Just as you look for a doctor when getting ready to bring a baby into your life, looking for a veterinarian before getting a pet is a vital step. You can face a number of problems after getting a ferret. If you don’t have a friendly, trustable vet who is a call away then chances are things will get hard for you and your pet, especially during an emergency. For this reason, we strongly urge you to take several things into consideration on your quest to find the best vet for your ferret.
When it comes to ferrets, a small level of carelessness can lead to their sickness or death.
If they are properly taken care of, according to the guidance of a professional vet, they can live up to 10 years; they will live a healthy, happy life.
Diseases like cancer, tumor, and diabetes are common diseases for a ferret. They are treatable, but if you don’t have a vet, it can be hard to detect them. If your ferret seems slim and is losing weight or fur, you may have a serious issue on your hands, and should get your pet checked immediately.
Hence, having a vet at hand is extremely necessary.
Where to Start?
Here are a few things you should follow when you are looking for a ferret vet.
- Ask the pet store owners. The pet store owners will always be able to guide you better than others when it comes to looking for a vet. Since they also get their pets checked every couple of times a month; it is necessary for them to opt for the best pet to keep their best in good condition and business running.
- If any of your friends have a ferret or any other pet then ask for their recommendation. They will be able to guide and tell you the things they like and dislike about their vet, which will give you an idea about the vet and whether you should pick them or not.
- Take help from Google. Search engines like google can let you know if there are any veterinarian offices near you. With a little bit of research, you will be able to put a finger on the vet you like best. Look for the vets near you, then check the comments from people under their websites. Look for the negative comments particularly, as they reveal more information about the skills and knowledge of a vet. Many people who have a good experience don’t leave a review. But if your vet mishandled your pet, you are going to let someone know about it!
Gathering Information About The Vet
Once you have a list of vets you like best, visit them individually to gather more information.
Try to find a vet that has more experience in the field of ferrets or small animals. Sometimes a normal vet does not know much about a certain disease or a problem of an animal, so you have to look for a vet that specializes in the field of ferret diseases too as they are common.
You can also directly ask unusual questions to clear your doubts more.
- Ask if they are licensed, and inquire about their experience with ferrets.
- Make sure they are available 24/7 in case of emergency.
- Ask for their costs for all the treatments, from minor to major ones.
- Take a look at the environment; it should be clean.
- Ask about the qualification and experience of their staff too.
- Do they have vaccines and all the medications at hand?
- inquire about how do they handle the emergency situation.
- Lastly, take your ferret there for a tour and let him meet the vet himself, if you and your ferret are comfortable then you have probably found yourself a good vet.
According to a recent study, there are about 118,624 vets alone in the USA and their numbers are gradually increasing. Some can be frauds or unhelpful, or have no special experience or qualification, so you do need to always be careful. By following the above steps, you can find a genuine one that will take care of your pet for years to come.