|
Post by airy on Aug 15, 2009 12:51:34 GMT -4
Anyone know of any ferret friendly vets in Northern New Brunswick?? Anywhere between Woodstock and Grand falls will do. I plan on keeping my regular vet and driving down the 4 hr drive for check ups/vaccinations and non emergency stuff but if there is a emergency or something, I have no idea where the best place to go would be. I know there are plenty of vets in Grandfalls, I looked them up online and couldn't find anything that indicates that any of them deal with or are knowledgeable about ferrets. This sucks
|
|
|
Post by Tressie on Aug 17, 2009 19:29:23 GMT -4
Unfortunately there aren't a lot of veterinarians who will see ferrets because they require specialized knowledge. However, if you can find one who is willing to learn about them you've struck gold. All veterinarians can consult with more knowledgeable experts, even Dr. Benoit consults with more experienced ferret experts in the U.S. Key is to supply the veterinarian with the names and contact information and tell him or her you are happy to pay the consulting fees, which generally are fairly inexpensive. When I moved back to Nova Scotia in 2006 I was appalled that I couldn't find a vet who would see ferrets in my area, which was a 3 hour drive from Halifax. Everyone I spoke to referred me to Dr. Benoit. So I finally made the trip and was sufficiently impressed with the level of knowledge and care my ferrets received that I made the decision to move into Halifax so that I could be near a ferret expert. Granted not everyone is able or willing to do that. I would call around and ask the vet clinics in your area if there is anyone they know who is willing to see ferrets. That is how I got most of the names for our website, which you can also check out: www.flsatlanticcanada.org/ferretfriendlyveterinaryclinicsGood Luck! And if you find someone please let us know so that we can post the name to our list. Tressie
|
|
|
Post by airy on Aug 20, 2009 14:41:15 GMT -4
I will certainly let you know if (hopefully when) I find one. Im not up there yet..may not be for another month or two, Im just trying to be prepared before I make the move, would hate the idea of being somewhere where my ferrets will not have access to proper medical attention if needed. I will be minutes away from Presque Isle Maine, if there is a emergency and happens to be a ferret friendly vet there..would they treat a animal from across the border..even if I am willing to pay extra??
|
|
|
Post by ferretmothertoo on Aug 20, 2009 21:08:44 GMT -4
For anyone living close to the border going over across (local lingo) is just a part of life. You will need a passport and the ferrets have to have a vet certificate showing their rabies and distemper shots are up to date. If you can find a ferret friendly vet in Presque Isle, go for it. Have you checked Houlton? You will have to pay in American funds and if you use a credit card, they charge an additional 1% or so on top of the exchange rate. Houlton tends to be a busy crossing but there isn't as much traffic at Fort Fairfield or Four Falls. The wait to cross the border is something you may want to take into consideration, especially with a sick animal. These are just things to bear in mind. Actually, going over across would be cheaper in the long run than a 4 hour drive to your regular vet. Something else to think about - many people in Grand Falls speak French and some are more bilingual than others. The main thing is to find a ferret friendly vet, be it Canadian or American. I'd also suggest establishing a relationship with the vet before an emergency crops up. That way you will know what to expect and the vet will be better prepared to serve you and your ferrets.
|
|
|
Post by ferretmothertoo on Aug 21, 2009 14:00:32 GMT -4
Another thing I thought of - if you are going to use an American vet, better check with border services regarding their policies. There is no problem to take a healthy ferret with its papers over across but customs might feel quite differently about you taking a sick ferret over, even when you are going to the vet.
|
|
|
Post by Tressie on Aug 21, 2009 14:19:32 GMT -4
Excellent advice!!
I will contact my friend who is a ferret expert vet in Sagus, ME (near Portland) to see if she knows of any ferret knowledgeable vets in the Houlton or Presque Isle Maine. If she does I'll post it here right away.
Tressie
|
|
|
Post by airy on Aug 21, 2009 15:04:05 GMT -4
Please do Tressie, Thank you so much Thank you for your awesome advise ferretmothertoo . I don't use a credit card but I will make sure that I transfer over my ferret vet funds in American currency just incase I do have to rely on a vet in the US. I used to live there before and I remember that border was never very busy and could get through in a matter of minutes..but that was 10 years ago..could be different today..As for Grandfalls, don't they have to be bilingual up there?? I used to deal with a vet in Florenceville but I don't think that they deal with ferrets there . A lot of them say they deal with small animals but in a lot of cases they are normally referring to rodents and rabbits..ferrets always seem to be overlooked
|
|
|
Post by Tressie on Aug 21, 2009 16:30:18 GMT -4
Unfortunately, I don't have good news for you Here is the response from Sandra Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, my vet friend in Maine: Hi - Quick response -- there is absolutely no one in that area that has *any clue* about ferrets. Cat care is hard to get, let alone ferrets! Probably the closest is Mark Hanks in Orrington -- quite a haul from that area.I think with a rabies cert;, there probably isn't much issue about crossing the border healthy or sick; but as you saw, if the patrols want to be obnoxious, they will be. Sorry- SM
She is referring to my experience crossing the border at Houlton in May. I adopted a mama kitty and 2 kittens from Sandra's clinic and even though I had the two of the certificates with me and an international health certificate for all of them - the Canadian border guards gave me a hard time. The certificate had fallen onto the floor of Sandra's vehicle when she transferred the kitties to my car. I called her on my cell phone and she spoke with 3 different border guards and offered to fax the vaccination certificate to them. They FINALLY let me go after grilling me for an hour. And what compelled them to let me go? One of the guards went to the car to see the cats and realized they weren't some expensive exotic breed of cat but regular domestic kitties and let the crazy lady who drove all the way from Halifax to pick up 'ordinary' cats come back into Canada Sorry the news wasn't better Tressie
|
|
|
Post by ferretmothertoo on Aug 22, 2009 15:11:14 GMT -4
Many people in Grand Falls do speak both French and English but there are varying degrees of competency. If you find a ferret friendly vet whose mother tongue is French but whose English isn't that good, take along a translator. There could be someone who works in the clinic who is more fluent in both languages.
Perhaps one of the clinics that sees small animals will have a vet who is willing to learn about ferrets. Good luck in ferreting out a solution.
|
|
|
Post by ferretmothertoo on Aug 24, 2009 21:00:28 GMT -4
I don't know whether you attended the Ferret Picnic in Fredericton and had the opportunity to speak with other ferrents from that area. Your proximity to Presque Isle suggests to me that you are moving to somewhere in the Florenceville/ Centreville/ Perth-Andover area. Hartland to Fredericton is 80 miles, 1 hr 30 minutes. Our website www.flsatlanticcanada.com lists a ferret friendly clinic in Fredericton and one of our board members lives in Harvey Station. To contact her flsac@live.com with her name in the subject line. Of course having a vet closer to your new home would be the best solution but Fredericton could prove to be a viable option.
|
|
|
Post by airy on Aug 24, 2009 22:18:02 GMT -4
No..I didn't get to go because I do not drive and my hubby is up North setting up our new house ..I was really looking forward to it too..How was the picnic?? It is Perth Andover where we are moving too..we lived there when the kids were small and decided to go back. I was thinking about the one n Fredericton..but still that is quite a drive if there is a emergency..I still haven't checked out the ones in Grand Falls so I am hoping that something there will pan out..Ill let you all know if I find someone
|
|
|
Post by airy on Sept 30, 2009 13:21:56 GMT -4
Okay, Found a vet!! I called around and there is a Dr.Monteith in Florencville who deals with ferrets, I was told that she is experienced and knowledgeable with ferrets and has several clients who bring their ferrets to her. The only thing is, they do not do vaccinations there but said that they can have them shipped from (South Paw??) in Fredericton. I still plan on having my ferrets continue seeing their regular vet way down in Rothesay but i feel a lot better to know that there is someone close by who can look after them if there is a emergency. As for food there is nowhere in this town that sells it, I have been trying to call Frisky'd petshop in Grandfalls but they never answer the phone..Perhaps I am going to have to stock up every time i make a trip to Saint John area which will be roughly twice a month so that shouldn't really be a issue
|
|
|
Post by Tressie on Oct 1, 2009 6:56:42 GMT -4
Hi Airy,
FLSAC has just received an adoption application from a couple who live in Richmond Corner, NB. They are going to be adopting Pellegrina and Beatrice.
They are new to ferrets but have done months of research and are in the process of buying cage, etc. in preparation for their new babies..
Dora also recently located this vet in her search looking for one, this was her message to me:
"I have spoken with the vet clinic in Florenceville NB. They told me they are aware of Ferrets n do tend to some and said they would be more then happy to assist us with ours when needed. The are called the Florenceville Vet Clinic on Allison Road in Florenceville..there approx 15 mins from us..phone number is 506-392-8377."
This might be a good contact for you - perhaps the two of you could carpool to get supplies, etc.
I have encouraged her to join the message board.... so she might post soon.
Tressie
|
|
|
Post by aaronsmith on Oct 1, 2009 7:10:49 GMT -4
So glad the two beauties are being adopted!!
|
|
|
Post by airy on Oct 1, 2009 10:06:56 GMT -4
Hi Airy, FLSAC has just received an adoption application from a couple who live in Richmond Corner, NB. They are going to be adopting Pellegrina and Beatrice. They are new to ferrets but have done months of research and are in the process of buying cage, etc. in preparation for their new babies.. Dora also recently located this vet in her search looking for one, this was her message to me: "I have spoken with the vet clinic in Florenceville NB. They told me they are aware of Ferrets n do tend to some and said they would be more then happy to assist us with ours when needed. The are called the Florenceville Vet Clinic on Allison Road in Florenceville..there approx 15 mins from us..phone number is 506-392-8377." This might be a good contact for you - perhaps the two of you could carpool to get supplies, etc. I have encouraged her to join the message board.... so she might post soon. Tressie Congrats to her for adopting those babies(ferrets ), I thought Pellegrina was your ferret though, I guess I got confused lol. Do they live in my area?? I know it sure would be nice to meet someone around here who is a ferret fan like myself, The other day I was sitting outside on my back deck with Loki curled up on my chest sound asleep, My neighbors son who is 12 comes over and says "excuse me, do you mind if I ask you what kind of a pet that is?" I told him and he said that was the first time he has ever seen one or heard of one, I was amazed that he never even seen one before, but needless to say he was utterly fascinated and his reaction to Loki was a good one, my other new neighbors have were also unfamiliar with ferrets but they actually liked mine too, and their kids are always coming over asking to see them. Its nice to see them get such good reactions I finally got a hold of the Pet Shop in Grandfalls and yes they do indeed sell ferret food and supplies..But, they are expecting the close at the end of the month and i was told that the closest place to buy it is Edmonston, that is quite a drive , Tomorrow i am going to Rothesay so it looks like i am going to have to stock up. Also I can't even find Yesterday's News around here!! GRR!! its a very common brand of litter, how come nowhere here carries that kind?? Is there any other kind of litter I can buy?? I think that lady must of been talking to the same veterinary clinic I was speaking to yesterday because there is only one in Florenciville(in the phone book anyways), Looks like she is getting not only 3 new ferrets to care for, but 5 now lol, maybe that would be enough to make them get their own vaccinations instead of them being shipped from Fredericton when needed
|
|
|
Post by Tressie on Oct 1, 2009 18:06:02 GMT -4
Hi, Wallmart and Sobeys carry Yesterdays News. The other choice for litter is wood stove pellets and most larger hardware stores carry them e.g., Kent's Building Supplies, etc. Wood stove pellets are a LOT cheaper - $7.00 for a 40 LB. bag. I currently have 4 fosters I am looking after and 6 of my own. One of the fosters Sadie, I am going to adopt. She is 5+ and has several serious health issues, however, she is bonding with my Cannoli who is quite smitten with her. He was very close to Linguini and had been grieving her loss. He had lost his bonded companion to lymphosarcoma a year ago and that was really hard on him. So I put him together with Sadie and it was love at first sight Sadie has been lonely as well but I wanted to stabilize her health first before introducing her to other ferrets. She lost her bonded companion last December. Sadie is shy and submissive, similar temperament to Cannoli's bonded companion Tiramisu who died last October. So it was a perfect match! I believe there is a store near St. John that carries Innova EVO and I think Global Pet Foods in Fredericton also carries it. Aren't they closer to you than Edmundston? Dora and Michael live in Richmond Corner - don't know how close that is to you?? Tressie Tressie
|
|
|
Post by airy on Oct 5, 2009 8:38:33 GMT -4
I am nowhere near a Walmart or a Sobeys , but there is a hardware store nearby so I should check that place out for wood pellets when I go out in a little bit. Wow, they must keep you really busy, Congrats on adopting Sadie, sounds like she is very lucky to have found you, I hope she can be in better health soon I do not know where Richmond Corner is, Ill have to ask my hubby when he gets home from work.
|
|
|
Post by ferretmothertoo on Oct 6, 2009 11:07:48 GMT -4
Richmond Corner is on the road between Woodstock and Houlton, very close to Houlton. Would there be a store in Fredericton where you could order the food and supplies you need and have them sent up on the bus? Winter is coming and believe me, winter in Perth-Andover and the St John River valley is a lot different from winter in Saint John.
|
|
|
Post by shopgirl1147 on Oct 27, 2009 14:59:36 GMT -4
Hi Everybody
For anyone interested...I may have a line on a vet in the Riverview/ Moncton area. I popped in to his newly opened clinic to have a chat with him and see if he was ferret friendly and he made me very optimistic.
He answered and my questions and had some of his own...he said he was experienced with ferrets, and mentioned something about ferrets being very common pets in Spain where he is from.
The next day ......I brought my two fuzzies from my last adoption in for their yearly checkup. I was very impressed with how he handled them. He talked to them and held and stroked them. And they seemed to be calm with him. He weighed them, listened to their hearts, checked them from nose to ahem..tail.
He swabbed their ears, analyzed it and found a few mites and a bit of yeast. He gave me medicated ear drops and treated both for mites while I was in the office and sent meds home for me to treat my other two ferts.
I really liked his manner and Punkin and Duchess seemed to be ok with him and they don't usually like to be handled by anyone but me. Anyway time will tell....but I really liked him and I'm going to take all my pets to him. His prices are very reasonable, actually cheaper than most vets around here.
It's Dr. Miro Drmac in the VetCare Pet Hospital on 30 Trited Rd. in Riverview.
|
|
|
Post by Tressie on Oct 27, 2009 17:25:25 GMT -4
That's great! Thank you Sharon! I'll call his clinic and ask permission to list him on our website as a ferret knowledgeable vet.
He is correct - ferrets are very popular in Spain and in Japan. If you check the video Mindy posted about the fireman rescuing a ferret, that was in Spain.
Tressie
|
|