Ontario Chinchillas

Hey all. I know there is an exstensive listing on the OCA home page, but I am interested in which vets you guys use (esp. in my area). I am especially interested in what your vet has seen your chinchilla for. My current vet was wonderful for some stitches that a kit needed, but after a recent experience with a friends Guinea Pig being refused to be seen in an emergancy case I am wondering if I too would be refused in a more immediate emergancy. So, which vets have you USED (not just plan to use) and what have they seen you for?

Thanks!!

I use Dr. Janet Sawyer from Millennium City Vet Hospital. She is wonderful! She has seen my chinchillas for upper res, bloat, under weight chins, and when I when of my females had vaginal problems. She will even come in for me if she isn't at the office. I have been with her for six years. I trust all my animals with her. I have never once been refused help even if its for something minor. I found out about her through my aunt, who rescues birds. Dr Sawyer treats all the wild birds that are injured for this organization. She takes the time to explain everything in complete detail. Sometimes I have been in there for hours just talking with her. I really like that she takes the time to explain matters and wont leave you with any further questions.

A note for people in my area. There is a vets office in Courtice that claims to treate exotics. I would not go there, they know nothing about exotics. One of my chinchillas (whom I got from a petstore before I knew any better) came with upper res. My vet was closed because it was a Sunday and I was refurred there by an animal hospital. I was told they treated exotics for many years. When I got there the vet wouldn't even touch my chinchilla. She was afraid of being bitten, even though I told her that this chinchilla did not bite. She just perscribed an antiboitic and sent me on my way. I was very uncomfortable with the whole situation. The next morning my chinchilla was way worse then the day before, so of course I rushed her to my vet. When I got there my vet informed that the previous vet didn't perscribe even close to the dose of meds my chinchilla would have needed to have a fighting chance. It ended up being too late for Lily and I had to have her put down. I just would hate to have this happen to anyone else. I wish I had been more knowledgeable about upper res at the time this all took place.

Could you post the address and phone number for Dr. Sawyer please

She is at 365-1225 Bayly Street in Pickering.

i've used the vet college in guelph. It seems to be the place to go since that's where exotic vets learn to be exotic vets i was refered to them by tom reidstra. however i have still learned that most vets know very little anyway even if they claim to be an exotic vet. i found guelph though to be good at explaining to you what's going on mediclally, they had more than one vet working with my chin along with students of cource, and on top of it they made sure they made it as affordable as possible.

ya, guelph is crazy affordable. I know they'll also let you buy bulk medicine if you can prove you know what you're doing.

I go to Willowdale animal hospital:
Doris Neculoiu and Kate Hall.
256 Sheppard Ave. W.
416-222-5409

Both doris and kate are really great, they're the two exotic specialists at this particular vets. They're emergency too, I've gone at 11pm at night just showing up, no problem. I think they're closed like 2am to 4am or something, but open all other times, including holidays (but whether they'll have the exotics specialist in then is another question).

I went because two of my nerds got giardia. they perscribed fenbendazole, which is one of the 2 most recommended and safe giardia treatments in small animals. Unfortunately, it didn't work, their parasites were resistant to it, so we went with flagyl, which is much harsher, but at least they got cured after soooo long.

Doris was really gentle and very knowlegeable, and she handled my chins really easily and well (and they were hyper little 4 month old un-tame skitters, lol). Prices arn't too too bad, although they're not in the cheaper end. I'd say mid range, but not outrageous.

Thanks so much guys!

I also use Guelph as well. Not only do they know what they are doing, my brother goes to that university aswell so I will visit him....... basically I can kill two birds with one stone (hmmm maybe this phrase isn't that appropriate on this forum haha)

From another thread, Elmer has lots of exotics so it would be good to have his vet posted too:

i go to a vet close to my house... il get an address and post it soon.

Dr. Tompson takes care of my hedgies, chins, birds, chamillion, my cousins rat (who had a tumor removed, tompson did the surgery).


shes great, dosent talk to you like an idiot like alot of vets do, went to guelph, treats tones of exotics, especialy chins, and hedgies.

at the offic they even have a lot of thank you notes framed from people who were so greatfull to get their pet healthy, and alive. tones of pics of the patients. VERY good environment, i highly recomend them.

Dr. Tompson even took me in to the back lab to look through the microscop at the rare type of mite that had infested my hedgies. top notch facility, VERY clean, and well equiped for all the exotics.

Animal Hospital of High Park
Phone: 416-763-4200
Fax: 416-763-4387
3194 Dundas St. West
Toronto, Ontario M6P 2A3

I also go to The Links Road Animal & Bird clinic:
41 The Links Road (near York Mills and Yonge)
Toronto, Ontario
416-223-1165

I saw Dr. Hanadie, she was so knowlegeable about my chinchilla who's mallocluding, was even able to clip back teeth without putting her under, very fast and relatively painless. They also have great prices (the first visit is like $10 more, after you're an established client it's cheaper). They have 2 other vets there that also all specialize in exotics like reptiles, birds, rabbits, guins, small rodents, even fish. Very very highly recommended.

I use Rockwood Vet Clinic on 179 Main Street in Rockwood. The phone number is 519-856-9002. Ask to see Dr. Roberts. He is absolutely wonderful. He has neutered /spayed 4 of my bunnies plus looked after my two foster bunnies (now mine) and has neutered my Gizmo and will be neutering Pedro on Tuesday of next week. He explained everything he does for the neutering with the chins as he advises that it is risky similar to rabbits really. My zoo is in very capable hands.

I really like him, they are very affordable and he straight talks you. The staff in general are very nice. I have sent several people their way and everyone so far has been pleased.

Debbie

Burloak Animal Clinic (3060 Lakeshore Rd. West, Oakville 905-827-1171)

EDITED* I no longer recomend this clinic. Please see here: http://www.ontariochinchillas.ca/phpBB2 ... =6886#6886

I went to Dr. Keith Johnson at Carling Animal Hospital.
2268 Carling Ave.
Ottawa,ON
K2B 7G1
www.carlinganimalhospital.com

He was wonderful and very gently with Theo. He didn't force any "unnecessary" tests to be done, and got a second opinion from another vet about Theo's jaw. He explained everything I needed to do very thoroughly and took his time. He called the very next day to see how things were, and encouraged me to call him a few days later to give an update. When I called and left him a voice mail, he called me back shortly after to confirm that he had received my call and to discuss Theo's progress.

Seeing as this was my first vet visit, other than the emergency one I had with my female, I believe it went extremely well. Is it routine for vet's to call back and check up? Whether it is or not, I really appreciated it.

Orchard Animal Hospital
Dr.Gesa Kohn-Gould
Millcroft Shopping centre, Unit B4
Burlington ONT
L7L 6M6
905-634-4526
www.orchardah.infovet.ca

She's a great vet. i work at this vet and its a wonderful place. Dr.Kohn Gould is one of the few exotic vets in the Burlinton area. Not only is hse good at what she does but she's super nice

King Animal Clinic in London.

Dr. Jennifer Hopper is the owner. Phenomenal Vet. She and all her staff are deeply caring people and they do anything they can to help you.

Dr. Hopper loves small animals and has some herself. Even though my chin Liz was in deep distress, the experience of bringing her to such a caring place was positive. I knew I went to the right place as soon as I got inside. The right feeling was in how they cared for the animals.

Phone: (519)434-4287

I had my first visit with Dr.Hanadie last night, and i was very impressed. She was amazing!!! Very knowledgable and handled my little one with lots of love and care. She sat and spoke with me about my chins for a good 15 minutes before dismissing us.

The prices aren't bad either...

I definitely recommend her!

on behalf and Chili and Pudge!

A very good vet's office in West Ottawa for us has been the Bell's Corners Animal Hospital (www.bcah.ca). The best thing is that all of their vets work with exotics!

The vet we've had the most experience has been Dr. David Vanderzon. He was the one who performed Loonie's tooth clipping, and was always very gentle with her. He knew mountains about chins, and best of all he would actually listen to us when we went in.

Example of something as simple as listening: The first trip into the office, we got another doctor (who isn't even listed on their page now...I don't know if she was just helping out that day or doesn't work there anymore?? ). When we were trying to get Loonies weight, she kept insisting that we mash to poor little beastie into a tupperware container (it had airholes at least), and Loonie wanted no part of this! I said to leave the lid off and she would be fine since she was such a laid back chin, but the Doc wouldn't listen. Anyways, the next trip in we met Dr. Vanderzon and as soon as he saw Loonie was uncomfortable in the box and I told him she didn't want the lid he just took the lid off and weighed her without it, then took the weight of the lid to get an accurate weight on Loonie. Without the lid, Loonie sat perfectly still just looking around the room. Because of that one little gesture of listening to me, I made sure to ask for the same vet for the rest of our visits.

I use Campus Estates in Guelph. Dr. Kim Pasco and Dr. Allison Daub are so far the best chinchilla vets I have found and trust me I've seen alot. Dr. Daub was the vet that did the molar trims on my chin Eddie that had maloccusion.

If you want their address visit their website http://www.petsandvets.ca/

I looked on the list that's here for exotic pets, and just wondering if anyone used Bay City for their chinchilla? I've gone to them in the past, with my exotic pets (A chameleon that I had, and a lovebird). I found them to be decent, and reasonable priced. I don't take my cats or dog there though because I am not in burlington, my regular vet is closer. But they seem like a good vet for exotics!

I go to Strathroy Animal Clinic for all my animals. I have seen 3 different vets now, 1 for my cat (specialty cats and dogs), 1 for my rats (specialty small animals) and 1 for my chins (specialty exotics). Every time I've gone in they've been very knowledgeable and always took their time to go over the animals extremely thoroughly, asking lots of questions and I've never felt rushed or brushed off about concerns like I had been when I took my hamster to King Animal Clinic in London. I am more then willing to drive the 30-40 mins out of the city to go to this particular vet clinic. They are also very well priced, large animals are $37 for a vet appointment and small animals ( including the chins ) are $20 each, though I took 2 of mine in and they just charged me $37.

I don't know the exact address but it's at Caradoc and Caroline in Strathroy. Their phone number is 519-245-1153.

I got to a Vet in Thorold(near St Catharines) He doesn't really "specialize" or whatever in small or exotic animals but he really knows what he is doing. I thought bringing an exotic pet to a vet would be really expensive but he was surprisingly cheap. Everyone's jaw droppped when I told them how much.

I have to disagree about Dr. Hanadie Nur. I took my chinchilla in for abscess on his foot (bumble foot) after seeing this kind recomandation on OCA website.
I am not happy with her attitude or knowledge about chinchillas at all...during the second visit (checkup after the topic antibiotic treatment) the foot was just slightly better than the first time and she insisted that it was just fine. I could not believe it. I mean, the foot is still swollen and red! She sent us home without any further treatment.
Also, she asked me why don't we feed the chin any vegetables and insisted that we do so ?!
If you do take your chins to that place, ask for another vet.

Does anyone know of another great exotic vet near the Niagara area, other than the one in Thorold? I want to make sure I have a back up vet just in case my vet is unavailable in an emergency.