Are vets trusted or not?

[equus_peduus]

It seems to me that people here tend to be somewhat ambiguous when it comes to veterinarians.

On the one hand, whenever someone makes a post where a chinchilla obviously needs medical attention (and even in less serious cases), everyone screams, "go to the vet! Don't wait!" People often make a point about how you should have money put aside to go to the vet, how people without money shouldn't have pets, how not having looked for a vet that will see your chinchilla in or out of an emergency is a horrible thing. People talk about how only the veterinarian can tell what's wrong, and how only vets are qualified to decide treatments, drugs, etc.

Yet on the other hand, it seems to me that people are deeply distrustful of veterinarians as a whole. I see many posts in which someone says something like, "what was your vet thinking, prescribing that?" or "your vet must not know anything about chinchillas if they didn't know this" or even people making posts asking if their veterinarian's recommendations are "right." I also see many people making recommendations as to various drugs to be prescribed (don't ever get x, always get y) when some of these other drugs may not be appropriate for a given situation. I see people making recommendations as to treatments. Some even tell us what the vet should say.

I don't get it. On the one hand, people are saying to go to the vet, and on the other, people are saying that the vets don't know anything anyway so not to listen to what they say. Why recommend taking an animal to the vet if you're just going to turn around and say that they don't know anything?

Someone explain this to me. As a future veterinarian, I want to know why it is that people don't seem to trust veterinarians, even when they're recommending that people take their animals to the vet.

[tunes]

First, it depends on the vet. Does the vet actually have ANY experience with chinchillas? I know I've talked to several vets and I've asked "Have you ever seen a chinchilla?" The answer is almost always "Oh SURE I have!" Then, when I question further as to how many, I've gotten answers anywhere from one to whatever. I think a vet who has seen one chinchilla probably doesn't know as much as one who has seen many more.

Second - Every vet out there seems to think that Baytril is THE cure all for all chinchilla ailments. Got a UTI? Give 'em Baytril. Got a cold? Give 'em Baytril. Got an intestinal infection? Give 'em Baytril. Baytril is incredibly hard on chinchillas and I think you'll find that "most" people who recommend something as far as drugs go recommend staying away from it. I have a vet who is experienced with chinchillas and almost all other variety of "pocket pets." I also have access to a vet who breeds chinchillas. Neither of them have recommended Baytril. One of them stated he'd only use it as a very, very last resort.

Third - I think it depends on the reason for needing the vet in the first place. Do I think you should rush off to the vet for fungus? No. Do I think you need to get to the vet if your chin's leg is dangling, with bone and tendon exposed? Well....duh. That doesn't even need to be asked really, does it? Or, if you question that the limb might be broken, the only person who can tell you for sure is a vet. Even if it is not an experienced vet, they can still at least do an x-ray and find out that much. Same thing with your chin being listless, not eating, diarrhea, etc. Yes, take them to a vet. However, I've watched time and again where most of these animals don't make it anyway, so the call is yours. When they've reached this point, the only thing a vet can do is take your money and watch them die. Some people feel comforted in taking their chin to the vet, even if there is absolutely nothing that can be done and that's fine.

As for the distrust? Anymore, no matter what medical field it is (human or animal) you **** well better know as much as you possibly can before you go in that office. I've worked in the human medical field for 25 years now. Many doctors have this God complex thing going on - How DARE you question me? Some vets are the same way. I've butted heads with vets many a time over what I felt was inappropriate care for an animal. Some get pissed, some actually listen, do some research and lo and behold, I'm not the idiot they assume because I don't have DVM behind my name. I give huge amounts of credit to that vet, because no one knows everything. I had a girl contact me via email because her pregnant chin was behaving strangely, had had one kit, etc. I told her it sounded as though one was stuck in there and she needed a vet ASAP before infection set in, the kit died, the mom died...... She took the chin to the vet who promptly told her she was imagining things and there was nothing wrong, he could feel nothing. She wrote back, I told her find another vet, ANY vet and get a second opinion ASAP. She did, there was a baby dead in there, mom had a C-section, had a bad infection, but was able to be saved. That vet wasn't even willing to take steps to be SURE that there was no other kit in there, that's where people get their distrust of vets and question their advice.

[HedgeMom]

Take your chin to a vet translates into "take your chinchilla to a CHINCHILLA-SAVVY VET"

What was your vet thinking translates into "Didn't bother to find a chinchilla-savvy vet, did you?"

[Chin89]

I am a microbiologist, been to school and had years of experience in the field. I am not a doctor. Medical students get a week or two of medical microbiology in med school and move on to other subjects. When I worked in a hospital, I found residents rotating through sometimes had no clue about my chosen field. It is similar to vet students who get maybe a week and probably less training on all exotics in vet school. Many doctors just don't have much experience specifically with chins, who are different from regular (dog and cat) pets and other exotic pets. Depends on what issues they've dealt with and how many cases they've seen. Not all vets are bad with chins, but it's best to ask lots of questions, just in case...

[chinluv100]

I be the first to admit I'm always a little apprehensive when dealing with any vet because they are human & capable of mistakes.

Now as for vets I have a rolodex of my little personal zoo's specialists ie bird vet, chin vet, dog & cat vet, cat heart doc, dental vet specialist (yes I'm really particular on who does dental cleanings even for my dog & cat) & 24hr animal hospital for those little things that seem to happen at 3am on the weekend. :dunno:

Not that many people live in a city filled with vet specialists of every kind & due to geographic considerations that may mean seeing a vet whose never seen an exotic such as a chinnie. So, I think that's why you see the postings.

[paris26]

Peggy and Nancy summed it up very nicely EP. There is a huge difference between seeing a chinchilla and knowing how to treat a chinchilla properly. As a hopeful future veterinarian, I make sure I am very well versed on all of my species and I play an active role in deciding treatment for all of my animals along with my vet. My vet also respects that I know what the heck that I'm talking about and I respect the fact that she is indeed an exotic savvy vet. I trust her completely! In fact, I bring her new information everytime I go to her clinic and she is happy to see what else is being done in the chin and hedgie world between her continuing education seminars on exotic medicine. I've always played an active role in my animals vet care and for what I pay (which I gladly do!) in vet bills per year, I sure as heck better have an opinion and a say.
So many people just settle and never raise their voice with concerns or if further explanations are needed. They just accept it and that's what I find disturbing!

[CHINCHILDREN]

for some things i go to my regular vet (they do see rodents) and for others i go to the exotic. my regular vet tends to be a little less agressive in terms of testing (fewer blood tests etc.) which i like. i don't like the animal to be stressed out at the vet more than necessary.
also, my regular vet will and has said to me "you need to take the animal to A&E (the exotic) this is beyong our scope."
i also was not happy when i called my exotic with a 3 day old kit with a bad laceration and was told that they were booked solid for the day. heck MAKE the time, stay late, whatever. my regular vet saw stitch, stitched him, gave me the stuff to flush the wound, AND did not charge for the followup visit.