where online can i ask a vet questions for free?

Q. I have searched and searched and all the sites want $- i simply want to ask a couple of questions and get answers for free. any assistance is appreciated.

A. There are many -

www.free-online-veterinarian-advice.com
web-dvm.net
www.purinaone.com
www.talktothevet.com
www,televets.com
askdvm.com

Although these may narrow down the possibilities as to what may be wrong with your cat, there is nothing that can take the place of a one-on-one visit with a vet. There are many conditions that cannot be properly diagnoses until the animal is seen and examined. Should medication be necessary, the vet will have had to examine the cat before medication can be dispensed. It is just in everyone's best interest if you take your cat to a vet as soon as you notice there is something wrong.

Original Question

Why is it when people have a sick dog, calling a vet is not their first choice?

Q. Why is that your first thought is to ask a question YA? Don't you think that your question would be better answered by a vet? And for those of you that say I can't afford a vet, well a phone call is free and it will yield better answers.
I would really like to hear the reasons from people who ask questions rather than calling a vet.
You know I do not have a problem when people ask about simple things but when it is serious that is a different story and most people can tell the difference between minor and serious.
Here is an example and this was a real question asked here, I have a 4 week old puppy that can't stand, can't walk, won't eat and is crying in pain and this person was asking what could be wrong. This is a question the average owner can not answer. This is a question that should have been addressed by a vet and that puppy had to be euthanized because it had a broken neck but the asker waited 3 days before taking the pup to the vet and just kept asking questions for all three days.
Had she of called a vet maybe she would have heeded his advice rather than to wait.

A. What???!!! When your dog is sick you are supposed to call the vet?? I had NO idea! I thought that the best thing to do was ask people on yahoo answers. Many of them are vets and/or vet techs, so they MUST know what's going on. And the home remedies are AMAZING. I mean, I cured parvo using gatorade, a UTI using yogurt, an infection was cleaned out using alcohol. This place is GREAT for medical advice. Pretty soon I too will have my vet's degree all thanks to YA.

Original Question

How long does a veterinarian have to go to college in order to start your career?

Q. I want to be a vet so I can help innocent animals. So it would help also to know: the best vet colleges, recommended preferences, any additional jobs needed to get a better look at what a vet does, and anything else that could help my veterinarin career. Thank you for looking at my question and or answering my question.

A. I am not a veterinarian, but my daughter is an aspiring veterinarian and we have done a lot of research.

You will need to go to college for 3-4 years, and then transfer to vet school which will take another 3-5 years.

Vet school is very competitive, so you need to make sure that you stand out. Experience with animals is a plus, so start now-volunteer at your local ASPCA or other animal related facility, document all of your experience with pets and the like. Take programs that your local aquarium or zoo offer, look into summer programs offered by the vet schools, etc. Also, make sure you have excellent grades-because it is so competitive, they can turn down all but the best.

Google the veterinary schools-there are relatively few of them in the country. They are all outstanding facilities, and it is probably a good idea to apply to each of them with the hopes of getting into one (it is that competitive). You stand a better chance of admission if you are an in-state student or transferring from a college with an admittance agreement with them. For instance, Clemson University has an agreement with the University of Georgia to allow X number of seats per year to be filled by students from Clemson.

I hope this helps, and I wish you the best!

EDITED TO ADD: Ask your pets' veterinarian if you can shadow him/her. S/he can also answer most of your questions! And the colleges will send you free information packets which will help you learn more.

Original Question

How much would it cost to take my bearded dragon to the vet?

Q. My bearded dragon doesnt move and i was woundering how much it would cost for a vet vist and treatment i was told he has MBD Metabolic Bone Disease. and the orginal owner stepped on him before when he got out of his cage. and never took him to the vet. please i have limited money how much and were is a good place to take him around Tonawanda NY?

A. Before you actually pay the vet anything call and ask to speak to the reptile specialist. Tell him/her your situation and then ask questions. With a good enough description she will be able to tell you weather or not she can help you.

You might also try looking or asking a reptile specialist about any rescue shelters in your area that might evaluate your pet with no cost. If there are any vets schools near you call them as well tell them your situation and ask if they do free work. Most vet schools do to help train their students.

I believe i answered another question for you and said that this isnt curable, just treatable and progress preventable.

A common vet checkup for a beardie usually will range from 40 to 50 dollars.

Possible vets in your area- http://www.wnyherp.org/resources/herp-vets.php

SPCA Serving Erie County
205 Ensminger Road
Tonawanda, NY.
(716) 875-7360
http://pets911.buffalo.com/donation.php

Hope you get everything straightened out.

Original Question

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Have any of you pet rat owners taken your rat to the vet for a cold?

Q. How much did the vet charge and what did they do?

A. Several times. I used to work at a vet hospital where it was free for me to do so, but since I moved my new vet charges me $30 for an exam and $8-$25 for medication (depending on what brand of drug is chosen).

Usually the vet will do a general examination, listen to the rat's heart and lungs, palpate the abdomen, look at its eyes, ears, and nose, and generally observe the rat. If the rat has a respiratory infection it is usually very obvious, with sneezing, wheezing, and rattling sounds in the lungs that can easily be detected with a stethoscope. They will then weigh your rat to figure out the proper dosage of antibiotics and prescribe some to you (usually Baytril or Doxycycline) and tell you how much to give, how often to give it, and how to give it (usually by mouth). They will often tell you to call them in a few days and let them know if your rat has gotten better or worse. If there is no change or he has gotten worse, they will usually switch antibiotics, or add another one. Rats can get multiple bacteria that cause respiratory infections and sometimes need to be on a few different antibiotics for an effective treatment.

I hope that answers your question, good luck with your rat!

Original Question

The question I would ask is: How will you take better care of our seniors and disabled persons in healthcare l

Q. Hillary explain your mandatory health care and the cost to us.
The question I would ask is: How will you take better care of our seniors and disabled persons in healthcare like the donut hole and in nursing homes and veterans care after serving?

A. She hasn't addressed these issues that I can see.
She was part of the Congress that created the idiotic donut hole for Medicare.
She's part of the Congress that keeps jacking up Medicare premiums AND trying to "save" money by ripping off docs, but you don't see hospitals or insurers taking a hit.
In the US, Medicare is going bankrupt. In 1998, Medicare premiums were $43.80 and in 2008 will be $96.40--up 120%. "Medigap" insurance is common because of the 20% co-pay required for service. Medicare HMOs are common because they reduce that burden without an extra charge in many cases. HOWEVER, many procedures which used to have no or a low co-pay NOW cost the full 20% for the HMO Medicare patient. ALSO the prescription coverage they tended to offer has been REDUCED in many cases to conform to the insane "donut hole" coverage of the feds. Doctors are leaving Medicare because of the low and slow pay AND because the crazy government wants to "balance" their Ponzi scheme on the backs of doctors.
"That dark cloud lurking over the shoulder of every Massachusetts physician is Medicare. If Congress does not act, doctors' payments from Medicare will be cut by about 5 percent annually, beginning next year through 2012, creating a financial hailstorm that would wreak havoc with already strained practices.

Cumulatively, the proposed cuts represent a 31 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement. If the cuts are adjusted for practice-cost inflation, the American Medical Association says Medicare payment rates to physicians in 2013 would be less than half of what they were in 1991."
http://www.massmed.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=vs_mar05_top&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=11037

As we get an aging demographic AND more folks who never even had kids, the government will have to either shell out more or there will be a lot of old folks offed to save money--ditto vets.

She's NEVER addressed the actual health care cost problems--which include shortage of doctors and nurses, NO price transparency, NO free market so competition and cost-cutting are defeated. But what SHOULD be fixed is the illegal activities of the few big insurers who run the marketplace:
When 75% of the people who declare bankruptcy over medical bills ARE INSURED, then insurance is CLEARLY not the answer.
"Aldrich�s situation is "asinine" but increasingly common, said Dr. Deborah Thorne of Ohio University. Thorne, co-author of a widely quoted 2005 study that found medical bills contributed to nearly half of the 1.5 million personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. each year, said that ratio has likely worsened since the data was gathered.
...
Like Aldrich, Thorne said, three-quarters of the individuals in the study who declared bankruptcy because of health problems were insured. "
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20201807/

Linda Peeno, MD testified that SHE had often denied treatment JUST to save the insurance company money http://www.thenationalcoalition.org/DrPeenotestimony.html

Furthermore:
"the vast majority of health insurance policies are through for-profit stock companies. They are in the process of �shedding lives� as some term it when �undesirable� customers are lost through various means, including raising premiums and co-pays and decreasing benefits (Britt, �Health insurers getting bigger cut of medical dollars,� 15 October 2004, investors.com). That same Investors Business Daily article from 2004 noted the example of Anthem, another insurance company. They said the top five executives (not just the CEO) received an average of an 817 percent increase in compensation between 2000 and 2003. The CEO, for example, had his compensation go from $2.5 million to $25 million during that time period. About $21 million of that was in stock payouts, the article noted.

A 2006 article, �U.S. Health Insurance: More Market Domination, More CEO Compensation�
(hcrenewal.blogspot.com) notes that in 56 percent of 294 metropolitan areas one insurer �controls more than half the business in health maintenance organization and preferred provider networks underwriting." In addition to having the most enrollees, they also are the biggest purchasers of health care and set the price and coverage terms. ��The results is double-digit premium increases from 2001 and 2004�peaking with a 13.9 percent jump in 2003�soaring well above inflation and wages increases.�" Where is all that money going? The article quotes a Wall Street Journal article looking at the compensation of the CEO of UnitedHealth Group. His salary and bonus is $8 million annually. He has benefits such as the use of a private jet. He has stock-option fortunes worth $1.6 billion."
--Save America, Save the World by Cassandra Nathan pp. 127-128

"Insurance Companies Robbing Patients
Robbing patients to pay CEOs leads to unprecedented medical insurance corporation greed.
Thursday, January 3, 2008 8:52 AM
By: Michael Arnold Glueck & Robert J. Cihak, The Medicine Men"
http://www.newsmax.com/medicine_men/medical_insurance/2008/01/03/61543.html

Sensible plan:
QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE health care for all.
That means preventative care (physical with follow up). Real medication (no Medicare "donut holes" the really ill are ripped off again.) No bogus ridiculously low "caps" on needed medical procedures. No abuse of the ER. No paying for the silly with the sniffles to go to the doc for free. No more bankruptcies over medical bills. I want THIS plan that ends abuse of the taxpayer, takes the burden off employers, provides price transparency, and ends the rip-off of the US taxpayer at the hands of greedy insurance CEOs (which has been repeatedly documented).
http://www.booklocker.com/books/3068.html
Read the PDF, not the blurb, for the bulk of the plan. Book is searchable on Amazon.com
Cassandra Nathan's Save America, Save the World

Original Question

Why ask the potentially uneducated people on Yahoo Answers when you could just go to your vet?

Q. Honestly. If your dog is seriously bleeding from a head wound from a fatal contusion, why loiter around on the computer when you could be driving to your vet? Come on people. Show at least a scrap of intelligence here.
Catlover7018414 - I appreciate your input, and you have quite a few points that I hadn't fully considered.
However. I'm more referencing the extremely obvious questions of pet care. I understand completely that these forums can be a wonderful resource for information one would otherwise have to pay for, but many of these people have no experiance as a professional. Realistically, it just isn't a risk you should take with a possibly endangered beloved pet. I completely see where you're coming from, though. Certainly.

A. I know what you mean. There are some behavioral issues, that other's ideas could help. And, I know when I first got my dog, I went to the vet for dog throwing up, to be told, dogs eat stuff and throw up all the time. But, I haven't asked a dog question, yet, because, I asked more reliable, yet free dog experts' advice, like my former dog trainer. For instance, after my dog wasn't healing from hot spot after 6 mos., I asked her if I should try holistic vet, and she said, go for it and gave me a name. Best thing I've done for her! Why ask here when a lot of people answer on dog or cat questions that "I don't own a cat or dog" and I'd have to wade through all the bored kid, or kid-like answerers" silly, and often unintelligible, responses for something I seriously want to know.

Original Question

Why is it cruel to keep a bird in a cage?

Q. I keep seeing answers to questions that just state that keeping birds in cages is cruel and all birds should fly free. Well, I want to know your reasoning and I'd like you to consider a few things.
We keep fish in tanks. Fish are usually in millions of gallons of water, yet it's acceptable to keep them in 5, 10, 20 gallon tanks? Why don't you oppose that?
Rodents are outside where they have miles of space and they don't need a wheel to run on just to stay healthy, yet it's ok to stick them in a tiny cage?
Dogs and cats in the wild have acres and acres all to themselves, yet it's acceptable to coop them up in a kennel, house or backyard?
And here's the kicker- Children in Africa living outside also have miles to roam around. Why are our children expected to stay in the house or yard? They need exercise, too.
So, stop telling me that it's cruel to keep birds in cages. Most pet birds are treated better than humans, so start focusing your energy on people who really do mistreat animals.
Now, I am against people who coop up their birds in small cages and don't let them out to play. THAT is wrong, but for people like me who have ridiculously large cages and let their birds out all the time to play, I don't see the harm.
Also, the whole flying issue. Some birds like to fly, others don't. Most don't have a preference. If the bird is getting fat because it can't fly and needs more exercise, then you should let it fly-on a leash.

A. This only makes sense if it was a LOGICAL reason to keep them locked up in the first place in an inhabital domain. Just like you would put a small child in a play pen with minimal toys all day long with no stimulation.

But there are people who buy birds and pay NO attention to them at all, THEN go buy ANOTHER one to keep that one company! So now you have TWO birds sitting in a small cage doing absolutely nothing but sitting in a cage, making a mess, and having to listen to the owners whine and complain about how messy and loud the two birds are!!

And they end up getting rid of them a year before they die, and the process starts all over for the new owners, but they eventually end up doing the right thing and buy ONE bird instead of two.

Then the cycle starts all over again!!! This is what's known as the "Bird Cycle".

If more people would focus on Educating themselves instead of "impulsive" buying, the world would be a lot better off. But to many people depend on "impulsive" buyers.

Exp: When birds lay eggs, instead of just going out and buying a nest box, (implusive buying) why not leave the bird alone and leave her be? No to many people think a bird needs a box, and don't realize it promotes the cycle to lay more eggs. Why don't they pick up the phone to call their vet and ask their vet what to do? NO, they rely on PET STORE advice, and the pet stores only want to SELL them a product. Putting on a box will NOT help a hen, it will hurt a hen.

Most people lack common sense!! Bigger cage don't mean put a tiel in a parrot cage. It has to be the right bar spacing, or the bird can get seriously hurt.

But a business is only as good as the people they hire to run it. Without knowledge in the animal world, they can and will sell you ice cubes to eskimos, lol

Original Question

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Why is it when people have a sick dog, calling a vet is not their first choice?

Q. Why is that your first thought is to ask a question YA? Don't you think that your question would be better answered by a vet? And for those of you that say I can't afford a vet, well a phone call is free and it will yield better answers.
I would really like to hear the reasons from people who ask questions rather than calling a vet.
You know I do not have a problem when people ask about simple things but when it is serious that is a different story and most people can tell the difference between minor and serious.
Here is an example and this was a real question asked here, I have a 4 week old puppy that can't stand, can't walk, won't eat and is crying in pain and this person was asking what could be wrong. This is a question the average owner can not answer. This is a question that should have been addressed by a vet and that puppy had to be euthanized because it had a broken neck but the asker waited 3 days before taking the pup to the vet and just kept asking questions for all three days.
Had she of called a vet maybe she would have heeded his advice rather than to wait.

A. What???!!! When your dog is sick you are supposed to call the vet?? I had NO idea! I thought that the best thing to do was ask people on yahoo answers. Many of them are vets and/or vet techs, so they MUST know what's going on. And the home remedies are AMAZING. I mean, I cured parvo using gatorade, a UTI using yogurt, an infection was cleaned out using alcohol. This place is GREAT for medical advice. Pretty soon I too will have my vet's degree all thanks to YA.

Original Question

How long does a veterinarian have to go to college in order to start your career?

Q. I want to be a vet so I can help innocent animals. So it would help also to know: the best vet colleges, recommended preferences, any additional jobs needed to get a better look at what a vet does, and anything else that could help my veterinarin career. Thank you for looking at my question and or answering my question.

A. I am not a veterinarian, but my daughter is an aspiring veterinarian and we have done a lot of research.

You will need to go to college for 3-4 years, and then transfer to vet school which will take another 3-5 years.

Vet school is very competitive, so you need to make sure that you stand out. Experience with animals is a plus, so start now-volunteer at your local ASPCA or other animal related facility, document all of your experience with pets and the like. Take programs that your local aquarium or zoo offer, look into summer programs offered by the vet schools, etc. Also, make sure you have excellent grades-because it is so competitive, they can turn down all but the best.

Google the veterinary schools-there are relatively few of them in the country. They are all outstanding facilities, and it is probably a good idea to apply to each of them with the hopes of getting into one (it is that competitive). You stand a better chance of admission if you are an in-state student or transferring from a college with an admittance agreement with them. For instance, Clemson University has an agreement with the University of Georgia to allow X number of seats per year to be filled by students from Clemson.

I hope this helps, and I wish you the best!

EDITED TO ADD: Ask your pets' veterinarian if you can shadow him/her. S/he can also answer most of your questions! And the colleges will send you free information packets which will help you learn more.

Original Question

How much would it cost to take my bearded dragon to the vet?

Q. My bearded dragon doesnt move and i was woundering how much it would cost for a vet vist and treatment i was told he has MBD Metabolic Bone Disease. and the orginal owner stepped on him before when he got out of his cage. and never took him to the vet. please i have limited money how much and were is a good place to take him around Tonawanda NY?

A. Before you actually pay the vet anything call and ask to speak to the reptile specialist. Tell him/her your situation and then ask questions. With a good enough description she will be able to tell you weather or not she can help you.

You might also try looking or asking a reptile specialist about any rescue shelters in your area that might evaluate your pet with no cost. If there are any vets schools near you call them as well tell them your situation and ask if they do free work. Most vet schools do to help train their students.

I believe i answered another question for you and said that this isnt curable, just treatable and progress preventable.

A common vet checkup for a beardie usually will range from 40 to 50 dollars.

Possible vets in your area- http://www.wnyherp.org/resources/herp-vets.php

SPCA Serving Erie County
205 Ensminger Road
Tonawanda, NY.
(716) 875-7360
http://pets911.buffalo.com/donation.php

Hope you get everything straightened out.

Original Question

Why do people turn to perfect strangers on line for answers to serious questions?

Q. I'm referring to those questions best answered by a doctor or vet or are relating to facts best answered by trained professionals, even if that professional is a stock broker or CPA. This seems crazy to me. Do they really follow the advice given?
Remember folks, I said serious questions, I'm not referring to opinions on life stuff.

A. 'cause it's FREE! They are willing to take a chance, rather than pay a professional.

Original Question

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Why is it when people have a sick dog, calling a vet is not their first choice?

Q. Why is that your first thought is to ask a question YA? Don't you think that your question would be better answered by a vet? And for those of you that say I can't afford a vet, well a phone call is free and it will yield better answers.
I would really like to hear the reasons from people who ask questions rather than calling a vet.
You know I do not have a problem when people ask about simple things but when it is serious that is a different story and most people can tell the difference between minor and serious.
Here is an example and this was a real question asked here, I have a 4 week old puppy that can't stand, can't walk, won't eat and is crying in pain and this person was asking what could be wrong. This is a question the average owner can not answer. This is a question that should have been addressed by a vet and that puppy had to be euthanized because it had a broken neck but the asker waited 3 days before taking the pup to the vet and just kept asking questions for all three days.
Had she of called a vet maybe she would have heeded his advice rather than to wait.

A. What???!!! When your dog is sick you are supposed to call the vet?? I had NO idea! I thought that the best thing to do was ask people on yahoo answers. Many of them are vets and/or vet techs, so they MUST know what's going on. And the home remedies are AMAZING. I mean, I cured parvo using gatorade, a UTI using yogurt, an infection was cleaned out using alcohol. This place is GREAT for medical advice. Pretty soon I too will have my vet's degree all thanks to YA.

Original Question

How long does a veterinarian have to go to college in order to start your career?

Q. I want to be a vet so I can help innocent animals. So it would help also to know: the best vet colleges, recommended preferences, any additional jobs needed to get a better look at what a vet does, and anything else that could help my veterinarin career. Thank you for looking at my question and or answering my question.

A. I am not a veterinarian, but my daughter is an aspiring veterinarian and we have done a lot of research.

You will need to go to college for 3-4 years, and then transfer to vet school which will take another 3-5 years.

Vet school is very competitive, so you need to make sure that you stand out. Experience with animals is a plus, so start now-volunteer at your local ASPCA or other animal related facility, document all of your experience with pets and the like. Take programs that your local aquarium or zoo offer, look into summer programs offered by the vet schools, etc. Also, make sure you have excellent grades-because it is so competitive, they can turn down all but the best.

Google the veterinary schools-there are relatively few of them in the country. They are all outstanding facilities, and it is probably a good idea to apply to each of them with the hopes of getting into one (it is that competitive). You stand a better chance of admission if you are an in-state student or transferring from a college with an admittance agreement with them. For instance, Clemson University has an agreement with the University of Georgia to allow X number of seats per year to be filled by students from Clemson.

I hope this helps, and I wish you the best!

EDITED TO ADD: Ask your pets' veterinarian if you can shadow him/her. S/he can also answer most of your questions! And the colleges will send you free information packets which will help you learn more.

Original Question

How much would it cost to take my bearded dragon to the vet?

Q. My bearded dragon doesnt move and i was woundering how much it would cost for a vet vist and treatment i was told he has MBD Metabolic Bone Disease. and the orginal owner stepped on him before when he got out of his cage. and never took him to the vet. please i have limited money how much and were is a good place to take him around Tonawanda NY?

A. Before you actually pay the vet anything call and ask to speak to the reptile specialist. Tell him/her your situation and then ask questions. With a good enough description she will be able to tell you weather or not she can help you.

You might also try looking or asking a reptile specialist about any rescue shelters in your area that might evaluate your pet with no cost. If there are any vets schools near you call them as well tell them your situation and ask if they do free work. Most vet schools do to help train their students.

I believe i answered another question for you and said that this isnt curable, just treatable and progress preventable.

A common vet checkup for a beardie usually will range from 40 to 50 dollars.

Possible vets in your area- http://www.wnyherp.org/resources/herp-vets.php

SPCA Serving Erie County
205 Ensminger Road
Tonawanda, NY.
(716) 875-7360
http://pets911.buffalo.com/donation.php

Hope you get everything straightened out.

Original Question

Have any of you pet rat owners taken your rat to the vet for a cold?

Q. How much did the vet charge and what did they do?

A. Several times. I used to work at a vet hospital where it was free for me to do so, but since I moved my new vet charges me $30 for an exam and $8-$25 for medication (depending on what brand of drug is chosen).

Usually the vet will do a general examination, listen to the rat's heart and lungs, palpate the abdomen, look at its eyes, ears, and nose, and generally observe the rat. If the rat has a respiratory infection it is usually very obvious, with sneezing, wheezing, and rattling sounds in the lungs that can easily be detected with a stethoscope. They will then weigh your rat to figure out the proper dosage of antibiotics and prescribe some to you (usually Baytril or Doxycycline) and tell you how much to give, how often to give it, and how to give it (usually by mouth). They will often tell you to call them in a few days and let them know if your rat has gotten better or worse. If there is no change or he has gotten worse, they will usually switch antibiotics, or add another one. Rats can get multiple bacteria that cause respiratory infections and sometimes need to be on a few different antibiotics for an effective treatment.

I hope that answers your question, good luck with your rat!

Original Question

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Why do people turn to perfect strangers on line for answers to serious questions?

Q. I'm referring to those questions best answered by a doctor or vet or are relating to facts best answered by trained professionals, even if that professional is a stock broker or CPA. This seems crazy to me. Do they really follow the advice given?
Remember folks, I said serious questions, I'm not referring to opinions on life stuff.

A. 'cause it's FREE! They are willing to take a chance, rather than pay a professional.

Original Question

How many questions are too many for a pair of gerbils?

Q. OK, my sister is giving away her gerbils for free with everything included, and this guy emails me asking for pictures and says they will be perfect for his daughter who is 10. So I ask these questions:

*Has she had any experience with other animals before?
*Is there any animal in the house that could potentially harm the gerbils?
*Where are they going to be kept in the house?
*Will they be held regularly?
*Will you have a petsitter if you go away?

Too many?? Please tell me what you think.
I am not able to give them to a pet store, as they will take none over the age of a year. I also have no close friends or relatives that wants them. Thanks for the suggestions though.

A. Those are good questions to start with ...

Quite simply, keep asking questions until you are either satisfied you will be re-homing your sister's gerbils to a responsible keeper ... or until you feel this prospect is not the right one.

A couple more questions to consider also asking:
What foods will you be providing? treats?
Is their vet close at hand and are they experienced with exotic/pocket pets?

Just keep writing down all the questions you feel you need to ask ... you may not need to ask all of them, hoepfully some of the answers will be volunteered.

Original Question

Have any of you pet rat owners taken your rat to the vet for a cold?

Q. How much did the vet charge and what did they do?

A. Several times. I used to work at a vet hospital where it was free for me to do so, but since I moved my new vet charges me $30 for an exam and $8-$25 for medication (depending on what brand of drug is chosen).

Usually the vet will do a general examination, listen to the rat's heart and lungs, palpate the abdomen, look at its eyes, ears, and nose, and generally observe the rat. If the rat has a respiratory infection it is usually very obvious, with sneezing, wheezing, and rattling sounds in the lungs that can easily be detected with a stethoscope. They will then weigh your rat to figure out the proper dosage of antibiotics and prescribe some to you (usually Baytril or Doxycycline) and tell you how much to give, how often to give it, and how to give it (usually by mouth). They will often tell you to call them in a few days and let them know if your rat has gotten better or worse. If there is no change or he has gotten worse, they will usually switch antibiotics, or add another one. Rats can get multiple bacteria that cause respiratory infections and sometimes need to be on a few different antibiotics for an effective treatment.

I hope that answers your question, good luck with your rat!

Original Question

The question I would ask is: How will you take better care of our seniors and disabled persons in healthcare l

Q. Hillary explain your mandatory health care and the cost to us.
The question I would ask is: How will you take better care of our seniors and disabled persons in healthcare like the donut hole and in nursing homes and veterans care after serving?

A. She hasn't addressed these issues that I can see.
She was part of the Congress that created the idiotic donut hole for Medicare.
She's part of the Congress that keeps jacking up Medicare premiums AND trying to "save" money by ripping off docs, but you don't see hospitals or insurers taking a hit.
In the US, Medicare is going bankrupt. In 1998, Medicare premiums were $43.80 and in 2008 will be $96.40--up 120%. "Medigap" insurance is common because of the 20% co-pay required for service. Medicare HMOs are common because they reduce that burden without an extra charge in many cases. HOWEVER, many procedures which used to have no or a low co-pay NOW cost the full 20% for the HMO Medicare patient. ALSO the prescription coverage they tended to offer has been REDUCED in many cases to conform to the insane "donut hole" coverage of the feds. Doctors are leaving Medicare because of the low and slow pay AND because the crazy government wants to "balance" their Ponzi scheme on the backs of doctors.
"That dark cloud lurking over the shoulder of every Massachusetts physician is Medicare. If Congress does not act, doctors' payments from Medicare will be cut by about 5 percent annually, beginning next year through 2012, creating a financial hailstorm that would wreak havoc with already strained practices.

Cumulatively, the proposed cuts represent a 31 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement. If the cuts are adjusted for practice-cost inflation, the American Medical Association says Medicare payment rates to physicians in 2013 would be less than half of what they were in 1991."
http://www.massmed.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=vs_mar05_top&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=11037

As we get an aging demographic AND more folks who never even had kids, the government will have to either shell out more or there will be a lot of old folks offed to save money--ditto vets.

She's NEVER addressed the actual health care cost problems--which include shortage of doctors and nurses, NO price transparency, NO free market so competition and cost-cutting are defeated. But what SHOULD be fixed is the illegal activities of the few big insurers who run the marketplace:
When 75% of the people who declare bankruptcy over medical bills ARE INSURED, then insurance is CLEARLY not the answer.
"Aldrich�s situation is "asinine" but increasingly common, said Dr. Deborah Thorne of Ohio University. Thorne, co-author of a widely quoted 2005 study that found medical bills contributed to nearly half of the 1.5 million personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. each year, said that ratio has likely worsened since the data was gathered.
...
Like Aldrich, Thorne said, three-quarters of the individuals in the study who declared bankruptcy because of health problems were insured. "
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20201807/

Linda Peeno, MD testified that SHE had often denied treatment JUST to save the insurance company money http://www.thenationalcoalition.org/DrPeenotestimony.html

Furthermore:
"the vast majority of health insurance policies are through for-profit stock companies. They are in the process of �shedding lives� as some term it when �undesirable� customers are lost through various means, including raising premiums and co-pays and decreasing benefits (Britt, �Health insurers getting bigger cut of medical dollars,� 15 October 2004, investors.com). That same Investors Business Daily article from 2004 noted the example of Anthem, another insurance company. They said the top five executives (not just the CEO) received an average of an 817 percent increase in compensation between 2000 and 2003. The CEO, for example, had his compensation go from $2.5 million to $25 million during that time period. About $21 million of that was in stock payouts, the article noted.

A 2006 article, �U.S. Health Insurance: More Market Domination, More CEO Compensation�
(hcrenewal.blogspot.com) notes that in 56 percent of 294 metropolitan areas one insurer �controls more than half the business in health maintenance organization and preferred provider networks underwriting." In addition to having the most enrollees, they also are the biggest purchasers of health care and set the price and coverage terms. ��The results is double-digit premium increases from 2001 and 2004�peaking with a 13.9 percent jump in 2003�soaring well above inflation and wages increases.�" Where is all that money going? The article quotes a Wall Street Journal article looking at the compensation of the CEO of UnitedHealth Group. His salary and bonus is $8 million annually. He has benefits such as the use of a private jet. He has stock-option fortunes worth $1.6 billion."
--Save America, Save the World by Cassandra Nathan pp. 127-128

"Insurance Companies Robbing Patients
Robbing patients to pay CEOs leads to unprecedented medical insurance corporation greed.
Thursday, January 3, 2008 8:52 AM
By: Michael Arnold Glueck & Robert J. Cihak, The Medicine Men"
http://www.newsmax.com/medicine_men/medical_insurance/2008/01/03/61543.html

Sensible plan:
QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE health care for all.
That means preventative care (physical with follow up). Real medication (no Medicare "donut holes" the really ill are ripped off again.) No bogus ridiculously low "caps" on needed medical procedures. No abuse of the ER. No paying for the silly with the sniffles to go to the doc for free. No more bankruptcies over medical bills. I want THIS plan that ends abuse of the taxpayer, takes the burden off employers, provides price transparency, and ends the rip-off of the US taxpayer at the hands of greedy insurance CEOs (which has been repeatedly documented).
http://www.booklocker.com/books/3068.html
Read the PDF, not the blurb, for the bulk of the plan. Book is searchable on Amazon.com
Cassandra Nathan's Save America, Save the World

Original Question

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The question I would ask is: How will you take better care of our seniors and disabled persons in healthcare l

Q. Hillary explain your mandatory health care and the cost to us.
The question I would ask is: How will you take better care of our seniors and disabled persons in healthcare like the donut hole and in nursing homes and veterans care after serving?

A. She hasn't addressed these issues that I can see.
She was part of the Congress that created the idiotic donut hole for Medicare.
She's part of the Congress that keeps jacking up Medicare premiums AND trying to "save" money by ripping off docs, but you don't see hospitals or insurers taking a hit.
In the US, Medicare is going bankrupt. In 1998, Medicare premiums were $43.80 and in 2008 will be $96.40--up 120%. "Medigap" insurance is common because of the 20% co-pay required for service. Medicare HMOs are common because they reduce that burden without an extra charge in many cases. HOWEVER, many procedures which used to have no or a low co-pay NOW cost the full 20% for the HMO Medicare patient. ALSO the prescription coverage they tended to offer has been REDUCED in many cases to conform to the insane "donut hole" coverage of the feds. Doctors are leaving Medicare because of the low and slow pay AND because the crazy government wants to "balance" their Ponzi scheme on the backs of doctors.
"That dark cloud lurking over the shoulder of every Massachusetts physician is Medicare. If Congress does not act, doctors' payments from Medicare will be cut by about 5 percent annually, beginning next year through 2012, creating a financial hailstorm that would wreak havoc with already strained practices.

Cumulatively, the proposed cuts represent a 31 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement. If the cuts are adjusted for practice-cost inflation, the American Medical Association says Medicare payment rates to physicians in 2013 would be less than half of what they were in 1991."
http://www.massmed.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=vs_mar05_top&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=11037

As we get an aging demographic AND more folks who never even had kids, the government will have to either shell out more or there will be a lot of old folks offed to save money--ditto vets.

She's NEVER addressed the actual health care cost problems--which include shortage of doctors and nurses, NO price transparency, NO free market so competition and cost-cutting are defeated. But what SHOULD be fixed is the illegal activities of the few big insurers who run the marketplace:
When 75% of the people who declare bankruptcy over medical bills ARE INSURED, then insurance is CLEARLY not the answer.
"Aldrich�s situation is "asinine" but increasingly common, said Dr. Deborah Thorne of Ohio University. Thorne, co-author of a widely quoted 2005 study that found medical bills contributed to nearly half of the 1.5 million personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. each year, said that ratio has likely worsened since the data was gathered.
...
Like Aldrich, Thorne said, three-quarters of the individuals in the study who declared bankruptcy because of health problems were insured. "
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20201807/

Linda Peeno, MD testified that SHE had often denied treatment JUST to save the insurance company money http://www.thenationalcoalition.org/DrPeenotestimony.html

Furthermore:
"the vast majority of health insurance policies are through for-profit stock companies. They are in the process of �shedding lives� as some term it when �undesirable� customers are lost through various means, including raising premiums and co-pays and decreasing benefits (Britt, �Health insurers getting bigger cut of medical dollars,� 15 October 2004, investors.com). That same Investors Business Daily article from 2004 noted the example of Anthem, another insurance company. They said the top five executives (not just the CEO) received an average of an 817 percent increase in compensation between 2000 and 2003. The CEO, for example, had his compensation go from $2.5 million to $25 million during that time period. About $21 million of that was in stock payouts, the article noted.

A 2006 article, �U.S. Health Insurance: More Market Domination, More CEO Compensation�
(hcrenewal.blogspot.com) notes that in 56 percent of 294 metropolitan areas one insurer �controls more than half the business in health maintenance organization and preferred provider networks underwriting." In addition to having the most enrollees, they also are the biggest purchasers of health care and set the price and coverage terms. ��The results is double-digit premium increases from 2001 and 2004�peaking with a 13.9 percent jump in 2003�soaring well above inflation and wages increases.�" Where is all that money going? The article quotes a Wall Street Journal article looking at the compensation of the CEO of UnitedHealth Group. His salary and bonus is $8 million annually. He has benefits such as the use of a private jet. He has stock-option fortunes worth $1.6 billion."
--Save America, Save the World by Cassandra Nathan pp. 127-128

"Insurance Companies Robbing Patients
Robbing patients to pay CEOs leads to unprecedented medical insurance corporation greed.
Thursday, January 3, 2008 8:52 AM
By: Michael Arnold Glueck & Robert J. Cihak, The Medicine Men"
http://www.newsmax.com/medicine_men/medical_insurance/2008/01/03/61543.html

Sensible plan:
QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE health care for all.
That means preventative care (physical with follow up). Real medication (no Medicare "donut holes" the really ill are ripped off again.) No bogus ridiculously low "caps" on needed medical procedures. No abuse of the ER. No paying for the silly with the sniffles to go to the doc for free. No more bankruptcies over medical bills. I want THIS plan that ends abuse of the taxpayer, takes the burden off employers, provides price transparency, and ends the rip-off of the US taxpayer at the hands of greedy insurance CEOs (which has been repeatedly documented).
http://www.booklocker.com/books/3068.html
Read the PDF, not the blurb, for the bulk of the plan. Book is searchable on Amazon.com
Cassandra Nathan's Save America, Save the World

Original Question

Why ask the potentially uneducated people on Yahoo Answers when you could just go to your vet?

Q. Honestly. If your dog is seriously bleeding from a head wound from a fatal contusion, why loiter around on the computer when you could be driving to your vet? Come on people. Show at least a scrap of intelligence here.
Catlover7018414 - I appreciate your input, and you have quite a few points that I hadn't fully considered.
However. I'm more referencing the extremely obvious questions of pet care. I understand completely that these forums can be a wonderful resource for information one would otherwise have to pay for, but many of these people have no experiance as a professional. Realistically, it just isn't a risk you should take with a possibly endangered beloved pet. I completely see where you're coming from, though. Certainly.

A. I know what you mean. There are some behavioral issues, that other's ideas could help. And, I know when I first got my dog, I went to the vet for dog throwing up, to be told, dogs eat stuff and throw up all the time. But, I haven't asked a dog question, yet, because, I asked more reliable, yet free dog experts' advice, like my former dog trainer. For instance, after my dog wasn't healing from hot spot after 6 mos., I asked her if I should try holistic vet, and she said, go for it and gave me a name. Best thing I've done for her! Why ask here when a lot of people answer on dog or cat questions that "I don't own a cat or dog" and I'd have to wade through all the bored kid, or kid-like answerers" silly, and often unintelligible, responses for something I seriously want to know.

Original Question

Why is it cruel to keep a bird in a cage?

Q. I keep seeing answers to questions that just state that keeping birds in cages is cruel and all birds should fly free. Well, I want to know your reasoning and I'd like you to consider a few things.
We keep fish in tanks. Fish are usually in millions of gallons of water, yet it's acceptable to keep them in 5, 10, 20 gallon tanks? Why don't you oppose that?
Rodents are outside where they have miles of space and they don't need a wheel to run on just to stay healthy, yet it's ok to stick them in a tiny cage?
Dogs and cats in the wild have acres and acres all to themselves, yet it's acceptable to coop them up in a kennel, house or backyard?
And here's the kicker- Children in Africa living outside also have miles to roam around. Why are our children expected to stay in the house or yard? They need exercise, too.
So, stop telling me that it's cruel to keep birds in cages. Most pet birds are treated better than humans, so start focusing your energy on people who really do mistreat animals.
Now, I am against people who coop up their birds in small cages and don't let them out to play. THAT is wrong, but for people like me who have ridiculously large cages and let their birds out all the time to play, I don't see the harm.
Also, the whole flying issue. Some birds like to fly, others don't. Most don't have a preference. If the bird is getting fat because it can't fly and needs more exercise, then you should let it fly-on a leash.

A. This only makes sense if it was a LOGICAL reason to keep them locked up in the first place in an inhabital domain. Just like you would put a small child in a play pen with minimal toys all day long with no stimulation.

But there are people who buy birds and pay NO attention to them at all, THEN go buy ANOTHER one to keep that one company! So now you have TWO birds sitting in a small cage doing absolutely nothing but sitting in a cage, making a mess, and having to listen to the owners whine and complain about how messy and loud the two birds are!!

And they end up getting rid of them a year before they die, and the process starts all over for the new owners, but they eventually end up doing the right thing and buy ONE bird instead of two.

Then the cycle starts all over again!!! This is what's known as the "Bird Cycle".

If more people would focus on Educating themselves instead of "impulsive" buying, the world would be a lot better off. But to many people depend on "impulsive" buyers.

Exp: When birds lay eggs, instead of just going out and buying a nest box, (implusive buying) why not leave the bird alone and leave her be? No to many people think a bird needs a box, and don't realize it promotes the cycle to lay more eggs. Why don't they pick up the phone to call their vet and ask their vet what to do? NO, they rely on PET STORE advice, and the pet stores only want to SELL them a product. Putting on a box will NOT help a hen, it will hurt a hen.

Most people lack common sense!! Bigger cage don't mean put a tiel in a parrot cage. It has to be the right bar spacing, or the bird can get seriously hurt.

But a business is only as good as the people they hire to run it. Without knowledge in the animal world, they can and will sell you ice cubes to eskimos, lol

Original Question

How much would spaying and teeth cleaning for dog?

Q. The vet i went to said it was around 500 dollars.. Is this average?

A. Different areas, different prices. Veterinary clinics are a neighborhood business. If you go to a ritzy neighborhood, you will pay ritzy prices. If you go to a blue collar neighborhood, you will most likely pay less. Call around, take notes on who charges what.

Sick pets need vets and you may find yourself in a
position of finding a new one. If you are a first
time pet owner or have moved to a new area you
might want a little help finding that vet, before you
need that vet. Get recommendations from friends or
neighbors that have pets. Find out why they like the
vet they use. Ask at the local dog park or beach. Look
them up online, see if you can find reviews. Visit the
places recommended, see for yourself what the place
is like. Is the place clean, odor free? Is the staff
attentive? How do they relate to the animals? Before
going make a list of questions you will want to ask so
you don't forget. 1-How long have you been in practice?
2- How many vets are on staff here? 3- Will the same
vet see my pet each time or will I get a different vet
without notice? 4- How long have the other vets been
in practice? 4- What are your emergency procedures
during business hours? After business hours? Arrange
for a tour. Ask their procedure in case of an emergency
during business hours and during off business hours.
One thing I would not ask a vet about is to recommend
a pet food. Vets, for the most part, are not nutritionalists.
They will generally recommend what ever brand of food
they stock and it is not necessarily a good quality food.
Please, research your pets food! If possible meet the vet(s).
You want a vet, and staff, you feel comfortable with and
confident about. When you go for that first appointment
does the Doctor listen to what you have to say? Does the
vet answer the questions you ask. Does he/she explain
things to your satisfaction, understanding? How does the
vet talk to your pet? Does the vet use your pets name?
Also you should communicate your expectations to the
doctor. If you want the vet to do what he/she feels
necessary to find the problem, tests, ex-rays, say so. If
you are on a tight budget, say so. The vet should know
whether or not you can afford that MRI that can run a
couple of thousand dollars.

If you need a specialist and have not yet found a vet you
trust to give you a referral call the VMA
(veterinary medical association) for a specialist referral in
your area. Or look the VMA up on line and check out
their list.

If you need low cost vet care, if that is your primary
concern there is hope. When it comes to your pets
health you want the best possible care. If low cost is
the best possible you can do there is a way to find it.
1-Start with your local Humane Society or local animal
shelters. They are probably working with vets that
charge a reasonable fee. Some will even let you bring
your pet to them for a low cost spay/neuter.
2-Vet offices are neighborhood businesses. If you find
a vet in an upper class neighborhood, expect to pay
premium prices. If you find a vets office in a poor
neighborhood the prices will most likely be lower.
3-Pick up the yellow pages and the phone. Have a pad
and paper to keep track of who you call and their answer.
Call vet offices and ask two questions. How much do you
charge for a spay on a 40 pound dog? How much do you
charge for a general exam? Those two questions will
probably tell you who is the most reasonable.

You can also do an engine search on who does low cost spay & neuter in your area.

Original Question

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