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  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

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    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

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need help

pens

New Kit
hi my doe had three babies which are now three week old today one of them is hopping about happy as larry but the other two just sit there doing nothing and when they try and move they just flop to one side and they crawl on their side to get about and im not sure what to do do i give them time to improve or do i put them to sleep .
 
They sound very ill :cry: Can you not get to an emergency vet? quickly! What breed are they? Have they been sat on by their mum. They need a vet as it doesn't sound too good. Sorry to hear of it though and i hope you can get them well :(
 
hi my doe had three babies which are now three week old today one of them is hopping about happy as larry but the other two just sit there doing nothing and when they try and move they just flop to one side and they crawl on their side to get about and im not sure what to do do i give them time to improve or do i put them to sleep .

You need to take the Kits to a Vet. The problem may be neurological, related to a metabolic problem or it could be a congenital problem with their hips/spine. It's impossible to accurately diagnose the problem and to suggest appropriate treatment from a description given over the internet. The best way to help the Kits is to get them to a Vet today.

Good luck
 
hi thanks for replying but i don't get paid until next week and mum is still feeding them an cleaning them and i not sure what breed mum is but dad is a lionhead
 
hi thanks for replying but i don't get paid until next week and mum is still feeding them an cleaning them and they are starting to eat some solid food and im not sure what breed mum is but dad is a lionhead
 
hi thanks for replying but i don't get paid until next week and mum is still feeding them an cleaning them and i not sure what breed mum is but dad is a lionhead


Could you not get an appointment and offer to pay when you get paid next week. My vets are really good at things like this and they are obliged to treat an animal if it is an emergency and at risk of death (I was told this recently when my dog had an emergency). They sound very poorly :cry: and i think if you could explain this to them and see what they say or else they might be dying and suffering. I am so very sorry this has happen, I bet you are mortified :cry:
 
Could you not get an appointment and offer to pay when you get paid next week. My vets are really good at things like this and they are obliged to treat an animal if it is an emergency and at risk of death (I was told this recently when my dog had an emergency). They sound very poorly :cry: and i think if you could explain this to them and see what they say or else they might be dying and suffering. I am so very sorry this has happen, I bet you are mortified :cry:

I agree with Lenslady - call your vet and explain that you cannot pay until next week but you have an emergency. The little kits sound like they are suffering :cry:

If you have a credit card, or know someone who has, then you can pay now and not have to foot the bill for a while .....

Good luck xx
 
hi thanks for replying but i don't get paid until next week and mum is still feeding them an cleaning them and i not sure what breed mum is but dad is a lionhead

Could someone lend you some money until next week ? The Kits really cant wait that long for Veterinary attention and under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 you are legally responsible for ensuring that a sick or injured animal in your care obtains the Veterinary attention they need

http://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareact

Was this a planned litter ? If so then did you not consider the possibility of problems if you have no idea of the Does breed/genetic history ?

Bit late to point that out now, but something to think about should you continue to breed.

We really cannot advise you as to what is wrong with the Kits, but from your description there clearly is something wrong. So I hope that you will find a way to get them the help they need ASAP.
 
If they are starting to eat, then surly that might be a sign they can get well. I have no experience with poorly rabbits so only offering advice in regard to my own opinion. I think by keeping them warm and quiet may be of some help but i think they need a vet to prescribe something that could be a dangerous infection. I really don't think they will get any better without treatment and will go downhill very quickly xxx
 
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hi just rang my local vets and explained to them that i don't get paid until next week and they said they can not help me
 
There are places such as PDSA, RSPCA that can help cover costs with things. Or it can be a case to see if you can look to a rescue to help you. I think the bottom line is, that if they are ill then they are at risk then that isn't something that can will necessarily hold til next week. I know costs are hard though and vets aren't exactly shy.

I would also look at lensladys post whhere she mentions obligation of care to animals in dire need
 
You need to find a way to help them, surely family can help you out as it's only for a few days then you can pay them back. This isn't fair on the bunnies to be left.
 
I can't believe they refused you emergency care :(, that's terrible. My vet told me last week they had a duty of care to any animal in an emergency, luckily i had a few hundred to pay off instantly but because it was a sunday the bill ran into the £1000 mark. I have an account now with my vet where i put money into it each week and month. I have paid £350 of so far and try to put Between £75-100 in every month. Even when my bill is squared up i shall continue with my account so i always have money in there for care and as long as i pay every month the vets are happy to take my pets. When my dog was admitted for emergency care last week, the vet assumed i had no money, hence why she explained the duty of care. Did you explain to the vets the symptoms the rabbits are having? and did you explain that you are worried they are going to die? If they still refuse to see you then i would try else where such as rescues or PDSA, BLUE CROSS xxxx
 
Lenslady you are right.

http://rspca-cambridge.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/can-vet-refuse-treatment-because-owner.html

This is from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons:

A veterinary surgeon or a lay member of staff accepting telephone calls must not refuse veterinary attention because the caller is unable to make immediate payment for the treatment. Arrangements for payment should be discussed at an early stage, but immediate first aid and pain relief should not be delayed while financial arrangements are agreed.
 
That's very useful information. I know most people haven't had a problem but I wonder if that get stickied anywhere for anyone else who may encounter problems with a surgery to ensure that they know their pets are entitled to health in a case of emergency?
 
I am sure she said it was something to do with their code of ethics, i phoned several vets because it was out of hours, my original vet is companion care in Truro (30 mile away) and they put me in touch with a local vet who immediately told me to bring the dog in. Because they saved my dogs life and have been so understanding and the level of care was outstanding, i shall now be using them as my regular vets, they specialise in Rabbits too ;). xx
 
that's good to know :):) right now I have two vets :S - the first is an exotic vets (reptiles) and I'm going to try another Vets4Pets branch which I am going to see an exotics (rabbits) :lol:
 
that's good to know :):) right now I have two vets :S - the first is an exotic vets (reptiles) and I'm going to try another Vets4Pets branch which I am going to see an exotics (rabbits) :lol:

Its amazing how many different types of vets there are now that specialise in different animals. Years ago it was just a vet and that was that. Animal medicine is certainly getting on with it now and progressing. Its quite amazing :love:

How are your Rabbits doing Pens?

xx
 
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