Male with bladder stone--need a good vet

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon May 30, 2005 8:11 pm


The not eating much may also be related to the stone.

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ladyveg

Post   » Mon May 30, 2005 8:21 pm


I thought I'd reply here in case someone does a search for Madison vets. Yes, I do use Dr. Erickson for my main routine pig needs, and he has done surgeries for me on pigs and rats, so I'm not sure why he said he refers surgeries away.

I use the Verona clinic for the dental stuff because they have specialists just for that. And the doc I saw there was fully knowledgeable about pigs, and open to suggestion (trusted me with Metacam AND asked the dose). I was impressed with them and would certainly ask if they would do that surgery. Great people.

I have not been to the University but have heard excellent things from adopters. I'd feel comfortable taking a pig there. It seems that people I know who have taken pigs there take them in with things like cancer and other complicated issues. I'm not sure of their setup.

Just FYI, on the near east side is Dr. Carla Christman of Healthy Pet. She's on East Wash near First Street. She has great interest and knowledge about the small furries. She has ferrets and she adopted two pigs from me years ago. Her partner isn't as comfortable with the pigs so she consults with Carla if she needs to.

Diane Bennetts in Milwaukee is excellent but I do hear that it can be hard to get in.

I have had some negative experiences related to me as well. I have had negative personal contacts and also anecdotes related to me about Citywide Vet Clinic. Maybe they have changed vets, but I have had several people email me with a sick pig that they took there and were only told that the pig needed more Vit. C. One adopter took the pig she adopted from me to them and said that she adopted him from guinea pig rescue, and the vet said, "Ohhh, you should breed him! Guinea pig babies are so cute!"

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snowflakey
E's Moriarity

Post   » Mon May 30, 2005 8:37 pm


ACK!

It sure sounds like the Madison area is well-fixed for pig vets. Good luck to Peppi.

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ladyveg

Post   » Mon May 30, 2005 8:39 pm


I should add that the reason I never tried the University is I was under the impression I could never afford it. I don't know if that's an assumption or what people have told me, but you might want to ask for an idea of how much it might cost. Because I know that the other clinics are reasonable.

capybara
Supporter in '13

Post   » Mon May 30, 2005 9:28 pm


Thanks so much thundermuse and ladyveg! It's really encouraging to know there are so many resources, and now I feel a lot more comfortable being new to the area with the pigs.

Regarding Dr. Erickson, I do remember him mentioning that he has done spays and neuters. I don't know why I thought he said he refers surgeries to UW. Maybe he was only talking about really complicated issues? I'll definitely call him first tomorrow, then, because I thought he was really great with my pigs.

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thundermuse

Post   » Mon May 30, 2005 9:30 pm


The UW is more expensive than regular vet clinics. It's been about the same as going to an emergency vet for me. It's also been my experience that it's harder to get an appointment and appointments take much longer because a student does a preliminary evaluation, then the doctor does an evaluation. I believe they provide excellent, top of the line care, and for me it's worth it. But I only use the UW if my regular vet cannot solve the problem and refers me to the UW. In fact, for some things, you NEED a referral first, otherwise the UW won't accept your pet as a patient. And it can be hard to get in. I had to wait almost 4 weeks to get my dog into Neurology. Of course, if it's an emergency, they will get you in ASAP. Your regular vet can often call and get you an earlier appointment as well.

I have also had negative experiences with Citywide Pet Clinic as far as guinea pigs go, although that was years ago. The owner of Citywide is a really good dog & cat holistic vet, but there other doctors there who see the non-holistic cases, and the quality of care varies by doctor. Most don't have specific exotics knowledge. I only take my dog to see the owner for his acupuncture treatments (in the hope of avoiding a $4000+ back surgery at the UW). I wouldn't take my pigs there, and my dog gets his routine care elsewhere.

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ladyveg

Post   » Mon May 30, 2005 9:52 pm


capybara, I was searching my memory to think of what he has done for me and/or my friend--I drive her rats to their appointments because she has to work. He has done spays and neuters for rats and pigs, he did two bladderstone removals on a male rat, eye removal on a pig, he's done various lumps and bumps, mammary tumors, abscesses. I can't think of any more right now. I suppose having the stone where it is might make it a more difficult surgery? I've known him for years and never doubted his capability based on my experiences with him, not that I'm any expert.

capybara
Supporter in '13

Post   » Tue May 31, 2005 10:21 pm


Peppi's surgery is at 9 am with Dr. Voss at the Animal Hospital of Verona tomorrow. Dr. Erickson saw his x-rays and said he'd like to refer us because of the positioning of the stone, even if it may have moved since then.

We called the vet school, and man, they really are expensive! They were estimating $250 for prelim exam + x-rays and then $600-$800 for the surgery! They also said they couldn't get him in till next week because they wanted to evaluate him, just like thundermuse said.

The vet at Verona said they use sevoflorane instead of isoflorane. I googled it (and asked the vet) and it's a similar but safer gas that allows faster recovery from the anasthesia. Has anyone else heard of sevoflorane before?

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Serena
It started with Louie...

Post   » Tue May 31, 2005 10:40 pm


Good luck tomorrow. Please let us know how things go.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Tue May 31, 2005 11:09 pm


Yes, sevoflorane is indeed safer. Good luck to you. I hope the delay will not affect his recovery.

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ladyveg

Post   » Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:32 am


A little late now, but good luck with the surgery. I hope you check in to say how it went.

Dr. Voss is the one I was working with for Tinki and he was great. He's the one I was mentioning above who was knowledgeable but open to suggestion as well. I just couldn't remember his name.

capybara
Supporter in '13

Post   » Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:04 pm


A strange development...

Dr. Voss x-rayed Peppi this morning and found no evidence of a stone! Because we were concerned that it could be hidden, he decided to do an ultrasound, and said he was unable to find anything there either. he thinks that what we might have seen on the x-ray at the emergency vets was a blob of sludge. What we saw on the x-ray wasn't huge, but it looked pretty solid to me, so I was sure it was a stone.

He did not see them, so I'm going to get the original x-rays from the E. vet and drop them off with Dr. Voss, then pick up Peppi. After he analyzes them, he'll decide if we should make a new appointment for surgery. He's concerned about putting him through all the stress of surgery without knowing for sure what's going on.

I'm really worried; I swear I read on here a while back that someone had a piggy with a stone that everyone had thought passed but it had moved in the bladder and was not visible in any further x-rays?

Peppi hasn't lost any more weight since the 30th, but I can tell he isn't feeling his normal self. He usually eats a ton. We have been supplementing what he does eat syringing him Critical Care.

Has anyone else had this happen?

Off to get the other x-rays now! Ugh.

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