Good Vets in Ontario

[Sabriel]

They must have changed that. When I adopted Kero I was thinking of going the the Newmarket SPCA instead of THS and it said no animals on GO.

*Does happy dance* I may not need a sitter to go away for longer now. I will have to put a blanket or something on the cage though. My soon to be BIL is allergic to all fur bearing creatures.

[C&K]

I foundthis on another thread about allergies posted by SandyF.
http://cavycages.com/forum/showthrea...llergy+shampoo

When my husband and I got our first guinea pig, hubby was very allergic and broke out into red hives any time he held Sebastian. At the suggestion of the rescue group we adopted from, we bathed the pig in AllerpetC (I think that's the name) cat shampoo a couple of times, and hubby's symptoms disappeared.

I have no experience with this shampoo, or if it is available in Canada or not, but I don't think it could hurt to try. I have seen it posted before that a bath even with your regular shampoo you use for pigs can help cut down on allergy symptoms. I suppose it is because you wash away the excess dander?

[Sabriel]

I could try it. The thing is though that this guy could take a Claratin and be fine. But he doesn't want to. He expects every one he visits to lock up their pets and sterlize their homes, because, OMG, Chris is visiting!

My MIL hates him for that. I think she gets some twisted pleasure from the fact the, gosh she just can't lock up 4 cats.

I shouldn't complain too much. This guy has helped me climb up the SO ladder. I was tied for last with the guy they love to hate when Chris started getting really annoying. Now I'm the prefered house guest since I'm quiet, polite, and I don't try to turn the house upside down.

Doesn't help that I am the only daughter in law. It's very very strange.

Sorry for being so .

[C&K]

Sounds then like he is going to crab and complain even if he is not suffering any reaction from your pets! A bit of a drama queen.

I too am the only daughter in law, new family dynamics are always fun aren’t they?

[wigglypiggly]

Dr. Lorie Gold he's in Oakville . Such a great doctor really friendly and nice. If you want to know more here's the website http://www.petsdoc.ca/about.html#location

[nonamian_girl]

Thanks a lot wiggly!!

I have Allerpet C, it took me forever to find it, and I finally did in a shady pet store, for 20 bucks. I used it once, and I don't know, kind of gave up because the boyfriend doesn't seem to be THAT reactive to the pigs as long as he doesn't cuddle them too much.

[Sabriel]

Did you find it in Mississagua or London?

[nonamian_girl]

In London, if you call vets, 1 in a billion might carry it.

[piggiebun]

Originally Posted by Sabriel

For a closer vet there is the Animal Hospital of High Park. That's the vet I used to use. They are quite expensive and the receptionist comes off as rude to me.

Sabriel I just came accross this post and was excited to see that you were still on this site. You were the one who originally told me about cavy cages. I think you may remeber me...the rude receptionist from Animal Hospital of High Park. I resent this I was always nice to you and always asked how to pronounce your pigs names.

Futhermore, we are a very good exotics vet, especially piggies. I have had my own pigs looked at by every DR at our clinic and have never been disapointed. I started as a client and now I work there! Yes we are expensive I'll give you that, but to imply that we are not caring and that I was ever rude to you is very disconcerting. I remeber actaully having very good conversations with you and wonedered why you weren't coming in to buy food anymore. When I found your posts I was excited to see that you were still in the area and hoped to see your wonderful litte pigs again.

So I am truly sorry that you had a "bad" experience with us and that I ever "came off as rude" but try to not to discourage others from coming to us!

[Sabriel]

I'm sorry I found you rude, but rude as any other emotion or description is a relative thing. One person's rude is another person's warm.

After being unable to purchase humilac for an ill piggie who had already seen a vet (one who did rescue discounts as this pig was a foster. A friend in rescue offered me a lift to this vet to try her out as she had expertise in skinny pigs on a personal level) even when the vet offered to send your office a script (a service she extends to other vets in the area) I was kinda put off going back to your office.

I don't see why I'd have to bring a pig in twice to get a grooming aid. Why it's not available in Canada like it is in the US I have no clue, but even so I would have been glad to have a script faxed to you. I found that exchange to be cold and rude. I left your office not releaved but worried about what I'd do for this little creature who was in pain. Maybe if my new vet had never run out of humilac then I wouldn't have that opinion.

That and my new vet charges me half the price from what I feel is more personal service. I like to see the same doctor every time I go to the doctor as things get sorted out quicker. I like to do the same from my animals. It's a smaller quieter practise. Some people like your type of atmosphere better and that's great. I feel it's easier to get lost in it.

Maybe you can take my critque as a way to improve your services. I have heard similar complains from other small animal owners, so I don't feel all that unjustified in my opinions. Everyone has things they can improve about the way they do thier job. I get feedback (and it's not always nice either) about my job all the time. It helps me do my job better.

If it comes as any consolation I have been called cold and distant often in my lifetime. I don't feel I'm that way, and quite frankly I don't get too upset about it, but try to find ways to make myself appear as warm as I feel I am to that person.

To sum it all up, it took me months to resolve an issue your office could have helped me resolve in a week. If you were me, would you be all that happy with such service?

[Sabriel]

It just dawned on me that if you have my screen name and this link that you may not even be the person in my long rant. Are you the chick with dark hair and wore scrubs?

[piggiebun]

Yeah that was me and I even started the appointment, and we talked about being Wiccan. I hope that this clears up the issue with the script, the reason we can't fill a script is because we're not allowed not because we don't want to. Because we aren't a drugstore we technically can't fill scripts, we can give out meds that we perscribe as a courtesy so you don't have to pay more to get them filled elsewhere. I truly am sorry for your experience and wish it were different because I was looking forward to seeing that cutie Tomoyo again and I never did meet Secoura ( sorry it's been awhile I hope I spelled that right) We do have two receptionists and I am only one of them, the younger of the two, so maybe it wasn't me and if it wasn't I am sorry that you had that experience with us. We really are a caring bunch.

[Sabriel]

It wasn't you. It was the other lady. I thought due to your scrubs you were a receptionist/tech. That's why I wrote "the receptionist" signifying one. I hope this clears this up. Let's just say I wouldn't give out my screen name to someone I thought was rude.

The techs (and you, whatever your title is. I am one of those people who wear 12 different hats at work.) were the best people there IMHO. You guys were 5/5 stars. Caring and smart.

Persoanlly I just don't see humilac as a perscription item. I could have bought it in the US and had it shipped here for $20 and almost did untill I found an alternative. It's recommended all the time on GL as an over the counter item. I can understand if I came in for ABs or some other medication, but I feel a grooming aid in another ball of wax. Kinda like if I came in for quick stop or vit c tablets.

I do find you guys are a bit to expensive for me. I am sure there is a reason. Maybe becuase you can serve a more diverse bunch of animals or have more combined experience. But I can afford to help more animals with my other vet. It was either stick to 2 or 3 normal pigs or change vets and help more special needs animals. Since 2 special needs animals needed homes (I have a skinny and an elderly boar with a heart problem) I went with the more affordable care.

But like I said above, it's just like doctors for humans. Some people love the huge clinics with many doctors and will pay a bit more for that. Some of us like the single doctor in the tiny clinic. I perfer the later for me and my pigs. (Not that I can find the later for myself in Toronto. I have to make due with trying to catch the same doctor when he's in.)

I'm from a small town. That might very well be part of why I like smaller clinics (salons, stores, things in general). I love Toronto and I'm glad I moved here but I do when given a choice sometimes prefer things as they were back home.

But just becuase I don't use your office doesn't mean you will never see my pigs again. Maybe in the spring we can try to have a pignic again and you can bring your pigs out for sun, fun and all you can eat grass.

[piggiebun]

Sabriel sounds great, sorry for the confusion. Glad we cleared this up!

[Sabriel]

No problem! Just another drama in the Junction.