Rabbit Savy Vets

Can anyone tell me how to identify if my vet is truly rabbit savy, they seem to know what they are talking about, but Im worried that because I dont know an awful lot about rabbit illnesses that Im not picking up that they are really clueless. Dont get me wrong apart from when one of my rabbits died following his neutering op (not sure if anyone was actually at fault, or whether its one of those things, dreadful horrible thing, but just something that happens), they have been fine whenever I have visited them, but I dont really want to wait for an emergency to happen to find out that they are rubbish. And can anyone recommend a rabbit savy vet in the Teesside area.

Some good questions might be:

"how is the myxi jab administered" correct answer is 10% in the skin/ear

"should rabbits be starved before an operation?" correct answer is no

"what sort of diet do you recommend for a rabbit?" correct answer mostly hay / grass with some fresh fruit / veg and a few pellets.

I'd consider the above to be the absolute basics that a vet treating rabbits should know.

What I would consider a rabbit savvy vet would be one who knows what sort of antibiotics are best for treating various conditions; being able to diagnose quickly why your rabbit is losing weight; had urine incontinence; why it isn't eating etc. As for how to find this out? I'm sorry, I don't have the answer but hopefully someone else will.

I must admit I've had similar concerns myself. I trust some vets at my practice but not absolutely sure about others, like yourself I do feel the need to be absolutely sure.

I hope you get a recommendation because I think that is the best way to feel confident about a vet.

Many thanks for your comments it really is appreciated.

:shock:My vet always does injections (for anything) just in the scruff of neck I think

hi

Every vet should know the basics! However some specialise in certain areas in Harrogate (think) is the Rabbit specialist best in this country Francis Harcourt-Brown. In Tyne and Wear is Honor Etherington. You just know when your vets good and if they are interested. I have found most dont seem to be bothered unless they really like buns. We went to 1 who was scared to pick ours up so just issued 4 meds to be on safe side (we later learnt ourselves that he had heatsroke) the same vet also told us not to worry as bun would be sick and get rid of what was making him unwell. Buns cant be sick so obv we knew from that point he was Some are very text book and they arent too sure but do everything as though reading from book this too is good as I suppose they will be doing exactly what a vet who knows buns would do. If your not happy just move around until you find 1 and never be scared to have 2nd opinions.

I seem to have found a rabbit savvy vet by accident... Have used the same vets for years for my dog, and they really know their doggy stuff - but when I got our bun, I rang round not just my usual vet but loads of other ones to get a quote for vaccinations. I picked up pretty quickly that some were advising both vaccs at once, some two weeks apart and of the former, some were saying both myxi and VHD should be done twice a year. Even though I didn't know a thing, myself it was obvious some were in it for the money and as the info I got over the phone was contradictory, someone was wrong!

Interestingly, the cheapest quote of all was also the vets who seemed to have the most knowledge, and be the keenest to get my buns through the door...

One vets was not only half the price of any other, but went out of their way to give the info accurately. Sometimes we assume the cheaper option is not the best but as this one practice was giving me info straight - I guessed they might be good. Having been a few times now am pleased with them. Have seen 2 vets at the practice and one was talking about her own bunny (good sign); the other was very knowledgable about EC and Panacur, as well as diet giving precisely the advice I've seen on here re. hay, greens and pellets.

Have just booked our Rex in for his neutering, and have been given a comprehensive set of pre and post op instructions that are bunny-specific (eg: feed right up to op) - not just a standard hand-out for dogs, cats and small animals... They seem knowledgable but also genuine bunny lovers, too, greeting the buns with lots of affection.

I think with even only a basic knowledge of what's what, you can suss out whether a vet is bunny-suitable, or not.

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=34

this link in the rabbit care reference section may help-ttells you where to get list of vets who specialise in exotics-Sue:wave:

for anyone in Gloucester I recommend Jason Burgess