No the vet we saw should not have a license. I immediately left and went to another vet that did take care of exotics, and they were just appalled at that vet. My guinea pig was 5 1/2 years old and the 494 vet was insisting on doing surgery on her. The avg life span is 5 to 6 years. She was too old to have had surgery. She would not have lived thru it. I went to Porter Vet, and they actually called in a specialist for me. The vet said it would be beyond irresponsible to operate on a guinea pig that old. She would have most likely died had we done so. Then had a friend go there 2 weeks ago, and she had an awful experience with the vet and vet tech. She left and said she would never go back there again either. The waiting room was full when I was there, and the people there said only good things about the place. But I will never go back there again. They weren't my normal vet, but my vet does not see guinea pigs. I did go by and see my vet after our experience there, and they couldn't believe the way 494 vet handled things either. When we got our bunny, we started using the Porter Vet for him. And they are just a great group. I still use my regular vet for our dog, but I am thinking about switching to Porter.
@Fallon:
Which doc did you see? Mueler (wrong spelling) dori, or bobbe the new one. I have heard of issue with the new one Bobbie sue to lack of experience and we always ask to see one of the other two. With any vet or personal doctor you will get varying opinions. Since 494 is an exotic animal vet maybe they have had success in the past with operating on old pigs. Maybe their ideal is to always offer something to people. Last time I was there I over heard dr mueller talking to another client about their animal telling them he does not like to operate unless there is more than a 20 percent chance that it will work. He sounded sad that he could not offer any solutions. Many people are so attached to their pets that If you say their is nothing to do and they go elsewhere and hear different it looks bad. I think yourself the right choice in your situation.
The mrs. Has told people doctors no in the past and she would tell a vet the same after hearing all the options. 4951