British Association of Rodentologists??

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Phrin Vernon RVN — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:37:35 GMT

[quote user="Claire 'Duke' York"]

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]

this also worries me a bit: http://www.any-uk-vet.co.uk/cambridge/index.htm apparently it is a veterinary surgery but is not associated with the RCVS....Hmmmmmmm Vedra may have a wealth of many years experience but she has NO formal qualification apart from the one she has made up herself!!!!

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and hugely echo this...very worrying really

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]

Just a bit sceptical really, sorry

[/quote]

YUP! me too!

[/quote]

Me also!

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Dreamcatcher — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:46:31 GMT

I think if this course (or one like it) was to become properly accredited, as apparently planned, then it could potentially be a positive thing- but only if done properly such as the post-VN exotic nursing certificate. I just have a bit of a problem with it being open to everyone, because even though the majority of current participants are probably perfectly capable individuals, I still feel as though it undermines those in the veterinary profession.

Also there really is some very strange advice written in the literature... one thing that stuck in my mind was the suggestion to use a DAP plug-in to prevent male guinea pigs from fighting....?! Not something I would have thought would work on a compeltely different species but then I'm not a rodentologist so I wouldn't know... (Only explanation I can think of is that if the guinea pigs could somehow pick up a dog pheromone then they are probably just terrified that a hungry lactating dog is around...)

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Claire Cameron — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:35:31 GMT

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]

I too am a little concerned about this,

1) the diagnostic service that Claire found

2) the rodentologist that Bizzy found who is able to perform minor surgery ........ hmmmm now isn't that against the law unless she is also a vet/qvn acting under schedule 3, the fact she is also allowed to recognize and treat conditions....yes we can spot some conditions a mile away but we always always have to get a vet to diagnose, so that is the difference between us triaging and joe bloggs off the street

I also couldn't see any testimonials from any vets/nurses who have completed the course, would they provide contact details of any vets/nurses so you could get in touch and speak to them and see what they thought?

If they are talking about making it an NVQ and they are speaking to RCVS and edinburgh then why not wait until all of this is settled and then you can poss come out with an accredited qualification at the end of it

[/quote]

I echo everything here

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]

[/quote]

and hugely echo this...very worrying really

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]

Just a bit sceptical really, sorry

[/quote]

YUP! me too!

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Steph Worsley — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:02:40 GMT

I too am a little concerned about this,

1) the diagnostic service that Claire found

Just a bit sceptical really, sorry

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

laura hayes — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:36:14 GMT

ive been in touch with someone who runs this course and it seems they have been working with the rcvs and are in the process of getting the course accredited as an NVQ.

They have had talks with simon girling who has put them in touch with the faculty at edinbough ( telford college?)for constructive feedback and assistance.

they have had several nurses and vets complete the course and say the "rodentologists" work along side veterinary practices, often have clinics at the practices and refer on to the vets when needed and mainly act as a 'triage' route for owners as a first step basis.

anything medical related gets refered to a vet.

i dont see how this is much different to a nurse or trainee triaging a patent (clipping nails, applying ivermec -which can be bought at pet shops anyway! etc) the little amount nurses are actually taught about rodents at college they probably wouldnt have a clue about them anyway.

The practice that the lady on the cavy haven website works with is local to me and they are a good vets so im sure they wouldnt have some nut job working with them!

From the email i recieved they sound like they are doing alot to work with different vets to provide the best information they can.

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

hayleyw — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:24:28 GMT

oh my god, this woman sounds dangerous! A rodentologist sounds like a very dodgy title to me too..

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Honeybadger — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:10:56 GMT

I've been doing some Googling....

Look at this! http://www.cavyhaven.org.uk/rodentologist.html

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Claire Cameron — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:19:34 GMT

This concerns me also

http://www.britishassociationofrodentologists.co.uk/CCT_Diagnostic_Services.html

Diagnostic services?!

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Claire Cameron — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:16:12 GMT

[quote user="laura hayes"]though to be fair, 30 years of experience with certain illnesses of rodents and you could 'diagnose' more than alot of vets i know!! lol[/quote]

A child minder could have worked with children for years, doesn't grant them the privilige to diagnose paediatrics though does it?

Only Veterinary Surgeons should be diagnosing, regardless of experience caring for rodents

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Nikki Graef — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:40:03 GMT

I dont think anyone should be diagnosing anything without veterinary qualifications, i have had breeders with 40 years of experience misdiagnose conditions in their bitches and puppies. Also people who think they know everything tend to be the people who wont take veterinary advice and actually end up doing more harm than good

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

laura hayes — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:32:34 GMT

i had a feeling the replies may be like that, hard to judge with no experience or seeing the literature!

though to be fair, 30 years of experience with certain illnesses of rodents and you could 'diagnose' more than alot of vets i know!! lol

anyone else had any expereince??

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Honeybadger — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:45:05 GMT

After more than 30 years studying, diagnosing and treating rodents in general and guinea pigs in particular, Vedra Stanley-Spatcher, the founder of the Cambridge Cavy Trust, has experience in just about every rodent ailment there is.

I find it intersting that she has been 'diagnosing' rodents even though she has no qualifications as a Vet.

Re: British Association of Rodentologists??

Dreamcatcher — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:07:49 GMT

A client of ours was raving about them a few months back and brought in some of their literature - I have to say though that although there was some useful information in there they did fail to win me over I'm afraid. The lady running the course probably means well but the general tone of the literature was quite negative towards the veterinary profession and quite frankly I found some of the advice given to be completely barmy - which is a shame as like I said before there was also some relatively useful info in there aswell. Personally I am always a bit suspicious of people who add "ologist" on to other words to give themselves a bit more credibility - as far as I know the lady has no qualifications other than the 'rodentolgist' one (which she invented). I would perhaps trust this course a bit more if it was being run by a vet or zoologist, and I certainly wouldn't want to spend money on a course that isn't accredited.

Sorry, just my views based on what I've looked into... maybe others on here have had a more positive experience though xx