How to Find the Right Vet to Treat Your Pet Rabbit.
Finding a good vet for your rabbit is important, and it is even more important that you have one in mind before your bunny falls ill. The vet you used to take your cat to might have been great with Fluffy, but what does he know about rabbits?
In your search for the right vet for your rabbit let a telephone conversation with several offices be your starting place. The answers you get to a few simple questions can help you decide if a particular vet is really equipped to take care of your precious pet:
1. How often do you see rabbits? If the answer is not often ,this a red flag right away. If the receptionist hesitates or says something like “we can see rabbits” or “we will accept a rabbit” this is not the same as a vet who sees them on a regular basis. Ask how many bunnies they see each week. One or two once in a while is not enough to make the vet in question a rabbit expert.
2. Ask how much it costs to spay or neuter a rabbit: Even if you did this ages ago, asking this one question can be another way to determine how often rabbits are seen at a practice. If the receptionist has to check to see if they do, then it is rather obvious that they do not do so very often. If you get a quick answer and a price quote, this is a very good sign.
3. Throw in a Tricky Question: Try asking if a rabbit should be forced to fast before surgery. The correct answer is a resounding NO. Fasting is to prevent vomiting under anesthesia, and rabbits cannot vomit. If the receptionist says yes, give her the benefit of the doubt for a moment, she is not the vet. Ask her to check with her boss. If she does and the answer is still yes, hang up and call another vet.
4. Do not assume a livestock vet knows her rabbits: Vets who work with farmers and breeders may not always share the compassion that house rabbit owners have for their beloved bunnies. Livestock are usually a financial commodity and sick rabbits are often killed instead of being treated.
5. Ask Fluffy’s Vet for a Recommendation: Remember the nice cat Dr? He may not know his rabbits, but chances are he knows someone who does. That way you can take the referral, then call and ask your trick question to make sure!
