Is it okay to use two different vet surgeries?

[Beapig]

Hi everyone,

I apologise if this is a really dumb question.

When my bridge bun Hammy began going downhill last year, he was going to the out of hours vet hospital quite frequently. Soon after we heard rumours (which turned out to be untrue) that our regular vet surgery was closing, and that we should get our rabbits registered elsewhere asap. We didn't realise that the out of hours also had a day time exotic vet department (RWAF gold listed) so obviously we were happy to register all three buns with them.

Hammy has since passed, the girls had their vaccinations and checkups with new vets in spring and the vet felt that Maple might need a dental in the future - advised a checkup in 3 months time (in about a couple of weeks).

Basically, it costs almost £500 at the exotic vet for a dental :shock: Closer to £150 when we last used the previous vet (we have used them for many, many dentals with multiple rabbits and have never experienced any issues in the past).

My question is, is it okay to take Maple to the old vet for a dental? We never un-registered with them as such...the price difference is so huge that if I can avoid paying that much extra, it would be a big relief.

We are soon re-locating to a different part of the country, so in a couple of months I won't be able to use either of these vet surgeries anymore.

TIA for any advice

 

[InspectorMorse]

You would need to tell the Vet who is going to do the Dental that you have previously consulted another Vet at another Surgery as they will need to request the clinical records from the previous consultation. Personally I am not keen on using different Vet Surgeries but if I did I would always be up front about it and why I was doing it

 

[SarahP]

I know people do this, and you definitely can, but my experience was that it was confusing and not really in the bunnies' interests. When I had bunnies I started them at a local surgery and had their vaccinations done, then had them spayed somewhere else, then ended up taking them further afield to an exotics place. In the end I started having everything done at the exotics place, including vaccinations.

 

[Beapig]

Thank you both for your inputs.

It's a strange situation, because as I said, we only moved the girls due to being told (by someone who thought was a very reliable source) that the vets we had been using for years were closing. And because Hammy was going to the hospital a lot, we picked them.

But I truly can't justify paying £300 odd quid more for a dental, especially knowing that my old surgery did a great job. It's very confusing.

 

[KarenM]

There's nothing to stop you switching back - it's not like the GP surgery for humans where you can only be registered with one at a time.

I would agree with the suggestion to tell them you've been to a different vet in the meantime, as they can request the records be sent over for completeness. But it won't be an issue for either vet practice & happens very commonly.

 

[joey&boo]

I use 2 which my regular vet is ok about (not the receptionist though:lol but the local one for emergencies where it wouldn't be safe to travel far & PTS.

Thats a huge price difference & I quite honestly would be tempted by the former vet as you're totally happy with your experience of them & you're moving soon anyway. I hope you chose somewhere based on the locality of a brilliant rabbit vet :lol: Lets hoping she doesn't need that dental. Many a time spurs have been noticed in my buns but often not ended up needing the dentist

 

[Zigzag]

I use 3 vets. My local one is pretty **** for rabbits, but I use it for vaccines and if a bunny isn’t eating.

My regular vet is 2 hours away.

And my specialist vet is about 1.5 hours away. Personally I think it’s good to be upfront but you should do what’s in the best interests of your bunny x