• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

vet health check idea

sunnibunny

Alpha Buck
hi all,
I was wanting to have other rabbit owners input, suggestions and ideas on this, as I have an idea and would like to send an email proposal to my vets and others vet practices eventually. The basic idea is that many rabbits dont get the basic health attention they need by many irresponsible owners out there in the world. Part of the reason is that because vet fees are so expensive. I am proposing the idea to vets that if they would be willing to do a health check service at fixed cost, but at a much reduced price than their consultation fees.

For example my vet charges £26 for a consultation fee. Hence why I go to the vet only when necessary. But I would much rather have a regular check up for my bunny especially for their teeth as they grow continuously and that so many rabbits are not hay or grass eaters!!

So under my proposed system, a health check costing of £10-£15 as if it is free or even less, people will abuse the system and think of a rabbit life as disposable unfortunately. This would include and eye, ear, nose, teeth and bottom check. Plus a nail clip trim and a weight measurement. Basically an MOT for a bunny!! If the vet does find something, then sure put it up to their regular consultation fee, but it would be great to determine if bunnies were not eating hay or grass because of their stubbornness or because if it was a spur. This could be done at the owners request or that a vet practice does these health checks once or twice a month.
what do people think? I have just rang around and already found that companion care, the vets inside the pets at home stores do this type of thing after the first initial consultation of being a new patient. Plus apparently can have more than one vet practice to go to. So wonder what your thoughts on the matter are, as I always thought it wouldnt be good to have 2 or more vet practices that you see as they would need to exchange information regularly then about bunyns health.?!
 
I think that the people who don't take their rabbits to the vets still won't do so. I can't see the rabbit who is the child's pet in a 3ft hutch at the bottom of the garden being taken to the vet just because it's £15 instead of £26. Most of these rabbits won't go to the vets if they are sick let alone for a preventative check up. It would be interesting to hear from someone working at a vets to see if they get to see rabbits for free checks during Rabbit Awareness Week that they wouldn't see otherwise. That night give a guide as to whether there would be demand for routine health checks.


My local practice does rabbit health checks with a nurse (who specialises in rabbits), I presume that's cheaper than seeing the vet. No doubt if she finds anything of concern she will get a vet to investigate further. It would be good to see this in more places.


I don't think the idea of charging a smaller amount for the consultation for health check then putting it up to normal consultation fee if they find anything is acceptable, it should be a set fee and isn't changed.

Personally, I'm just happy with taking them if there is anything of concern but I can see the benefit for less experienced bunny owners. I'm not sure why vets should do it cheaper than a normal consultation though as they have their overheads to consider, but maybe going the route, as above, of an experienced nurse doing the health checks is the way to go.
 
Personally I'd want to stick to one vet so all the information is in one place and if bun develops an ongoing problem there will be one vet who knows the situation well.

Vets have to cover a host of costs (their time, rent, rates, insurance etc) so I can see why they have to charge what they do, £26 doesn't sound too bad to me. I don't personally think that reducing it to £10-£15 would make many people go for regular checkups if £26 was too much for them. That said, I see for some people it would make a difference. Perhaps if you had the option to have a vet nurse do the checkup you could have a lower price since their time costs less?
I do think it would be good if vets did a BOGOF type situation for bunny checkups so any bonded rabbits went free. It can mount up quickly when you have multiple rabbits.

Your vet should be doing a thorough check-up when your rabbits have their vaccinations. Personally I've spread my vaccinations so they're about 6 months apart, meaning all three rabbits get a twice annual check-up at no extra cost. I don't know that all vets would do that though.

Many vets do free checkups during rabbit awareness week.

Had to rush the end of this - May pop back later!
 
I think that the people who don't take their rabbits to the vets still won't do so. I can't see the rabbit who is the child's pet in a 3ft hutch at the bottom of the garden being taken to the vet just because it's £15 instead of £26. Most of these rabbits won't go to the vets if they are sick let alone for a preventative check up. It would be interesting to hear from someone working at a vets to see if they get to see rabbits for free checks during Rabbit Awareness Week that they wouldn't see otherwise. That night give a guide as to whether there would be demand for routine health checks.


My local practice does rabbit health checks with a nurse (who specialises in rabbits), I presume that's cheaper than seeing the vet. No doubt if she finds anything of concern she will get a vet to investigate further. It would be good to see this in more places.


I don't think the idea of charging a smaller amount for the consultation for health check then putting it up to normal consultation fee if they find anything is acceptable, it should be a set fee and isn't changed.

Personally, I'm just happy with taking them if there is anything of concern but I can see the benefit for less experienced bunny owners. I'm not sure why vets should do it cheaper than a normal consultation though as they have their overheads to consider, but maybe going the route, as above, of an experienced nurse doing the health checks is the way to go.

i agree, though still a good idea for people that do take their buns and also to make people like the above realise (through advertising) that bunnies need health care too. i think there are two kinds of people of the above. ones that genuinely don't care so wont make a difference to them and people that just dont know so if there was a big advertising campaign and the price was reasonable i don't see why they wouldn't change their ways..... i know i did!! if it helps just one bunny its worth it!!
 
I think that the people who don't take their rabbits to the vets still won't do so. I can't see the rabbit who is the child's pet in a 3ft hutch at the bottom of the garden being taken to the vet just because it's £15 instead of £26. Most of these rabbits won't go to the vets if they are sick let alone for a preventative check up. It would be interesting to hear from someone working at a vets to see if they get to see rabbits for free checks during Rabbit Awareness Week that they wouldn't see otherwise. That night give a guide as to whether there would be demand for routine health checks.

Well said. Many people who have rabbits in these conditions will say that they can't take their pet to the vet because they "can't afford it" but the real reason is that they just don't want to spend the money, they feel that rabbits are disposable pets and if it gets ill, it doesn't matter because it's cheaper to buy another one from PAH than pay out for expensive treatment. Perhaps I'm making a huge generalization here, but generally people who buy rabbits purely for their children don't really care that much about the rabbit's welfare, they care that their child "has something to look after" and play with. The child picks up on this attitude when the parent lets them get away with not looking after the rabbit anymore when the novelty wears off.
 
I would like to see more walk-in, no obligation to sign up type sessions. A local Jolleyes pet store has a special vaccination and chipping session one evening a week. That's all they do - but at least it gets the basics done, is cheaper and less daunting than a 'proper' vet appointment. I assume that there is a basic health check to ensure the cat / dog is fit for vaccination. It also gives an opportunity to mention other issues like diet and neutering. Unfortunately, I don't think it includes rabbits.

My vet does Rabbit Tuesday - where vaccinations are a bit cheaper than on other days. They don't see that many rabbits, but they don't advertise this service, either.

I think something like a set day for basics like vaccination is a really good idea. Doing it at a different but appropriate venue like a large pet supply chain could attract those who may not otherwise visit a vet. It also raises general awareness of the need for vaccination and neutering as those shopping for pet supplies would see it in passing. Sometimes just getting the message out that these things should be part of responsible pet ownership is the hardest part.

As an aside, some people don't have the basics to get an animal to a vet - many won't have a carrier as they 'never' need one and that in itself would be an added expense and inconvenience to them. Then they may have transport problems, so very accessible venues (bus routes / parking) are a must. The easier you make it, the more likely you are to get a better uptake.
 
It roughly costs about £60 to get in just to see the vet at our local (and only) practice; that does not include any medications etc needed (small town, less pets, more money). It's always better safe than sorry of course, and we always try to get our animals the best care we can provide, but it is annoying when it turns out not to be needed. The amount of times we took the dog up when he was young and it turned out he was fine... Of course, he's old with arthritis now, and needs to be seen quite often.

I can see the benefits of your idea, and it is always a good idea to support increased rabbit welfare, but I don't know if it is feasible just yet, when so many people still dismiss rabbits so easily.
 
My bunnies all get a yearly check when they have their vaccinations. The vets always check teeth, weight etc. I wouldn't take them again unless I was worried as do not feel its fair to stress them with a unneccesary car trip but maybe that is just me.
 
In theory it seems a good idea - saves money which is a bonus but as pointed out there are many rabbits who are neglected people don't think to take them to the vets and won't bother.

My consultation fees are £35 but I'm so well known with my vet if she needs work done I book her in and I don't pay the fee and it's just a set price for her procedure.

Also she was rushed in as an emergency as she had a stone, should have cost me £600 as she was operated on, but they charged me 397 because I always use them.

I think there needs to be more done it terms of publicising their needs while pets at home etc etc keep selling them. They sell hutches which they say are adequate for 1 rabbit ... but in my opinion it's not. We all know most are simply shoved in a hutch for a child and not looked after.

My friend had one (I didn't realise) and to my horror died at 12 of cancer - spine snapped. It's a wonder she lived so long, never ate grass and only had a hutch a pellets. Never got her out and apparently she was vicious .... well wouldn't you be??

I think it's maybe more to do with education and cracking down on how and where they are sold.

Cheaper bill's would be good.
 
Our vet consults are £31 but they have always provided free nurse check ups for rabbits which includes a free dental check :wave:
 
Back
Top