In some clinics with multiple vets, the vets are all independently minded and don't really work as a team. In others, however, the vets tend to specialize or take up the slack in the other vet's procedure preferences. In the first case (independents in one clinic), you'd want only one of the vets treating your ferret, but in the second, the vet doing the procedure would be the one best qualified (by training or by preference). For example: The nearest clinic (Clinic #1) to us has several vets (changing frequently, as the owner-vet employees new vets just out of college). Clinic #1 isn't specifically a "ferret" clinic but extreme emergencies that I can't stabilize for the 45 minute drive to my "ferret" vet go here first. At Clinic #1 we see only one of the two 'regular' vets who know a little (and know they only know a little) about ferrets. Clinic #2, my primary (ferret) clinic has three vets. Two of them are very capable ferret vets. The third can treat ferrets, but relies on the expertise of the other two. One of them, is our 'regular' ferret vet, but the others can easily 'fill in'. At Clinic #3, the vet that examines our ferret, prescribes meds, etc. is NOT the one that does the surgery. Clinic #3 has a vet whose specialty is surgery, and he does that exclusively. (Though it seems odd, not ALL vets LIKE to do surgical procedures! Remember, vets are only human. Some vets feel clumsy doing surgery on tiny critters, but are ok with cows & horses. And just because a vet's "people skills" aren't very good doesn't mean he's not an excellent surgeon.) All three clinics are excellent vet clinics, they just operate differently. It's always good to get to know all the vets (and vet techs) at a clinic and get a feel for how the clinic operates. It makes you feel a lot more comfortable when it's necessary to leave your fuzzy in their care. Don't let the clinical atmosphere intimidate you. You can discuss the same things with them that you do with your hairstylist or grocery store clerk. What you DON'T want is different vets each visit who do little or no conferencing on cases (reading the medical record does NOT count as conferencing) and are essentially just different businesses in one building. As for calling you during the surgery, that's good. It let's you know that there's a possibility of something going wrong before receiving it as a shock after the fact, when you thought it was going to be just something routine. Sometimes what they find inside is much worse, or not what they expected. Sometimes there is a judgement call to be made, sometimes, it's just informational, or "just in case" the procedure goes critical to provide you a shock cushion. Either way, they're still doing all they can to help the ferret recover. Debi Christy Ferrets First Foster Home Practical & easy training, care, & maintenance articles available at http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst/ [Posted in FML issue 3818]