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If a vets isn't great with rabbits...

bumblicious

Warren Veteran
If a vets is not great with bunnies it doesn't mean they're bad with cats and dogs does it? I mean cos rabbits are supposed to have specialised vets it just means perhaps the bunnies need another vets?
 
You can never tell unless you try them. Some surgery's will have different vets, like there'll be a small animal vet who deals with bunnies who may not be very good, or what you're looking for, then there'll be a different vet who deals with cats/dogs who you may like.
 
Then maybe use them for your cats and try them with dogs if necessary but if they're not great with bunnies/you're not happy with them then yes maybe try and find a different vets just for the bunnies if the situation applies to you?? :wave:
 
Yes my faith is a little shaken i guess. but then i guess cos they are not great with bunnies it just means they are not specialised in bunnies and it doesn't mean they are not good with other animals does it and as i've not really had any problems with the cats in fact it was the previous vets we had problems with about the cats. it's just made me a bit unsure that's all.
 
Vets often have interests in different animals and read/work more with them so have more experience. Just like you wouldn't necessarily expect a rabbit lover to know all the intricacies of caring for a cat, even though they might like animals in general :)
 
Whilst I'd cut off my own leg to get a specialised bunny vet, in the interim, I've found the key is to find a vet who's willing to learn. I bought my vet membership of the RWA years ago and am always taking in articles from Rabbitting On and sensible internet articles. My vet has learnt so much from my buns and this experience helps other bunnies too. I think some vets rarely see buns so how will they gain experience? My vet has embraced my buns and researches himself too. We work as a team essentially. When I take my cats I do feel less 'on duty' but with the buns it definitely is getting better. When my vet's away and their's a locum...um. One locum is super with buns. Most I feel I need to explain that Milly/Rupert is a rabbit. Probably having buns with chronic/poor health as 'helped'. Once vets realise treating buns can be interesting and challenging many spring to life. In the meantime, I'd advise bunny carers to keep vigilent and informed especially of the need for pain relief, vaccinations, and the signs of GI, EC and so forth.
 
I think in general that the majority of small animal vets see almost 100% cats and dogs with perhaps a few rabbits, guinea pigs and the odd bird etc. Most small pet owners won't spend money on a bunny that only cost £20 so the vets just don't get to see them and build up their experience and knowledge. So whilst some vets give out some shocking advice to rabbit owners, it's hardly surprising. That isn't to say I agree with their lack of knowledge as I believe they have a duty to know as much as possible about any animal that they agree to treat.

But ultimately, just because they know very little about rabbits doesn't mean they know nothing about dogs or cats because they treat those types of pets day in, day out. My dog vets are great but I don't take my small furries to them. If only Simon Maddock treated dogs too..........I'd be jumping for joy!!
 
At my vets, there is one specialist small animal vet and one that is specialist but not as good as the other one. She said they never really see bunnies because people don't take them in.
 
But I don't get it do people really not take them in? I mean I get that they're seen as specialist but if they're the 3rd most popular pet then if they're poorly surely people would bring them in
 
But I don't get it do people really not take them in? I mean I get that they're seen as specialist but if they're the 3rd most popular pet then if they're poorly surely people would bring them in

From my experience people see rabbits as 'cheap pets' and therefore if it dies they can just get another one. :cry: same with hamsters and fish.
 
I use 2 seperate vet surgeries, 1 I take 3 of the cats and the dog to and the other I take the rabbits and my youngest cat to. The first vet is a good all round vet, but don't have enough specialist knowledge about rabbits. The second isn't a rabbit specialist as such but the vet and the vet nurses have a keen interest in rabbits and I'd trust them with my own life :lol: we take the youngest cat there because they offer a vaccination deal, pay £99 and never pay for another jab :thumb:

I've taken gerbils/hamsters to both vets and they offer pretty much the same care
 
Just thought I should point out, in case people get a bit confused by a couple of posts, that a 'small animal' vet doesn't mean one qualified in rabbits, 'small animals' are more cats and dogs. So a vet qualified in small animal medicine is not qualified in rabbit medicine, but one qualified in exotic or zoological veterinary medicine is.

A vet that doesn't know their stuff about rabbits isn't necessarily the same with cats and dogs - they are different areas of veterinary care and very different animals. Just like I wouldn't necessarily expect my rabbit vet to be the best option for a goat.
 
Yes my vet i usually use is small animal and not so good with poorly bunnies. The bunny specialist vets is also small animals HOWEVER one bunny specialist vet works there but even the other vets who work there have A LOT more experience with bunnies than my usual vet so are able to treat my bunny.
 
But I don't get it do people really not take them in? I mean I get that they're seen as specialist but if they're the 3rd most popular pet then if they're poorly surely people would bring them in

Sadly not. Rabbits are still seen as cheap pets for children and stuck in a 3 foot box at the end of the garden. IF the owners happen to notice it's ill then they often 'wait to see if it gets better' before spending any money at the vets. By the time they do take it then it's either at death's door or the cost of treatment is so high due to the severity of its symptoms that they decide it's not worth spending the money. There ARE some good owners out there but sadly they're few and far between.
 
I think in general that the majority of small animal vets see almost 100% cats and dogs with perhaps a few rabbits, guinea pigs and the odd bird etc. Most small pet owners won't spend money on a bunny that only cost £20 so the vets just don't get to see them and build up their experience and knowledge. So whilst some vets give out some shocking advice to rabbit owners, it's hardly surprising. That isn't to say I agree with their lack of knowledge as I believe they have a duty to know as much as possible about any animal that they agree to treat.

But ultimately, just because they know very little about rabbits doesn't mean they know nothing about dogs or cats because they treat those types of pets day in, day out. My dog vets are great but I don't take my small furries to them. If only Simon Maddock treated dogs too..........I'd be jumping for joy!!

No, no, no Simon must remain dedicated to his bunny clients lol. I just about worship Simon for all the help and support he has given me over the years. When my very disabled Roger was pts in September, Simon stayed with Roger and myself for over 2hrs after the clinic had closed, so that I really did have all the time I needed with him, and time to give him plenty of cuddles to send him on his way. Seriously, how many vets would do that, when they could be at home with their families.
 
I use 2 separate vets as well-the vet for Chrissy is specialised in small and exotic animals medecine, as well as conservational medecine and anesthesia which turns her into a person that will have a very individual approach to every pet and when she does an op, she always picks up an anesthetic approach that makes bunnies fall asleep well and wake up quickly. I'm pretty happy with her.And she loves Chrissy.
For my cat Bobby I use a random vet for pretty, call it egoistic as you want, reason. I know he's a young pretty healthy animal and till now I just needed the vet for the vaccine and the neuthering. The vet for my bunny works in a clinic that rips off my salary .... But my bunny has a pretty delicate health and I wouldn't trust the vet that's situated near my place when she's sick. Not well educated vets have the habbit to treat a bun like a cat or a dog, sometimes they even try giving the same medication....I suppose that if Bobby gets sick, I'll bring him to the same clinic, and yes, maybe the same vet like Chrissy.But when he's not and the treatment is just something that all the vets do regularly I prefere to save some money:(
 
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