Guinea Pig Care - Finding a Veterinarian

Finding a Veterinarian
One knows that as a responsible pet owner, one's guinea pig should receive regular veterinary checkups. Regular checkups will ensure that one's pigs health is monitored and not allowed to deteriorate. Visiting one's veterinarian according to a regular schedule will also allow one to determine if they are satisfied with the level of care provided BEFORE an emergency situation arises.

How does one find the best veterinarian?
Search either the phone book yellow pages or online in one's local area for a veterinarian that treats "exotic" animals. That's right - one cannot take a guinea pig to just any veterinarian as they may lack experience. Finding a specialized vet is not always easy so don't be afraid to contact local breeders and veterinarians to see if they know of anyone reliable in the area.

Once one has found a veterinarian that appears qualified be sure to ask the following questions at a minimum:
1. "Are you an "exotic" veterinarian?
2. "Do you have experience treating guinea pigs?"
3. "What are your hours?"
4. "How does your office handle emergencies?"
5. "If you were to prescribe antibiotics for an adult guinea pig upper respiratory infection which would you select" Answers to look for: Baytril, Chloramphenicol, or Doxycycline. NOT penicillin. Penicillin is extremely toxic to guinea pigs. Every time a prescription is assigned, take the time to verify that the medication does not contain penicillin. People make mistakes and it is a good idea not to make assumptions.
6. "Would you prescribe Baytril for puppies?" Answer to look for: "No."
7. "What guinea pig food do you recommend?" Answers to look for: Good quality pellet brands, Timothy hay, fruit and veggies. Bad answer: Alfalfa.

Remember that this veterinarian needs to be someone who is confidence inspiring and is willing to meet the needs of one's guinea pig. If this individual seems unwilling to take time to discuss issues or answer questions, keep looking until you find someone who does.