Veterinarian and Veterinary Dentist Recommendations

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mooser

Post   » Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:10 am


IL
Elmwood Park

Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital/ Midwest Emergency Animal Hospital

All of the vets here are very competent and used to seeing pigs on a regular basis. They have done a toe amputation, mass removal, many xrays and blood tests, and euthanasia for me. They also carry Oxbow products incl. Critical care. They also now have emergency services available, and when I leave pigs there overnight I can have these emergency vets check on my pigs often, and call for updates at any time during the night if I want. It's more expensive, though.

7510 W. North Av.
Elmwood Park, IL 708.453.8181
http://www.midwestexotichospital.com

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:03 pm


****Thanks.

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mooser

Post   » Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:00 pm


IL
Skokie

Animal 911 Emergency Clinic

I brought a pig in once, one of the vets gave subcues, AB's, Critical Care. This is also a normal exotics vet by day, but I haven't been during the day, only during emergency hours.

3735 W. Dempster St. Skokie, IL 60076
(847)673-9110 (emergency)
(847)329-8709 (normal hours)
http://www.exoticpetvet.com/

Pigginess
You are my sunshine

Post   » Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:31 am


California
Los Angeles area

Dr. Frank Lavac
Dr. Michelle Jack
Wilshire Animal Hospital
2421 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 828-4587

Over 8 years ago Dr. Lavac did an emergency spay on Brigitte. She had cystic ovaries and a large tumor on her cervix. He also removed fatty lipomas from Stanley a year and a half ago and has done several other surgeries for my critters. Over the years he has also treated my guinea pigs for numerous ailments.

He’s a remarkable diagnostician, skilled surgeon, and I genuinely like and respect him as a person. His vet techs and staff are great too. He has often called me in the evening to see how my animal is doing. I know he genuinely cares about their well being.

I originally saw Dr. Lavac about 15 years ago with my first bunny rabbit. We have a long history and I trust him implicitly.

I’ve only had one experience with Dr. Jack who recently did a difficult surgery on Stanley. She was knowledgeable, compassionate, and did everything possible. I think she’s great and wouldn't hesitate to trust her with my guinea pigs.

theWB4

Post   » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:04 am


CONNECTICUT


Barbara Mangold, DVM
Amanda Cronin, DVM
Clare Fahy, DVM
South Wilton Veterinary Group
51 Danbury Road
Wilton, CT 06897

Phone Number: (203) 762-2002
Web site: http://www.southwiltonvet.com

Personal experience: Dr. Mangold and Dr. Cronin are fantastic guinea pig vets. Super knowledgeable, they clearly have an appreciation for guinea pigs' spirit and delicate physiology -- and how hopelessly enslaved their humans are. They are compassionate, efficient without being rushed, open-minded, patient with lots of questions, elaborative with their answers, and able to put humans immediately at ease. Both will spend a more than adequate amount of time with you, reviewing x-rays in detail, explaining procedures and surgeries, and detailing lab results. Dr. Cronin just joined the practice in August 2006 (I don't know where she was before), but I can't say enough good things about her bedside manner with both guinea pigs and humans. The entire staff is completely fantastic -- warm-hearted, compassionate, accommodating.

Probably the best way I can state my recommendation is this: They're so good that I'm willing to drive 30-45 minutes on one of the worst highways in the Northeast just so my guinea pigs can be treated by them.

TwoWhitePiggies

Post   » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:59 am


KANSAS
Manhattan

Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine - Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Kansas State University Campus
Manhattan, Kansas 66506
785-532-5690
http://www.vet.k-state.edu/depts/VMTH/small/index.htm (this link provides all hours, maps, directions, updated lists of faculty and staff, fees, etc.)

Even if you do not live in the immediate vicinity of Manhattan, it is worth the drive if your cavy is experiencing an emergency. K-State's animal care facilities are state of the art, and several exotics experts as well as interns are availble 24 hours a day for routine care and emergencies. They have a full radiology department, staff to monitor the well-being of admitted patients around the clock, and a room dedicated to rodents recovering from inpatient procedures. They have the ability to chemo, radiation therapy, and other forms of treatment. They do not hesitate to consult with specialists from around the country to determine the best line of care for their patients.

We found that it was more expensive than our regular vet (Gilbert's bladderstone removal cost $800, as apposed to $300 with our regular vet), but the difference is that it included two nights of monitoring and care, digital x-rays, a team of specialists, more culturing, bloodwork, and specialized treatment than our local vet could possibly provide.

Also be prepared for the amount of time it can take to finish a visit. Each time we've taken a pig in, the procedure has been:
1. We're taken to a private waiting area and a fourth-year vet student visits with us to gather information.
2. The patient is taken to a formal examining room where he/she is examined by the vet and the vet student.
3. The vet and student come back to the private waiting room to explain their initial impressions and how they wish to proceed (x-rays, bloodwork, etc.)
4. Expect to wait a couple of hours for the tests to be done. In each instance, I was encouraged to explore the city (I was given directions to places to eat or shop) and was called on my cell phone when they were ready for me to come back.

Don't be surprised if your cavies receive extra care at no cost. The day we brought all three of our pigs in (since two were being treated), a team of opthomology students were trying to find "cool things to look at," so all three of our boys received eye exams.

The entire staff proved to be extremely good with our cavies. Our boys are normally shy with strangers, but they left the safety of their pigloos to shower our internist, Dr. Swenson, with kisses. The staff takes a very personal interest in the well-being of their patients. I get e-mails from Dr. Swenson, checking up on Gilbert and requesting photos of him.

User avatar
LAWomans
"Live Long and Prosper"

Post   » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:12 pm


Dr. Sari Kanfer
135 W. Foothill Bl.
Monrovia, CA 91016
626-303-7881

Although Dr. Kanfer is known in the area as a rabbit specialist, she also treats Cavies and is very knowledgeable. I spoke with her at length at one of her talks and found out that she has a real interest in Cavies. She told me she wants to learn as much as she can about Cavies and especially the heart pig situation. She asked if Mum could meet with her to share her knowledge and heart x-rays. She listens to clients, is open to suggestions and has visited Guinea Lynx many times and was very impressed with it.

Dr. Kanfer trained under the same dental vet as Dr. Lyon and is able to take good dental x-rays without anesthetic. She is an excellent dentist and surgeon and really cares about the animals. She is also one of the first vets in the area to give pain meds to exotics.

Dr. Kanfer gives a free first exam to any rescued animal, whether it comes from a shelter or not, as well as spays and neuters at half price for rescues. She gives all rescues a 15% discount on other services.

Her passion is working with rescues and treating exotics.

I have personally used Dr. Kanfer for the 6 years she has been in the area and have found her very competent, compassionate and caring. She wants to learn everything she can about Cavies and goes to seminars and researches constantly.

She is very accessible and will give out her cell number in certain situations. She will call you back and sometimes do emergency visits. I have actually taken a rabbit to her home for treatment.

She owns 2 Cavies (one is a female with malocclusion that she spayed), 9 rabbits and Greyhound. All of these are animals that came into her clinic and were going to be euthanized because their owners either did not want them or could not afford to care for them.

I do not give recommendations lightly, but I do highly recommend Dr. Kanfer.

Erin8607
Knee Deep

Post   » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:32 pm


OHIO
Medina

Dr. Steven Faust/ Dr. Rob Nathan
2159 Sharon-Copley Rd.
Medina, Ohio 44256
330-239-1115

Dr. Faust has been wonderful. I've used him since 2001 but had to go somewhere else for two years when he moved to his own clinic. He's finally back to my piggies as of September first! Woohoo

(On my pigs only)He's done about 10 successful neuters, 4 successful spays, done abscess work, removed tumors, removed an eye, treated URI's, treated mites.

Dr. Nathan is also wonderful there. I've not seen him for much, but I put just as much faith in his work as I do Dr. Faust.

User avatar
sahara_beara

Post   » Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:26 pm


OREGON

North Portland Veterinary Hospital
3000 N Lombard
Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Weinstein is one of the best exotic specialists I've visited. They also have x-ray machines available for small animals.

I've been to Dr. Ramsell and Dr. Burgess at Southwest Animal Clinic in Beaverton, and they've misdiagnosed my guinea pigs before. Southwest Animal Clinic doesn't have x-ray machines, which can make it hard to diagnose internal problems or teeth issues.

User avatar
molly mc

Post   » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:34 pm


AUBURN, ALABAMA VETERINARIAN

East Alabama/West Georgia Area:

Name: Carol Houston
Address: 2514 South College Street
City: Auburn, AL 36832
Phone Number: 334.826.5100

Personal experience: My pig was extremely ill with blood in stool and completely dehydrated, he recovered in about 3 days with Dr. Houston's help. She is very dedicated and passionate about animals and takes them in immediately. Prices are very reasonable.

User avatar
Mum
I GAVE, dammit!

Post   » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:38 pm


My pig was extremely ill with blood in stool and completely dehydrated, he recovered in about 3 days
Wow - it's unusual for a pig to recover from this. Perhaps you'd like to start a thread in the medical forum with the details. I'd be interested in hearing the diagnosis and treatment.

User avatar
mkkayla
Supporter in '14

Post   » Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:15 pm


TENNESSEE

Memphis/Bartlett

Dr. Barbara Booth at (don't kill me) a Banfield Pet Hospital
2805 Wolfcreek Parkway
Memphis, TN 38133
(901) 266 5044

I've used Dr. Booth for years when she was with Dr. Pope. She just recently moved to this Banfield location. I trust her with general care of my girls even though I HATE the idea of walking through Petsmart to get to her. Just make sure you see her, another vet is supposed to be added and I highly doubt she'll know anything about cavies.

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