Janet Hamlin

>>While I don't recommend the method for euthanizing a pet cat, C02 is not a
horrible way to die. People die that way all the time, accidentally and on
purpose, and it's very peaceful.<<

I agree, Pam. CO2 is not car exhaust, nor is it anesthesia. Having
anesthetized cats in clear plastic boxes, I can tell you that they do NOT
sit there and relax. They are very stressed and fight it. While it was
once thought that the gas (I'm speaking specifically about isoflurane, the
commonly used anesthetic gas in vet med) had little effects on the heart and
lungs and it was a safe way to anesthetize older pets, we've since found it
is extremely hypotensive (lowers blood pressure) and the chamber is highly
stressful.

>>I feel the same way about vet care (or medical care for humans for that
matter). Frankly, the vast majority of experienced laymen rabbit and guinea
pig breeders know more about their health and needs than the vast majority
of general-practice vets. Such is life with "exotics".<<

Unfortunately, that is very much the case. Good exotics vets are few and
far between. Unless a vet student is interested in these critters, the
curriculum lumps them all, from birds and reptiles to gerbils and rabbits
into 2 weeks. Then maybe two 2-week in clinics. Definitely NOT enough time
to learn about them. And it is also why I choose not to treat them.


Janet

Pam Hartley

----------
>From: Shyrley <shyrley.williams@...>
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Digest Number 795
>Date: Fri, Apr 4, 2003, 2:44 PM
>

>>
>>
>> Unfortunately, that is very much the case. Good exotics vets are few and
>> far between. Unless a vet student is interested in these critters, the
>> curriculum lumps them all, from birds and reptiles to gerbils and rabbits
>> into 2 weeks. Then maybe two 2-week in clinics. Definitely NOT enough time
>> to learn about them. And it is also why I choose not to treat them.
>>
>> Janet
>>
>
> Since when are rabbits, guinea-pigs and gerbils 'exotics'?
> I've had all 3 for years and whenever we took one to a vet (our town had two
vets)
> generally that was the main 'pet' they saw. Our vet would neuter male
> guinea-pigs for £20.
> The vet in VA wanted $600 for the same operation!!


Here in Wacky America, they're exotic. <g> For $600, I would expect that not
only would the pig get neutered, but "falsies" would be put in (to protect
his self-esteem) and also he'd receive for free a course of therapy to get
over the loss. ;)

Pam

Shyrley

Janet Hamlin wrote:

>
>
> Unfortunately, that is very much the case. Good exotics vets are few and
> far between. Unless a vet student is interested in these critters, the
> curriculum lumps them all, from birds and reptiles to gerbils and rabbits
> into 2 weeks. Then maybe two 2-week in clinics. Definitely NOT enough time
> to learn about them. And it is also why I choose not to treat them.
>
> Janet
>

Since when are rabbits, guinea-pigs and gerbils 'exotics'?
I've had all 3 for years and whenever we took one to a vet (our town had two vets)
generally that was the main 'pet' they saw. Our vet would neuter male guinea-pigs for £20.
The vet in VA wanted $600 for the same operation!!

Shyrley


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Shyrley

Pam Hartley wrote:

>
> >
> > Since when are rabbits, guinea-pigs and gerbils 'exotics'?
> > I've had all 3 for years and whenever we took one to a vet (our town had two
> vets)
> > generally that was the main 'pet' they saw. Our vet would neuter male
> > guinea-pigs for £20.
> > The vet in VA wanted $600 for the same operation!!
>
> Here in Wacky America, they're exotic. <g> For $600, I would expect that not
> only would the pig get neutered, but "falsies" would be put in (to protect
> his self-esteem) and also he'd receive for free a course of therapy to get
> over the loss. ;)
>
> Pam
>

Hehehehe, I'm gonna chortle about that image for hours.

Shyrley


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Heidi Wordhouse-Dykema

You've heard of neuticles, right?
http://www.neuticles.com/index1.html
Pet esteem protected!
(grin)
Heidi

> Here in Wacky America, they're exotic. <g> For $600, I would expect that not
> > only would the pig get neutered, but "falsies" would be put in (to protect



"I prefer a person who will burn the flag and wrap themselves in the
constitution to a person who will burn the constitution and wrap themselves
in the flag" --- Molly Ivins