When I registered my buns at their current vet, I was informed that they would not have to wait in a room full of dogs. However, on both occasions, I have had to wait amongst loud barking dogs pulling at their owners leads to try to get to my rabbits. I do not want a trip to the vet to be made more stressful than is necessary because of inconsiderate dog owners. This time, a lady with a dog chose to sit next to me and allowed her dog to sniff around my rabbit's carrier. I asked her to keep her dog away from my rabbit, to which she shouted, 'you are a very nasty person!' She knows nothing about me, so how can she justify saying that? I don't go to the vet to put my rabbits at risk and to be verbally abused. I really want to find a vet where I don't have to be around dog owners, especially ones that allow their dogs to be noisy and snoop around my rabbits. I'd be prepared to wait outside, but I bet that if I found a vet that allowed me to do so, I would still have dogs around the rabbits when I am at the reception desk paying. I have looked on the RCVS site and there are no rabbit/ exotics within a 50 mile radius. How do I find a vet that is willing to treat rabbits without me and the buns having to put up with dogs when we visit? The vet I have been using was on the RWAF list.
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Unpleasant vet trip
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In my vet waiting room, they sectioned off the far end for cats and small furries. It's not great as if a dog is barking in the dog area your rabbit can still here it, but at least they are not next to the buns and sniffing around. The cats are usually quiet in their carriers so don't cause any extra stress. May be worth putting it forward to your vets as a suggestion.
Luckily I rarely have a need to visit the vet but if I do and there are large dogs around, then I wait outside until I am called. Most of my rabbits are so laid back that nothing worries them normally but if they're already under the weather then any stress from curious dogs is the last thing they need, particularly as I rarely use pet carriers (the handles don't support the weight of giants!). The staff understand this and are very accommodating.
Perhaps I should find a more accommodating vet and ask if I can wait outside and have them call me on my mobile? There are dogs waiting at the entrance to this vet. It is quite chaotic in the waiting area. Last year there was a dog not on a lead walking around, a member of staff did ask the owner to pick
it up when she walked past but the reception staff didn't bother. One of the receptionists pulled a face at me after the dog owner had shouted at me. I've looked for a vet who works by themselves in the hope that they will care about their clients as opposed to just the profit, but most vets seem to be chains here (with the accompanying staff turnover).
it up when she walked past but the reception staff didn't bother. One of the receptionists pulled a face at me after the dog owner had shouted at me. I've looked for a vet who works by themselves in the hope that they will care about their clients as opposed to just the profit, but most vets seem to be chains here (with the accompanying staff turnover).
North east lincs? My geography is appalling but i am also in lincs. Are you anywhere near the likes of Bourne and Stamford?
Ohhhh, damn. I was going to say there's an exotic specialist who's extremely savvy with rabbits (I use her) in a village near Bourne. I'm closer to Peterborough though, so it only takes me 20mins to get there.
Sam and Truffs
Mama Doe
I have the carrier covered and put it on the seat next to me. I would certainly expect dog owners to not let their dogs come near, that's awful. When I finish I say I'm putting the buns in the car and come back to pay. I agree, I would have a word with the surgery and ask for a solution. I actually have more problems with my dogs, one of whom is dog reactive. So before I take them in I go in and ask if there are any dogs. If there are, the receptionist is happy for me to wait outside and she comes out and tells me when they are ready for me.
BlueBellBelle
Young Bun
Everything here :thumb:
My youngest dog is a nervous/excited wreck when we are in the waiting room at my local vet surgery (he's had 4 operations in 3.5 years). I have waited in the car with him before as Sam and Truffs said, but I have also asked if I can wait in an unused consulting room, away from the stimulation of Reception. I wonder whether this might be something you could suggest to the practice manager? That you could wait in a quiet room, if they have the space/facilities. Hopefully they might pass that suggestion on to their reception staff as an option for people with nervous animals/rabbits, especially at busy times. Good luck
Going to the car and then going back to pay is an excellent idea - I hadn't thought of doing that. I have found a vet hospital across the bridge that states on the website that they have separate waiting areas for dogs/ cats and 'small furries' but only separate wards for dogs and cats. It looks to be purpose built. It might be hit and miss with the vets- in the past I've been refused an appointment when a bunny has had G.I stasis, so I had to get an appointment with a vet where she wasn't registered, who sent the same bunny home to starve without even providing pain relief, so I always worry that they won't get the help that they need even though they are insured. I will have a drive over to have a look when I next get a free day.
- I hadn't thought of doing that. I have found a vet hospital across the bridge that states on the website that they have separate waiting areas for dogs/ cats and 'small furries' but only separate wards for dogs and cats. It looks to be purpose built. It might be hit and miss with the vets- in the past I've been refused an appointment when a bunny has had G.I stasis, so I had to get an appointment with a vet where she wasn't registered, who sent the same bunny home to starve without even providing pain relief, so I always worry that they won't get the help that they need even though they are insured. I will have a drive over to have a look when I next get a free day.
MightyMax
Banned
I'm sorry you're having this problem.
It's worth explaining to the reception when you book the appointment that it's concerning you. I also put my buns back in the car and go back to pay - I don't ever leave their carrier at floor level.
Their carrier is always covered completely with a highly coloured crochet blanket (the sort you can buy in charity shops) so that they get air and can see out but children don't see what's inside and come rushing up to them.
At reception, when there are dogs around, I ask if the buns can either go behind the counter with the receptionist or into an empty room until their time. I appreciate a really busy surgery wouldn't be able to accommodate this, but worth asking ..
It's worth explaining to the reception when you book the appointment that it's concerning you. I also put my buns back in the car and go back to pay - I don't ever leave their carrier at floor level.
Their carrier is always covered completely with a highly coloured crochet blanket (the sort you can buy in charity shops) so that they get air and can see out but children don't see what's inside and come rushing up to them.
At reception, when there are dogs around, I ask if the buns can either go behind the counter with the receptionist or into an empty room until their time. I appreciate a really busy surgery wouldn't be able to accommodate this, but worth asking ..
I visited a surgery in another town today and I have registered them there. It's not on the RWAF list, but they have a vet who sees all of the rabbits unless it is an emergency and she isn't working that day. I was told that they can wait in a spare room if they have one or outside. The rabbit vet has worked there for some years, so it looks like they manage to keep their staff. I feel out of place taking rabbits to a vet- I feel that they are places for dog owners. It's a worry because society as a whole seems to think that rabbits are 'just rabbits' and their welfare doesn't matter. I'm hugely attached to mine and protective of them- I wish people understood their needs. It's hard to change attitudes. I've had such a bad experience with a vet before that I struggled not to cry when I was registering them.
Elena
Wise Old Thumper
I've been sitting in the waiting room at my vets and the receptionist has asked a dog's owner to take their dog through to the consulting room to wait for the vet. They have a big waiting room so even if someone is being inconsiderate with their dog you can easily move out of the animals reach. What also helps is they very rarely run late so the waiting room is usually almost empty.
At my old vets the waiting room was tiny and always packed as they always ran late. So the carrier would always be on my lap door facing away from any dogs or towards me. A lot of vets seem to have a bit of a hierarchy with dogs and cats at the top. But my vets now see such a wide range of animals they treat all equally. Should be that way for all of them!
Even now though we take the bunnies back to car almost immediately. Usually my dad with with me so he takes them to the car while I wait for any meds and pay the bill. It helps to get them out of the way and somewhere secure.
At my old vets the waiting room was tiny and always packed as they always ran late. So the carrier would always be on my lap door facing away from any dogs or towards me. A lot of vets seem to have a bit of a hierarchy with dogs and cats at the top. But my vets now see such a wide range of animals they treat all equally. Should be that way for all of them!
Even now though we take the bunnies back to car almost immediately. Usually my dad with with me so he takes them to the car while I wait for any meds and pay the bill. It helps to get them out of the way and somewhere secure.
