a call? I'm sure they know the best vets in the GTA area. If they don't response to your voice mail let me know as I have a few email addresses.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2012 8:56:37 GMT -5
Why not give Ferretaid a call? I'm sure they know the best vets in the GTA area. If they don't response to your voice mail let me know as I have a few email addresses. I have thought about this but I think the vet they use is in Mississauga and is too far away. I think I'm going to book an appointment/checkup with Greenwood within the month though, they seem good and they are very close to me. I'm not in a rush because it's just routine stuff... Rolo hasn't seen the vet since last summer so I figure it's about time. I would put off the checkup till christmas break so I can go to my regular vet at home, but I need to scope one out here in case of emergancy. |
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 18, 2012 9:38:27 GMT -5
Yes, I believe you are correct but they would probably know of other ferret knowledgable vets in the GTA area.
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Post by Heather on Aug 18, 2012 10:55:26 GMT -5
I know they knew of a knowledgeable vet in Hamilton for someone who was looking out that way. Their fostering system is quite far reaching.
ciao
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 18, 2012 21:36:41 GMT -5
Henrika,
I go this response from one of the volunteers at FerretAid:
We use Dr. Cormier at Secord Animal Hospital in Toronto but I know that he is not taking on new ferret clients.
Dr. Karen Regan at High Park Animal Hospital.
Dr. Munn at Greenwood Animal Hospital.
Willowdale Animal Hospital also treats ferrets. I have heard good feedback about them. They also have evening appointments. Don't know if they do adrenal surgeries tho'.
As with all vets, the client must question whether whatever tests are recommended will yield conclusive results especially if there are limited funds for treatment.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 5:42:23 GMT -5
Henrika I was just wondering what vet you chose and how was your experience . I also live in Toronto I was wondering aprox how much was a simple check up but I guess that depends on what you had checked I also think my guy will need vaccinated since he is only 8 months and we weren't able to get his history. But would love to know where you went
How much
What you had done thank you
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 23:27:50 GMT -5
Henrika I was just wondering what vet you chose and how was your experience . I also live in Toronto I was wondering aprox how much was a simple check up but I guess that depends on what you had checked I also think my guy will need vaccinated since he is only 8 months and we weren't able to get his history. But would love to know where you went How much What you had done thank you Unfortunately I had cause to go to the vet today, as Rolo has just developed adrenal disease. I went to Greenwood Animal Clinic - they are a small animal clinic, though they treat cats and dogs too. The vet was very good, she seemed very knowledgable - though disagreed with feeding Orijen over a "ferret" food, but honestly I'd never trust a vet's nutrition advice... I also really liked how they handled Rolo, they seemed very capable of getting him to cooperate without any fuss, and when they did the lupron injection they just brought out the ferretone and retrained him - though he didn't even seem to notice he'd gotten a needle in his butt, he was so fixated on getting every last drop of oil  The checkup was $81 - that is for at least half hour/perhaps longer thorough physical exam. I'd expect rabies and distemper to be $20 each, at minimum, and they usually need to be done separately. Since rabies is so rare, I'd honestly not bother with it and just get distemper. As far as I'm aware, there's no law regarding rabies vaccination of ferrets in Toronto, so really why bother when the risk is so low. The other thing about vaccinations, is to make sure you stay at the vet for 5-10minutes after the injections in case of a bad reaction. Way back when Rolo was 1year old he had his vaccinations done and within 5minutes he was vomiting, peed himself, and couldn't breathe and had to be kept on oxygen all day - I no longer vaccinate because of this. Also, make sure you have some time to spend, its a smaller clinic & often they don't have that many vets working and my appointment was 40mins late because the vet was dealing with an emergency situation (someones cat had a MASSIVE abscess that needed to be drained and would have killed her.) |
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