A Moment of Honesty.....

[XMissySJx]

I think if you come on here complaining about a vet surgery then you should also complain directly to them, as venting doesnt help longterm. My old vet was horrible to pebbles and yanked her head back to look at her teeth whils t saying "i really dont like rabbits". I complained, and moved vets.

However, I have switched to a vets that is very expensive compared to my last vet, but they are MUCH better, there brilliant. I think yes in an ideal world all vets would be great but face it - some arent. If you have a bad experience - switch vets. Because while you expect a vet to know whats up with your pet, if they fail the first time why give another chance? Then in my opinion its just as much your responsibility too, if you were aware. If that makes sense without offending anybody.

 

[Mackers]

I my bunny vet(s) in Northampton. I felt my dog vet didn't know enough about bunnies so I went elsewhere. I curse myself for not doing this sooner but I can't blame the vet - only myself.

Simon and Kim rock!!!!!!

 

[georgie_f]

I think if you come on here complaining about a vet surgery then you should also complain directly to them, as venting doesnt help longterm. My old vet was horrible to pebbles and yanked her head back to look at her teeth whils t saying "i really dont like rabbits". I complained, and moved vets.

However, I have switched to a vets that is very expensive compared to my last vet, but they are MUCH better, there brilliant. I think yes in an ideal world all vets would be great but face it - some arent. If you have a bad experience - switch vets. Because while you expect a vet to know whats up with your pet, if they fail the first time why give another chance? Then in my opinion its just as much your responsibility too, if you were aware. If that makes sense without offending anybody.

Whilst I agree with what you've said completely, I just can't do it. Complaints go to the head vet at my surgery and it just so happens that it was the head vet that PTS Diego and the head vet that suggested I get Thistle PTS. I can't see what complaining about the head vet to the head vet would do, but I imagine it would put me in bad favour.

I'd love to switch vets but on an island I'm incredibly limited. The vets I use is the biggest on the island and is often the most recommended. I just have to try to make sure I don't get that particular vet anymore.

The other thing I have found over here is that the vets only stay for a few weeks before moving on elsewhere. Whilst Thistle was being treated, I saw a total of four different vets in three weeks because they all kept leaving. I wasn't told it would be a different vet at the times when I booked the appointments. It's really frustrating because I have to explain the problems over and over again.

I've thought about coming over to the mainland if I could find a good bunny vet, say in southampton/portsmouth etc but I don't think it'd be fair to make an already ill bunny do the ferry journey.

Ohhhhhh, I wish someone would hurry up and build a bridge!! :roll::lol:

 

[XMissySJx]

Whilst I agree with what you've said completely, I just can't do it. Complaints go to the head vet at my surgery and it just so happens that it was the head vet that PTS Diego and the head vet that suggested I get Thistle PTS. I can't see what complaining about the head vet to the head vet would do, but I imagine it would put me in bad favour.

I'd love to switch vets but on an island I'm incredibly limited. The vets I use is the biggest on the island and is often the most recommended. I just have to try to make sure I don't get that particular vet anymore.

The other thing I have found over here is that the vets only stay for a few weeks before moving on elsewhere. Whilst Thistle was being treated, I saw a total of four different vets in three weeks because they all kept leaving. I wasn't told it would be a different vet at the times when I booked the appointments. It's really frustrating because I have to explain the problems over and over again.

I've thought about coming over to the mainland if I could find a good bunny vet, say in southampton/portsmouth etc but I don't think it'd be fair to make an already ill bunny do the ferry journey.

Ohhhhhh, I wish someone would hurry up and build a bridge!! :roll::lol:

what i said is in an ideal world, obviously you have limited access to a vet and cant switch, then theres not alot you can do, and i get that completly.

Within half hr of me theres probably about 12 vets so the idea of not having a choice didnt occur to me!

 

[coco1200]

Whilst I agree with what you've said completely, I just can't do it. Complaints go to the head vet at my surgery and it just so happens that it was the head vet that PTS Diego and the head vet that suggested I get Thistle PTS. I can't see what complaining about the head vet to the head vet would do, but I imagine it would put me in bad favour.

I'd love to switch vets but on an island I'm incredibly limited. The vets I use is the biggest on the island and is often the most recommended. I just have to try to make sure I don't get that particular vet anymore.

The other thing I have found over here is that the vets only stay for a few weeks before moving on elsewhere. Whilst Thistle was being treated, I saw a total of four different vets in three weeks because they all kept leaving. I wasn't told it would be a different vet at the times when I booked the appointments. It's really frustrating because I have to explain the problems over and over again.

I've thought about coming over to the mainland if I could find a good bunny vet, say in southampton/portsmouth etc but I don't think it'd be fair to make an already ill bunny do the ferry journey.

Ohhhhhh, I wish someone would hurry up and build a bridge!! :roll::lol:

If you do decide to go mainland, there is a vet who is apparently amazing - John Chitty! He's in Andover and I have heard he is blimmin amazing when it comes to bunnies. Was considering taking Noisette down to see him as a referral, but i'm in the same boat as you that probably a 8 hour round trip would be the end of my bun

 

[sillyrabbit]

Venting doesn't help the situation but this is the only place many of us are able to talk about our animals, if people are upset about their animals they are likely to come on here for support from people who understand. I have always made proper complaints when I am not happy about something but didn't know it would cause a problem to say anything on here and I didn't think it would be vet bashing because people are talking about personal experiences with certain vets not talking about every single vet in the world

I have apologised to Vikki anyways because I have complained about vets on here before and in future I won't mention vets at all

 

[raine]

Vicki, your input is valued on the forum.

I do, however, think its vital for members to air their feelings over the treatment of their bunny. Its the only way to effect change and too often we do hold vets and doctors in revered positions that are not to be questioned. That is not to say that any of us think we are vets but, equally, we are responsible for the care of our rabbits and the treatment has to be correct. Too often, pain relief is not given as rabbits don't feel pain, rabbits are told to be starved before surgery, pts is recommended for head tilt and disabled bunnies. I had a vet ask me what I thought was wrong with my rabbit and when I asked if it could be EC, she asked me what this was. What I hope this forum does is show that owners do have choices and there are treatments that not all vets know about or are open too. It also shows just how many good vets there are out there too and, hopefully, this gives owners the opportunity to move to them.

By its nature, a rabbit forum will focus more intensely on vet treatment than in the general public, as its members will be seeking solutions to an emergency or are more proactively involved in their pet care.

 

[ecudc]

we are lucky as a rescue to have access to a very large vet practice that is very experienced in neutering/dentals but also has a vet that is very good with bunnies. The see so many people each day that they can afford to have specialists. This i think is a good thing, although unless you take rabbits in each week like chloe does it is true that you might get a less intimate service as it is more like a animal hospital rather than a gp. My local vet practice is similar as well although I have to say they are not as good as the one that the rescue uses. However they are much better than some that we have experienced with foster/adopters who my main beef is with over medicating including one poor 14 week old bun bun adopted from us being treated for coccidiosis 3 times in almost as many months when he was blatently not suffering from it. he was taken to our vet who said he was perfectly normal, happy and healthy bunny, increase the fibre etc etc.

The one thing I do like about by nearest surgery is that if they don't know what's going on then they are very happy to get out the textbook infront of me to work out dosage etc. Sooty was rushed in to the emergency vet choking and had to have steroids administered. The vet got out the textbook to find out which steroid was best, the dosage etc. I would rather they did this than pretend to know everything and make a guess.

 

[holidayhutch]

Our vets are fantastic and I would never use anyone else. We have been with them for 20 years and their expertise is second to none. We use them for all our own pets as well as them providing 24 hour cover for the business. They have helped to save many a poorly bun who have arrived here after having so called 'treatment' by their own vets.

We have one here at the moment whose owners have been told by their own vet that rabbits should never be neutuered as ALL rabbits die that way and if they do get pregnant they can provide a rescues number to take the babies

On the other end of the scale is a gorgeous little 3 legged bun whose 1st vet was ready to pts rather than amputate, having spoken to the owners and them registering with our vet, this little fella has had an extra 2 years so far and is living life to the full.

It is the same with any profession there are good and bad, but we should never not feel we cant complain or vent our anger for fear of upsetting those that have caused it in the first place.

 

[Lobo]

Finding a good rabbit vet in Australia in a much more daunting task than I think is the case in the UK. I had three rabbits in a period of nine years that all died from probably treatable causes. In all cases I had many visits to a vet who, in all honesty, didn't have a clue. After the last rabbit died I would not have any more as I thought I could never get them treated when something went wrong.

However, I then connected to the internet and found I could do a lot of my own research so adopted 2 more. Also during this time I found a vet 30kms away who had a pet rabbit of his own. Although that practice has now been sold, the new owner is even more rabbit savvy than the original vet (and also has his own mini Rex). What he doesn't know he will admit and consult with the best rabbit vet in this country.

We had a dwarf lop who had chronic dental problems for 7 years, with multiple bouts of stasis, abscesses and ulcers. In early 2007 he had a complete blockage which had to be surgically removed at the pylorus. Our vet not only got him through the surgery but also the 8 days of stasis that followed. Keep in mind that at that time we had no recovery food, no bio lapis, no fibreplex, or many of the other aids that are common place in the UK. Our vet took Liam into his own home so he could monitor him 24/7. It was only the total care this vet afforded him that granted him another 3 years of life.

Finding the right vet is not really much different to finding a doctor for ourselves or even a competent mechanic to repair our vehicles. It really comes down to the fact that sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince.

Personally I hope Vikki Vet stays as part of the forum. I read her posts and appreciate the effort and thought that goes into them. I feel the same towards Marie when she posts.

 

[thumps_]

Vickivet, I have the highest regard for vets, and value your input to this forum very highly.
I only worked with 1 species, humans, and in limited fields.
I have experienced all the points that you have made, in human medicine.
Doctors no longer do the "on call hours" you still do.
No human being can solve problems as quickly & accurately when sleep deprived.
I am amazed by the dedication shown by all the vets I have encountered.

During my working life, I saw the hospital treatment of adults, change from a broad category of general medicine & general surgery, to multiple specialities in both fields eg. cardiology, geriatrics, respiratory medicine, accident & emergency etc.etc. because no consultant could be up to date with the advances in all fields. That excludes all the surgical specialities & is just 1 species.
GP's are generally held in low regard, because there is no concept of the vast amount of knowledge & proficiency we are expected to have in so many fields. A hospital consultant couldn't take a GP surgery. Just 1 species.

With 33,000 rabbits ending up in rescues per annum. I question how many rabbit owners bother with veterinary care for their bunnies, & suspect a very tiny minority. I am also aware that rabbit treatment has advanced incredibly rapidly to become a completely new speciality within the last 10 years. We cannot expect a "GP" vet to become proficient in these advances, especially for what I suspect are small but, increasingly growing numbers of patients.

I sincerely hope that you are not offended by my repeated posts to advise owners find an exotics trained vet for their bunnies. I also recommend that they ask their own GP vet to consult with the top rabbit vets (super specialists) I know of via telephone, when treatment isn't working. It would be nice if the vets did this of their own accord.

Perhaps the time is approaching when veterinary practice has to split into small animals (pets) & large animals (farm) work. Perhaps we need highly experienced exotics vets placed to cover different regions of the country.

I cannot commend your "too small" poster highly enough as aimed to improve the lot of thousands of bunnies.
I think that those of us who care deeply for bunnies have a responsibility to get off our backsides and do our bit to improve the lot of rabbits under such excellent guidance as you have given.

I ask you to forgive us for our failures to understand, especially when desperately worried about our much loved pets, or having had bad experiences ourselves, which can be difficult to resolve when compounded by loss & grief.

I have had a bad experience myself. Thumps is only alive today because there is an exotics center in my town. However I can see the difficulty of the underlying diagnosis in his case.

Please stay with us, we need you.

 

[happybun]

i think 'venting' can help - helps us to cope with our frustrations and worries. forums are good places to vent.

complaining to the vet practice, like complaining to your dentist or doctor, will only get you removed from their list and you'll be scratching around to find the services you need. sad, but true.

i quite like my vets. they clearly think i'm insane, but they make positive comments about how well-cared for the bunnies are.

 

[Sooz]

Whilst I agree with what you've said completely, I just can't do it. Complaints go to the head vet at my surgery and it just so happens that it was the head vet that PTS Diego and the head vet that suggested I get Thistle PTS. I can't see what complaining about the head vet to the head vet would do, but I imagine it would put me in bad favour.

Please don't think that.

I put in a formal complaint against the head vet at one of my surgeries after an awful PTS experience for one of my rabbits and it was taken very seriously. I lodged it through the original consulting vet. There was a staff meeting and they re-evaluated their procedures as a result. I was also allowed to decide how I wanted to see my PTS carried out in future and when, unfortunately, I had to have Mack euthanised in June last year my wishes were carried out to the letter and he left us very peacefully.

It is always worth making your point, it's the only way to ensure things improve.

Incidently, I assume it was Rodneyvet who hasn't been seen for a while, which is a massive shame as he gave me such good advice regarding Mack's treatment....which I was able to pass to my vets and which I know they have now tried with other rabbits.

 

[Hugo's There]

With 33,000 rabbits ending up in rescues per annum. I question how many rabbit owners bother with veterinary care for their bunnies, & suspect a very tiny minority. I am also aware that rabbit treatment has advanced incredibly rapidly to become a completely new speciality within the last 10 years. We cannot expect a "GP" vet to become proficient in these advances, especially for what I suspect are small but, increasingly growing numbers of patients.
.

This was the point I was trying to make

It is fantastic that so many advances have been made in rabbit veterinary medicine in recent years. But it seems like the way vets are taught rabbit medicine hasn't changed that much, so many of these new techniques are wasted as the vets are not taught how to use them, or what new medicines are available for rabbit use

It is great that there are people like Vikki on the forum who are passionate about bunnies, and will hoperfully go on to do great work in rabbit medicine. It would be great if there were more people like her on here. So to me it seems couterproductive to make such people feel uncomfortable or unwelcome here. :?

 

[areia]

im not ashamed of vet bashing at all, some are a load of rubbish are just in for the money, But its not aimed at all at vivki, and so shouldnt feel to be useless, when you do pass and go into it full time you yourself MAY see the idiots of practises.

the bad is always highlighted as its a form of venting and frustrastion you yourself have done so many times on here,

I'm sure you will be a good vet as you will be aware of the rants and raves you see on here. If it was me it would make me more determined to make a differance and learn, your too small poster was fab, You should not let it put you off just on vet principle.

I understand alot of vets are excellant, its just finding the right one for the individual,
one excellant one for my buns in london, 2 here ( my home town )who had no clue what so ever, one whos excellant with cats, confessed rabbits were not her expertise but listened and looked stuff up. one i have now admit hes not an expert ( but is the only rabbit vet in town IMO) it would seem there is only one rabbit specialist in the lower south east of kent,

Their is a need for more our rants and raves suggest this, so you cant leave really

 

[sillyrabbit]

This was the point I was trying to make

It is fantastic that so many advances have been made in rabbit veterinary medicine in recent years. But it seems like the way vets are taught rabbit medicine hasn't changed that much, so many of these new techniques are wasted as the vets are not taught how to use them, or what new medicines are available for rabbit use

It is great that there are people like Vikki on the forum who are passionate about bunnies, and will hoperfully go on to do great work in rabbit medicine. It would be great if there were more people like her on here. So to me it seems couterproductive to make such people feel uncomfortable or unwelcome here. :?

I don't understand how she will feel unwelcome everyone has said nice things about her on this thread

 

[Hugo's There]

I don't understand how she will feel unwelcome everyone has said nice things about her on this thread

I know they have now I was still responding to the her first post and also the fact that other rabbit savvy professionals no longer post on here

It must be very disheartening for Vikki to be studying so hard to become a vet only to see it constantly being criticised, but hopefully when she reads the replies from here and sees how much we value her as a member, she will feel more positive

 

[sillyrabbit]

sorry I misunderstood your post

 

[giantbunnymummy]

Vikki, I hope you won't leave the forum as your input is very valuable.

However, I think it is very important that people can be honest on the forum about their good and bad experiences with vets. While I sympathise with you if you feel unwelcome, I have to admit that I honestly don't understand why you feel that way. With any profession there will inevitably be good and bad practitioners, and it isn't incumbent on any individual in engaged in it to represent the whole.

I don't see any incompatibility with people on here respecting you and your opinions while not extending the same respect to all vets - when that lack of respect is directed not as a generalised dislike of the profession, but based on personal experience of poor treatement or incompetence.

I hope you stay as the forum would be a poorer place without your input.

 

[Sky-O]

I know they have now I was still responding to the her first post and also the fact that other rabbit savvy professionals no longer post on here

It must be very disheartening for Vikki to be studying so hard to become a vet only to see it constantly being criticised, but hopefully when she reads the replies from here and sees how much we value her as a member, she will feel more positive

As twisted as this may sound, maybe seeing the bad examples of members of a profession might help Vikki to become a better vet than she would have been, which, from everything I've seen of her, would already have been far superior to many of the negative examples we here about.

Vikki try to remember that whilst people do say things about vets, none are personal to you (unless obviously someone is personally telling you something), so try not to take it personally, just try to be aware that there are awful examples of ANY profession, and on here you will see the awful examples of people who are vets. It could be an advantage because as well as you clearly having good people skills and lots of compassion, you may pick up other bits and bobs that you wouldn't otherwise pick up as a student (like with many jobs I am sure that an awful lot of the learning is done once you qualify).

If someone says 'all vets', then pull them up on it because saying that is ignorant in most situations, but for the rest, thank yourself that you are not one of the bad ones.

I used to teach and sporadically threads pop up about specific teachers people are struggling with, or other situations that could be taken personally. All those situations though are none specific and nothing to do with me so they are not something I take personally, unless someone comes back with 'all teachers', in which case I would try and pull that one up.

I am sorry you feel uncomfortable here but just keep reminding yourself that people here don't actually hate vets, they have just had bad experiences with specific vets. Its not personal to you, or the profession, but specific people w have come across. I do hope you stick about, you're actually someone whose posts I look for (in a non creepy, non stalkery way) becase I find them interesting, and the way you communicate to people is very articulate.

I also hope that you're ok.