Finding a Good Rat Vet

A rat vet is an absolute necessity. You need a veterinarian who will take your little pet seriously and not dismiss it as a disposible pet, one with experience treating exotics and delicate small animals, and one who is close enough that you can reach them in an emergency in a timely fashion.

The American Animal Hospital Association website is a good place to begin looking. You can search there to find member clinics.

Start calling around. Your local yellow pages or google will give you lists of local vets. Call them and ask if they regularly see rodents, pocket pets, and exotics. Find out how much experience they have and how often they generally see rats. Ask how comfortable they are, and note how receptive their phone staff is to the questions.

Connect with other local fanciers and find out where they go. Don't just take their word for it - contact those vets and interview them as well.