Having a vet visit my house.

[Lord Trellis]

So the vet called me today about my appointment tomorrow to ask me if I could bring in all three of my bunnies to the vet tomorrow which is not going to be possible.

For one I don't know how I would managed with 3 heavy pet carriers and having to travel a fair way to get there plus a long walk its just not doable its bad enough just carrying one and a rabbit in a pet carrier is heavy when going all that way. I told the vet I can only manage one at a time. I'm not prepared to stress out my bunnies on long hard journeys when they have already been through a lot, I also get very stressed out worrying about getting them there alive I know it might sound a bit drastic but three rabbits I just can't manage it.

I'm in a bit of a pickle now. I'm just going to take one rabbit and tell the vet I'll bring the others separately. If it wasn't so far away I could manage two. I've also got to avoid rush hour which add more stress and I can't be on chaotic packed out tube trains with rabbits as anything can happen so I like to time things when the tube trains are less busy.

The vet said it be best to bring in all 3 for an examination to see how they are doing because if the vet has to prescribe more meds then they will all need it and they all need treating at the same time but they can't give me medication for all three if they can only examine one rabbit. The whole situation has me stressed out and I'm thinking it might be better to see if they can do a home visit. I don't mind paying for a home visit. A home visit would be ideal because then I could get my birds seen as well. They specialize in both birds and rabbits and even zoo animals so this would be very ideal.

Has any body had a vet home visit before?

 

[InspectorMorse]

Has any body had a vet home visit before?

Yes

 

[Liz47]

Yes, I've both had a vet home visit and been on plenty alongside the vet. Depending on the practices staffing levels you may struggle, the practices round here has to stop home visits unless for euthanasia due to staff shortages as the staff need to be in practice. Certainly worth asking though as every practice is different

 

[Lord Trellis]

They visit zoo's so they could potentially visit homes. Is it a lot for them to do a home visit? I could always make a payment plan if its thousands.... I may as well get my birds examined too while I'm at it. I'm going to ask them tomorrow when I go to my appointment. I was too stressed to ask earlier.

 

[KarenM]

It's worth asking, definitely.

They probably do zoo visits as it's much easier to do it that way for wild animals. Our vet used to do home visits but stopped during covid too & never started back up again.

It must be really stressful, especially with using public transport too. Would a pet ambulance or a taxi to take you all to the vet help, if the vet can't visit you at home? A lot depends on what you find most stressful, so this might not be an option for you.

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[Lord Trellis]

I didn't think of a pet ambulance, I didn't know they existed.

Its the traveling on public transport that is stressful not just for me but the bunnies too. I can't imagine how they would be feeling in a pet carrier for nearly two hours probably getting motion sickness with no water and loud noise they could potentially have a heart attack if they get frightened and then there is trying to manage carrying three pet carriers over a long distance which is not possible, I can barely carry two.over a short distance but one is manageable. A taxi would cost way too much that is if they are willing to go that far.

If I need my birds looking at... a vet would need to come to my house because they all live in a large indoor aviary and catching them is impossible and causes them a lot of stress birds can die from shock very easily so if I'm going to be spending lots on the rabbits it makes sense for a vet to come to my home and then I can add the birds to the medical bill and they can get seen too as well. and that way I can set up a payment plan and have all my animals heath checked and covered rather than just the bunnies.

 

[Orenoko]

Some vets will do it if you have no means of transport ina rural area or in an emergency, I know they've done it for my parents but it's not usually routine. With my parents the dog had had a massive stroke and couldn't be moved. But unfortunately a part of pet ownership is planning how to get to a vet when you need to. I would get a taxi rather than public transport if i was unable to drive. Could well be cheaper than a home visit too.

Vets who visit zoos are likely to be similar to horse vets ie specialists who are more equipped because it's physically not possible or safe to sedate a large animal and take it to a practice. It's not always just the price but the time it takes them away from the practice. Travelling to and from a home visit means less time for other appointments and they may not be staffed for that. Frankly I think it's wrong to assume that the vet should just do it.

 

[Lord Trellis]

Well I can forgot about getting my birds looked at in that case and just take one rabbit at a time. Maybe if the birds get sick I can bring in a sick one and see if I can get treatment for all otherwise I'll have no option to take matters into my own hands and order meds online with self diagnoses. Lets say Coccidia breaks out.... there is a type of Coccidia called Hepatic Coccidiosis that lives in the organs of birds and rabbits although they say its species specific, the exact same type can affect both birds and rabbits and will need to be treated with Tolrazuril or known as Baycox and that is a licensed drug so I'd prefer to get it legitimately from a vet rather than the web so I hope they can see my point. My birds can't be moved but its possible to catch a sick one and take that. If the rabbits are treated but the birds aren't its just going to be an endless cycle.

I'm going to bring one bunny with me tomorrow and I'm going to have an extensive chat with the vet about my concerns.

 

[Shimmer]

My vet always has the number of any taxis that will take animals, plus there's the option of a pet ambulance and in some cases will do a home visit, although with my vet that is quite a chunk of time out for the only vet in that day. Many practices will routinely do house calls if asked eg for multiple animals, farm animals or ones that can't be taken into the surgery, or for PTS appointments.

Several of the locum vets are from companies that usually only do house calls, so they are fully equipped.

 

[Lord Trellis]

Hepatic Coccidiosis isn't your typical intestinal Coccidiosis. This one can go unnoticed for some time and lives in the liver of small animals until it spreads and by that time its at advanced stages and starts to affect the kidneys causes issues like dehydration and kidney filtration issues like rabbits peeing out clear urine all the time.

 

[Lord Trellis]

My vet always has the number of any taxis that will take animals, plus there's the option of a pet ambulance and in some cases will do a home visit, although with my vet that is quite a chunk of time out for the only vet in that day. Many practices will routinely do house calls if asked eg for multiple animals, farm animals or ones that can't be taken into the surgery, or for PTS appointments.

Several of the locum vets are from companies that usually only do house calls, so they are fully equipped.

I'll ask and explain my birds also need looking at because they are not movable.

 

[Orenoko]

Well I can forgot about getting my birds looked at in that case and just take one rabbit at a time. Maybe if the birds get sick I can bring in a sick one and see if I can get treatment for all otherwise I'll have no option to take matters into my own hands and order meds online with self diagnoses. Lets say Coccidia breaks out.... there is a type of Coccidia called Hepatic Coccidiosis that lives in the organs of birds and rabbits although they say its species specific, the exact same type can affect both birds and rabbits and will need to be treated with Tolrazuril or known as Baycox and that is a licensed drug so I'd prefer to get it legitimately from a vet rather than the web so I hope they can see my point. My birds can't be moved but its possible to catch a sick one and take that. If the rabbits are treated but the birds aren't its just going to be an endless cycle.

I'm going to bring one bunny with me tomorrow and I'm going to have an extensive chat with the vet about my concerns.

I was just trying to point out that from a practical point of view it's not always possible, if everyone wants home visits it limits how many patients a vet can see. A rabbit can be transported by taxi for example I appreciate not all animals can. Hopefully your vet can do it on occasion.

 

[Babsie]

As the vet needs to see all the rabbits together I would book a taxi. Perhaps ‘Google’ for taxis in your area.

 

[Lord Trellis]

I was just trying to point out that from a practical point of view it's not always possible, if everyone wants home visits it limits how many patients a vet can see. A rabbit can be transported by taxi for example I appreciate not all animals can. Hopefully your vet can do it on occasion.

I understand I wasn't having a go at you in any way I just wish things were different today. It all sounds a bit shady doing it on the occasion and I hoped to get the ball rolling with getting everything sorted out rather than waiting to see if there might be an occasion for a home visit. Its not too much of an issue... at least not yet anyway. I'll just have to see what the vet says tomorrow and not get my hopes up too much because I know times are hard right now and there services are in high demand with not many staff... I will just have to be my own avian vet for the time being and concentrate on getting my bunnies too and from the vet.

 

[Graciee]

As the vet needs to see all the rabbits together I would book a taxi. Perhaps ‘Google’ for taxis in your area.

Yea definitely do this! I see people do it all the time, be way cheaper than home call too. Idk if they'd do that on a payment plan either. But taxi would enable you to take all three comfortably

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[Rhianna]

When I had eleven bunnies the vet came to me to do their vaccinations. It was his idea after I struggled in with as many carriers as I could borrow. I couldn't park nearby so it took a long time! He suggested next time he came to me. He didn't charge me any more and came on his own with a work experience student who just watched. I put a table outside in the back yard by the bunny enclosures and just popped one bun on the table at a time. I paid over the 'phone by card later that day.

It was far less stressful for the rabbits. I only have two buns now so it is much easier to take them to the surgery. When I have needed to go to the vet and couldn't drive for medical reasons I did get a taxi but it did make the vet visit a lot more expensive.

 

[Zarla]

I've transported many rabbits via trains and tubes over the years including babies and they don't get stressed out. Pack the carrier with hay and give them dark leaved lettuce for hydration.

 

[Lord Trellis]

When I had eleven bunnies the vet came to me to do their vaccinations. It was his idea after I struggled in with as many carriers as I could borrow. I couldn't park nearby so it took a long time! He suggested next time he came to me. He didn't charge me any more and came on his own with a work experience student who just watched. I put a table outside in the back yard by the bunny enclosures and just popped one bun on the table at a time. I paid over the 'phone by card later that day.

It was far less stressful for the rabbits. I only have two buns now so it is much easier to take them to the surgery. When I have needed to go to the vet and couldn't drive for medical reasons I did get a taxi but it did make the vet visit a lot more expensive.

That would be so ideal for me but somehow I don't think that I'd get that now days as an option. I ended up getting a cab. Lamb Chop has been given the all clear and he can be neutered so I'm calling them Monday to find out when a slot will be available. I would have liked to book the appointment there and then but unfortunately they are very busy and advised me to call back for neutering. The other two are doing fine.

 

[Babsie]

I've transported many rabbits via trains and tubes over the years including babies and they don't get stressed out. Pack the carrier with hay and give them dark leaved lettuce for hydration.

Rather difficult, though, when you are trying to manage 3 carriers.