Vet Traumatised My Bunny - How to Complain?

Hi everyone, i am new to this forum. My Rosie is a 3 month old Agouti netherland dwarf rabbit who i adore and is such a lovable, affectionate wee thing. Anyhow, she is primarily a house rabbit but i want to let her have a wee bit of fun in the garden so decided to take her to the vet last night to get her vacinations. Anyhow i had her in a carry case like you would have for a cat and i assumed the male vet (who i later discovered was mainly used to dealing with farm animals) would know how to lift her out properly but she sort of ran around the carrier when he reached in and then he must have grabbed her by the scruff really hard as she squealed so hard and lumps of fur went everywhere. I was so shocked and he left me in the room to try and lift her as she was on the floor. Once i got her and held her till she got her injections i got her home and she was literrally in shock and was like a rag doll when i lifted her out of her carrier. I cuddled her for about half an hour and discovered she has now a bald patch the size of a 10p piece on her back. When i sat her down she hid under the sofa all evening and eventually about 6 hrs after she slowly started to come around again. I was soo traumatised i was in tears yesterday evening for her distress and blaming myself that i should have lifted her out and for not saying something to the vet at the time. Is it too late to complain and how should i go about it?? I really feel i want to say something.

Thanks for any replies.

Nic

Aww poor baby. I would find another vet myself. Its never to late to complain write a letter to the vets head office stating that you were unhappy with the way he handled her etc. If people don't complain then how is abody going to know that there is somthing wrong. Though personally if it were me I would have said please handle my rabbit with more care and walk out and ask to see another vet as I wasn't happy with this one.

nicky1 said:

Hi everyone, i am new to this forum. My Rosie is a 3 month old Agouti netherland dwarf rabbit who i adore and is such a lovable, affectionate wee thing. Anyhow, she is primarily a house rabbit but i want to let her have a wee bit of fun in the garden so decided to take her to the vet last night to get her vacinations. Anyhow i had her in a carry case like you would have for a cat and i assumed the male vet (who i later discovered was mainly used to dealing with farm animals) would know how to lift her out properly but she sort of ran around the carrier when he reached in and then he must have grabbed her by the scruff really hard as she squealed so hard and lumps of fur went everywhere. I was so shocked and he left me in the room to try and lift her as she was on the floor. Once i got her and held her till she got her injections i got her home and she was literrally in shock and was like a rag doll when i lifted her out of her carrier. I cuddled her for about half an hour and discovered she has now a bald patch the size of a 10p piece on her back. When i sat her down she hid under the sofa all evening and eventually about 6 hrs after she slowly started to come around again. I was soo traumatised i was in tears yesterday evening for her distress and blaming myself that i should have lifted her out and for not saying something to the vet at the time. Is it too late to complain and how should i go about it?? I really feel i want to say something.

Thanks for any replies.

Nic

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I would write a letter and never go back

Bunny Traumatised

Thanks for the replies - there is a woman vet there who is lovely who i usually get but because they were so busy i guess they brought him out to help. I will definately make sure it is her i get when i have to go back in two weeks time for the other vacination.

I just wanted to say that the bald patch on the back of her neck.....was it near where her injection was given? It's not unknown for the vax to cause a skin reaction which can lead to a bald patch.

Also, did the vet give both injections together?

I would certainly complain, there is no need to scruff a rabbit in order to pick it up and it takes a lot to make a rabbit scream as a silent prey animal.

I would complain too.......then make sure you only see the lady vet that you like from now on. What is the correct way to pick up a bunny? All the books say the scruff hold is the safest for them if they are scared. Our vet told us the same....... but picked them up like we do, with two hands, under the tummy and supporting all four paws. My daughter tucks hers into the crook of her arm, with his head facing her elbow. He loves to be held like this....
Our vet did have to do the scruff hold on Oliva to see for sure if she was a girl or boy, and she did not seem to mind that much.

i was also going to ask about the injections.plural.how many did your little one have? I would write in a formal complaint and if at all possible find a vet you are more comfortable with. i'm sorry you and your bunny had to go through that

I would be very Angry if I were you!:evil: My bunnys are like my kids. and Im sure yours is too. I would walk in infront of everyone and complain about it I would of smacked right then and there if he did that too my bunny good luck with whatever you choose to do though!

It's tricky as if you have a good vet at the practice you won't want to leave. If the unkind vet is a senior partner you may not get any joy by writing. Find out what seniority he has first-you will have to weigh it up.
Maybe you could state your home town and ask if anyone on RU could recommend a rabbit savvy vet to you? If you are in Gloucester, I can recommend Jason Burgess-pm me for details- he is one of the top UK rabbit savvy vets and is really kind. -Sue:wave:

I'd write and complain.

(1) You shouldn't scruff a rabbit...the don't have a "scruff" so it hurts. Bunnys can easily be removed from a carrier by scooping one hand under the tummy & one supporting the bottom & the vet should use towels to cover the eyes if the bunny is nervous. I've got one of the skittiest nethies in the world & that has always worked...the vet does have to use the towel though or she will run off the table

(2) If he gave both injections at the same time it is against the advice of the manufacturers of Mixi & VHD who stipulate they must be 2 weeks apart. Having them both together could cause serious side effects.

On the side, well done for taking your bunny to be vaccinated but even if your bunny is a house rabbit she should be vaccinated every year. The risk is lower but still there, especially for Mixi.

If you are willing to reveal your rough location, there are many people here that could recomend a rabbit savy vet.

Traumatised Bunny

Hi All

thanks for your kind replies, i have rang the practice yesterday to say i wanted to complain about the treatment of my rabbit and to speak to who ever was the practice manager and they wanted me to speak to a vet. I said i didnt want to speak to a vet but to whoever was over the vets and i am awaiting a call today from one of the practice partners, but i know it may not do much but i think they need to be made aware of how my rabbit was badly handled and traumatised so that it does not happen to others. Thankfully Rosie is now back to herself following at my ankle (my husband calls her the floating floor tile cause she blends in!!)

No she only got the Maxi injection, i have to go back in 2 weeks time for the other one, i will be better prepared to protect my little one this time for sure.

Thanks for your support here as a newbie.

Nic

Oh god well done for complaining. I dont let the vet handle my buns, i pick them up and hold them for him. I think the buns find it less traumatising being handled by someone they know than a stranger.

Dont go back there

I think you should go onto the House Rabbit Society Web site and see if there is a "Rabbit Vet" recommended that is near by that you can see.
The fact that your rabbit was mis-handled tells me that this vet not only does not know handling of rabbits,,,he/she may give the wrong treatment.
I feel veryy badly for your rabbit.
I have had "House Rabbits" for many years and found the right vet via the House Rabbit Society.
Regarding the complaints...by all means do,,,but chances are the "higher ups" wont do anything as this vet brings income to their practice.
Best to go else where right away so your bunny will never have to go thru that again....
Also in the white pages there maybe a number for the House Rabbit Society you can call for where a "Bunny Vet"
is.
We members only recommend the best and caring vets for our other family members (bunnies)

sdf76 said:

It's tricky as if you have a good vet at the practice you won't want to leave. If the unkind vet is a senior partner you may not get any joy by writing. Find out what seniority he has first-you will have to weigh it up.
Maybe you could state your home town and ask if anyone on RU could recommend a rabbit savvy vet to you? If you are in Gloucester, I can recommend Jason Burgess-pm me for details- he is one of the top UK rabbit savvy vets and is really kind. -Sue:wave:

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:wave:thats our vet. he gave shaun the snip (after days of me trying to find a rabbit savvy vet, im so glad i found him) and bout 5 months ago he saved shaunys life when he had a kidney infection and gi stasis at the same time. he is a brill vet and very kind.
x

vets

Vets really p me off. Im sure some people have read this but when I went to my vet I had a terrible experience with Angel she was getting her eye flushed it was gooey had been on drops a week and it was getting worse so i rang to see what I should do they told me to take her back. I also had medicine which was a nightmare to give she really was aggresive but I did finally get it in each day.
When I took her he said he would flush it he tried and treid and kept missing the hole in the end 3 people pinned her down she left with her eyeball no longer visible as it was so swollen he said it would go down in 48 hours! I asked what was the easiet way to give her med he replied I find needles best and laughed however I must give her it as she would be in alot of pain if I didnt. He also told me I dont know hat you people expect if you dont use the medicine, I never siad I hadnt.
The time before winnie had heatstroke (i now know) i took him down he was limp the same vet never examined him just wrote out 4 medicines as he didnt kno what was wrong with him however if winnie was really ill he would be sick! to get the nasty out.
We never went back and now have a lovely vet although not a bun specialist goes out her way to find out stuff. Angel got her medicine via needles by us and her eye got flushed in 5mins and she loved it! Now she nudges the vet for tickles! We did complain to be called a liar so now I warn people not to go there!Loose buisness is the best way if they dont care about my buns. huh

Hi

one of my rabbits is very nervous when taken to vet for injection but because the carrier can be opened at the top she is kept in there and vet gives her the injection. it is less traumatic for her as she is not lifted out of the carrier!