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Changing vets

sashababe

Warren Scout
I'm planning to move the bunnies to another vets which is hopefully a little more rabbit savvy than mine. I'm wondering what the etiquette is, I will be keeping other pets with the original vets as they're fine with cats/dogs so not really leaving. I know my buns history so there is nothing I couldn't tell the new vet - e.g. there would be no need to contact the old ones for notes. Is it usual to let vets know you're moving? I don't want there to be any awkwardness when I go in with my cats..
 
I think it is usual for new vets to request history from old vet. I moved my cats to a vet closer to home, but my rabbits remain at the original vet practice where they see a rabbit specialist. I know they requested the notes.


I don't see why there should be any awkwardness (although I know what you mean). I would just go along to your present vet, as usual, with your other pets. You could, if you would feel more comfortable, say you have found a vet specialising in rabbits.
 
Legally the new vets has to have the pre existing history from a previous vets. This is often ignored, but we are very hot on requesting histories from previous vets and our vet won't see an animal unless that history is sent (unless in emergency obviously).

There shouldn't be any awkwardness, we have loads of clients who have some animals with us and others at other vets.
 
Since i adopted the bunnies from our old vet, and since they had been instrumental in saving Widget when she was a baby, i sent my old vet a thank you card, saying the buns were moving to a rabbit specialist. This was after widget developed an eye problem which needed better diagnostics than the old vet could provide.
 
I'm not really bothered about vets knowing I'm leaving their practice either completely or with one species, my local vet is great for reptiles and rodents but it's pot luck with regard to who's available. As a result I take the rabbits to another practice where there is always someone rabbit savvy on.

If I can get better value for money or, as is the case with the bunnies, a better standard of treatment elsewhere then I'm offski. :lol:
 
Legally the new vets has to have the pre existing history from a previous vets. This is often ignored, but we are very hot on requesting histories from previous vets and our vet won't see an animal unless that history is sent (unless in emergency obviously).

There shouldn't be any awkwardness, we have loads of clients who have some animals with us and others at other vets.

Certainly had no idea it was a legal thing! Guess it makes sense though. Does this mean I don't need to officially tell old vets, but that new vets will contact them direct? Definately for me the standard of treatment is what's driving me to move on, they are very nice and well intentioned, but having joined the forum and gained some knowledge I feel their previous diagnoses have been a little off the mark and may even have contributed to the death of my little bridge bun :( Also as you say Kittykat with more specialist things I would rather see somebody that understands the species as a whole better
 
Certainly had no idea it was a legal thing! Guess it makes sense though. Does this mean I don't need to officially tell old vets, but that new vets will contact them direct? Definately for me the standard of treatment is what's driving me to move on, they are very nice and well intentioned, but having joined the forum and gained some knowledge I feel their previous diagnoses have been a little off the mark and may even have contributed to the death of my little bridge bun :( Also as you say Kittykat with more specialist things I would rather see somebody that understands the species as a whole better

The vet I work with has always told me that it is a legal thing. And no, you don't need to tell your old one. We would normally phone up on your behalf, sometimes the owner will ask me to tell the previous vets that it is nothing they had done, but we are closer/more specialist etc and that they would like to keep their other pets with them still. I know some vets aren't bothered with getting the history from the previous vets and never contact them, but the practice I work for like to have all the information so they can treat the animal properly, especially if there have been problems in the past.
 
My bunnies are registered with three different vets! One for vaccinations, because its the closest. One vet neutered Islay and Jura, and another vet neutered Harris. So three different ones. None have ever asked for previous history, nor has my vaccination vet wondered how my rabbits have gone from one vacc visit not neutered, to their next being neutered!
 
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