Should someone have a rabbit if they don't have good vet backup?

[Crunchie]

This is the problem I had. I had a bad experience at one vet so asked on here for recommendations and was told of another nearby. When I registered there the owner of the practice was very understanding when it came to rabbits and was especially good with treating our stasis prone girl. He did all the examinations of the buns on the floor knowing that they might jump if scared.

We were happy with the practice and counted the vet as rabbit savvy until Roly came down with bloat and no diagnostics were offered. We were given gut motility drugs to treat at home over the weekend when a blockage hadn't been ruled out and the continued use of the gut stimulants would have been fatal if there had been a blockage there.

If this hadnt happened I'd still be happily using and recommending the practice. As a result however we're now regstered with a practice 30 miles away who weren't keen on allowing us to register being well outside their catchment area. The practice we're at now is probably the best in Scotland however so hopefully no more bad experiences.

I stand by my earlier points that it can be very difficult for people to find a good rabbit vet and that many vets should know much more than they do. Even if they were willing to consult with other vets this'd be an improvement. Its fine if you have rescues or very knowledgable individuals nearby that can recommend somewhere but otherwise it's very difficult. E.g. It's clear Jacks Janes vet is very good given the variety of problems she has successfully treated but Jane tends to share with us what her rabbits are treated for and with while most of us maybe wouldn't.

How does the average person know which vets are 'good' and which are 'excellent' though until something bad happens? My doggy vets are excellent but the journey can be 30 mins in the car, which Poppy would hate. My vets at the top of my street are more expensive but seem to be really good, the vet certainly talks about all the things you all do and was confident neutering her.

I guess I am just hoping that if/when Poppy needs him for anything serious he is 'excellent' because I really dont think she would like the 30 minute journey to the doggy vets (who I suspect would be as excellent as they are with the dogs:?). I dont know other people around where I live who have rabbits (well I do but they probably dont use vets for them) so I cant gauge who is good/bad

 

[Bruno]

Do you know what, it jst doesnt matter.

Sky it does matter and is a very relevant question.

I had what I thought was a good vet but with my current old man they just kept making mistakes, on anesthetics for dentals, reading x rays ..... this list went on.

My girt old boy then got 'ill' and after days of struggling with them and 2 trips a day for pain injections I packed him up and took him to a recommended vet in Gloucester. It's a 4 hour round trip for me but my bun was instantly diagnosed with a bladder infection but was in a pretty bad way by then. I picked him up 5 days later.

He has a multitude of problems now of which the most challenging is arthritis but I have had an extra 18months and counting.

Rabbits treatment should be good everywhere, as someone said they are the 3rd most popular pet but this isn't the case and also what you assume to be a good vet is only as good as their continued training and learning, making sure they keep up to date with new techniques and drugs.

My local vet still does the vacs and is my pharmacy. For dentals and anything else off we go to Gloucester. No it's not ideal and yes I made an error of judgement with the local practice. In their defence I will give them that a giant giant is even more challenging when it comes to dosing but I continue to work with them as best I can, to help increase their knowledge with the treatment Bruno gets.

I think it goes back to other threads about advocating for your rabbit. If it doesn't feel right challenge and get the second opinion.

 

[GrahamL]

Sky it does matter and is a very relevant question.

I had what I thought was a good vet but with my current old man they just kept making mistakes, on anesthetics for dentals, reading x rays ..... this list went on.

My girt old boy then got 'ill' and after days of struggling with them and 2 trips a day for pain injections I packed him up and took him to a recommended vet in Gloucester. It's a 4 hour round trip for me but my bun was instantly diagnosed with a bladder infection but was in a pretty bad way by then. I picked him up 5 days later.

He has a multitude of problems now of which the most challenging is arthritis but I have had an extra 18months and counting.

Rabbits treatment should be good everywhere, as someone said they are the 3rd most popular pet but this isn't the case and also what you assume to be a good vet is only as good as their continued training and learning, making sure they keep up to date with new techniques and drugs.

My local vet still does the vacs and is my pharmacy. For dentals and anything else off we go to Gloucester. No it's not ideal and yes I made an error of judgement with the local practice. In their defence I will give them that a giant giant is even more challenging when it comes to dosing but I continue to work with them as best I can, to help increase their knowledge with the treatment Bruno gets.

I think it goes back to other threads about advocating for your rabbit. If it doesn't feel right challenge and get the second opinion.

Hi Bruno

Out of interest, where in Somerset are you, as i have an excellent vet and live in Burnham? - there are a fair few round here to avoid like the plague, but both branches of the one i'm with are excellent with rabbits, especially a couple of the vets.

Wondered if i might be able to help with alleviating some of the stress and struggles of travelling.

Sky, i know where you are at. I'm not going to make a comment other than what we've already talked about, but i'm sending you yet another huge virtual hug. I know it won't help, but you know i'm thinking of you and the situation.

 

[Bruno]

Hi Bruno

Out of interest, where in Somerset are you, as i have an excellent vet and live in Burnham? - there are a fair few round here to avoid like the plague, but both branches of the one i'm with are excellent with rabbits, especially a couple of the vets.

Wondered if i might be able to help with alleviating some of the stress and struggles of travelling.

Sky, i know where you are at. I'm not going to make a comment other than what we've already talked about, but i'm sending you yet another huge virtual hug. I know it won't help, but you know i'm thinking of you and the situation.

Thank you that's very kind. I live in Yeovil so the Somerset/Dorset border and no good road networks. I did find some in Bristol but to be honest it is 90mins to Bristol from here and Wood Vets is only another 30 minutes up the motorway. For Bruno I will continue to go to Gloucester as it is thanks to a very, very good vet there that I have had some wonderful extra time with my over enthusiastic 'girt' lump, who despite severe arthritis in his hips and spine continues to hurl himself about and just has this zest for life but he is very old now

But I do need to find one for the future so would be grateful of any advice or suggestions.

 

[The Duchess]

I know of people who have been turned down on a homecheck solely because of the vets they use, even if everything else has seemed perfect. Knowing one practice in particular where I wouldn't take an animal if they paid me, I quite agree with it, although I guess it wouldn't be a normal reason for turning someone down!

Having a good vet is part of my homecheck criteria and yes, if I had to (because of a vet like the one you know near you Alison) I would turn down a home unless they moved to a vet with some rabbit knowledge. I have no qualms about it - the rabbits that come to me have already may either been ill treated, not cared for properly or unwanted (not always I hasten to add) so I want the next home to be the absolute best I can find for them, and within that, the vet treatment is a massive part of it.

 

[The Duchess]

The thing that's hard to get across is how important a good rabbit vet is. Not a good vet or a 'nice person'. Sadly a lot of people have to lose a precious rabbit before they question it fully. I think that happened to me. Unfortunately I didn't have anyone to advise me beforehand that rabbit vets existed, nor how fragile they are - if you know this then seek out a rabbit vet as it's one of the most important things you can do for your rabbit, and it needs to be done before you need them!

Back to the question - it would be hard to say give up your rabbits if your rabbit vet moved on and you lived somewhere remote where there wasn't a second option, but generally speaking, yes, a rabbit vet is essential.

This is such a good point, the number of people I hear who recommend a good vet because they have a good bedside manner is amazing, but it means nothing if they don't know enough about the animals they are treating.

I don't mind if someone is clearly happy to learn, but I need people to absolutely understand why it's so important before they adopt from me

 

[Crunchie]

I didn't realise there was a reason for asking this so sorry if any of my posts were offensive.

Duchess how did you manage to get a great big avatar?

 

[Angie65]

My first vet admitted he know nothing about buns. When I started going to him (before I moved) he did a couple of courses to improve his knowledge.

My second (& current) vets has a rabbit specialist, although when you book in for a routine op - you don't know who you are booking.- They spayed my male wildie. I have written a letter of complaint & received no reply

 

[helen01]

Just as you're a new member I thought I'd mention that if you havent already, you could start a thread called 'Rabbit Savvy Vet Near XXXXX' to see if people can reccommend one for you, you may have to bump it over a few days to make sure people in your area get roiund to seeing it.

There are some basic questions in the FAQ section that you can ask a vets to see if they know the basics if that helps. Unfortunately rabbits are classed as 'exotics' so normal vets dont have to learn about them, which is why it can be so hard to find a decent vet. Exotic vets arent as rare as you'd think, so it would be worth looking for one with that qualification.

Hope this helps

Thanks if ever I am worried I will do that:thumb: To be fair Poppy seems to be an easy bunny, she eats everything, always has good poops, she is going for her myxi and a check up on Wednesday so will see what they think to her then. The vet is literally 10 minutes away to walk and 2 mins in car, Poppy really hates being in her carrier and in the car so that is far enough. While she only needs routine things thats who I will use. The vet does seem good, he is knowledgeable and as I already know he is expensive (got caught out there with my old dog) I do believe if he thought she needed treatment for anything, he wouldn't hesitate to to it and probably lots of extras (at that point I would travel to my trusted vet for a second opinion).

The exotics vet here, I wouldn't touch with a barge poll, he admitted my ex's bearded dragon and charged us £300 for treatment the reptile place later told me they would have done for £6:shock::shock:

 

[helen01]

Thanks if ever I am worried I will do that:thumb: To be fair Poppy seems to be an easy bunny, she eats everything, always has good poops, she is going for her myxi and a check up on Wednesday so will see what they think to her then. The vet is literally 10 minutes away to walk and 2 mins in car, Poppy really hates being in her carrier and in the car so that is far enough. While she only needs routine things thats who I will use. The vet does seem good, he is knowledgeable and as I already know he is expensive (got caught out there with my old dog) I do believe if he thought she needed treatment for anything, he wouldn't hesitate to to it and probably lots of extras (at that point I would travel to my trusted vet for a second opinion).

The exotics vet here, I wouldn't touch with a barge poll, he admitted my ex's bearded dragon and charged us £300 for treatment the reptile place later told me they would have done for £6:shock::shock:

Sky-O...just want to say this thread has made me think and I have just changed my appointment to my trusted vets for vaccinations and check up. At least that way I know she is 100% fine.

 

[Jaysmonkey]

It matters yes.

 

[The Duchess]

I didn't realise there was a reason for asking this so sorry if any of my posts were offensive.

Duchess how did you manage to get a great big avatar?

I have no idea other than the picture being a relatively big file I guess

 

[Crunchie]

I have no idea other than the picture being a relatively big file I guess

Forum won't let me have a big avatar, blatant favourtism going on here. :lol:

 

[Rhian33]

I think people should definitely question the logic of having pets if they don't have a decent vet. I almost gave up keeping pets altogether last year due to a series of incompetencies by 3 different practices seeing many different vets over a period of a few years in the town I live in. The lack of knowledge was astounding and the straw which broke the camels back was a vet who was full of her own importance, touted as the practice small furries expert, had no idea what she was doing and wouldn't listen to anything I had to say as I didn't have a Vet Med degree.

I cried about it for days as I was convinced that giving up my beloved babies was best as I couldn't find anyone within a sensible driving distance (I work full time so can't drop everything every time someone needs a routine appointment) who knew what they were doing so thought I should rehome them to someone who had a good vet.

In the end I got a recommendation of a fab small furries vet a 45 minute drive away with the second vet at the practice being more than competent and they give me sensible appointment times as they know I make an effort to get all the way to them and give them quite a lot of business.

 

[parsnipbun]

I think people should definitely question the logic of having pets if they don't have a decent vet. I almost gave up keeping pets altogether last year due to a series of incompetencies by 3 different practices seeing many different vets over a period of a few years in the town I live in. The lack of knowledge was astounding and the straw which broke the camels back was a vet who was full of her own importance, touted as the practice small furries expert, had no idea what she was doing and wouldn't listen to anything I had to say as I didn't have a Vet Med degree.

I cried about it for days as I was convinced that giving up my beloved babies was best as I couldn't find anyone within a sensible driving distance (I work full time so can't drop everything every time someone needs a routine appointment) who knew what they were doing so thought I should rehome them to someone who had a good vet.

In the end I got a recommendation of a fab small furries vet a 45 minute drive away with the second vet at the practice being more than competent and they give me sensible appointment times as they know I make an effort to get all the way to them and give them quite a lot of business.

can you PM me your one 45 mins away? Just in case I ever cant get in at my current one . . At present I dont have any 'back up'

 

[Rhian33]

can you PM me your one 45 mins away? Just in case I ever cant get in at my current one . . At present I dont have any 'back up'

Yep. PM-ing now

 

[parsnipbun]

I would not take my rabbits to my current vets 'emergency vet' if it was the last vets on earth. This means I am in a very tricky situation - as my 'normal' vets are so fantastically amazing and so skilled and so good that I could not leave them - (although technically they are not recognised as 'experts in their field' - I mean they never give talks at the major rabbit conferences - (though they take referrals)) . But I have no cover out of hours - apart from their home phone numbers!

 

[Rhian33]

I would not take my rabbits to my current vets 'emergency vet' if it was the last vets on earth. This means I am in a very tricky situation - as my 'normal' vets are so fantastically amazing and so skilled and so good that I could not leave them - (although technically they are not recognised as 'experts in their field' - I mean they never give talks at the major rabbit conferences - (though they take referrals)) . But I have no cover out of hours - apart from their home phone numbers!

I think we probably have the same emergency vets to be honest. Likewise I'd not take any of my animals unless it was an absolute emergency.

 

[helgalush]

I guess it depends on how rural/suburban/urban where the rabbit will live is. What I mean is that generally speaking you will have a good choice of vets in a city or large town whereas getting to any vets, never mind a good one, might be more tricky if you live in a more rural/remote area or somewhere with limited choice of vets. I live in an urban area - the vets we had chosen when we had adopted Twinkle and Star was because it was the 2nd nearest. The nearest one was weird when we went in so said no to that one straight away. So our 2nd choice one was chosen because it seemed nice and was local.

Their supposed "bunny vet" suggested Star "may or may not" need her teeth doing, and it was up to us if we wanted to book her in for a GA to have one.

Luckily via someone on RU we found out about another vet where there genuinely is a bunny-savvy vet, but its right over the other side of town from us - 20ish minutes average away, sometimes longer. We always go there now - and Star has never needed a dental!!!

We are lucky we found a good bunny vet within reasonable distance but I'm sure that must be much harder if you live somewhere that choice is restricted, because then you have the dilemma of whether its better to be registered at a vets that is close by for an urgent/emergency situation, vs a vets that really knows what they are doing but which could be 45 mins to an hour away (thats a long way each way to go regularly), if you catch my drift.

Sorry if this has been raised somewhere else in the thread, havent read the whole thing.

 

[Rhian33]

I guess it depends on how rural/suburban/urban where the rabbit will live is. What I mean is that generally speaking you will have a good choice of vets in a city or large town whereas getting to any vets, never mind a good one, might be more tricky if you live in a more rural/remote area or somewhere with limited choice of vets.

I live in the largest town in a county with a vet school yet vet cover is absolutely dire. I think it's just luck