Medical
Finding a Rabbit Veterinarian
By Chandra Moira Beal
Finding a veterinarian who is rabbit savvy is essential for your pet. Whether your rabbit needs an annual check up or you face an emergency in the middle of the night, the time to find a vet is now. Don't wait until you have an emergency to establish your rabbit as a patient. Having quick access to your rabbit's medical records and past health history could save their life when every second counts.
Start your search by asking your rabbit friends or co-workers for recommendations. Ask for a referral from your local rabbit rescue organization. The local humane society may also be able to steer you in the right direction.
Check the phone book for vets who handle "exotics", a term that usually includes rabbits. Make a list of these vets, then call several vets in the yellow pages who do NOT specify exotics and ask to whom they refer rabbit cases. Hopefully, there will be some crossover between your lists.
Once you've narrowed down your choices, call each clinic and ask to speak directly with the doctor at their convenience. Leave any numbers where you can be reached, and be available when they call. Explain that you have a house rabbit and that you want to establish a regular veterinarian for them. Don't assume that just because a veterinarian works with breeders or local 4-H clubs that they are experienced with house rabbits, as they have their own special needs.
Then start asking basic questions, such as:
Where did they receive their education and training?
How long have they been in practice?
What veterinary conferences have they attended lately?
What medical journals do they read?
How many rabbits do they see per year?
How many rabbit spays/neuters have they done and what is their rate of success? (Don't settle for less than a 98% success rate)
What kind of anesthesia do they use for rabbits? Isoflurane is the safest choice.
Do they provide pain medication post-surgery?
To gauge how familiar the vet is with general rabbit care, ask additional questions:
Why do they recommend spaying a female bunny? They should mention the risk of ovarian or uterine cancer if left unspayed, and be aware of when rabbits become sexually mature (6 months for females; 3 months for males).
Which antibiotics are dangerous to rabbits? Most of the "cillin" drugs commonly used with cats and dogs, such as amoxicillin, ampicillan, lincomycin, and clindamycin are fatal to rabbits.
What would they recommend to prevent hairballs? The right answer is plenty of hay to eat and daily brushing, and possibly a supplement such as papaya or Laxatone.
Ask if food should be withheld night before surgery. Rabbits should never be fasted. Their digestive systems are designed to process a constant supply of food and fiber. It would take days to empty their stomachs completely, making them very ill. Sometimes rabbit savvy vets will employ staff that are not aware of this special circumstance, and will advise you to fast your rabbit prior to surgery. This is incorrect advice.
Any honest vet with integrity will not be offended by your questions. A willingness to communicate with you about your pet's needs is a good sign. Your decision should be based on the factual information you gather, as well as your impression of the doctor as a person. Does he or she have a pleasant bedside manner? If possible, make arrangements to visit the clinic in person. Is it clean? Is the staff friendly and organized? Is there a place for rabbits to recover quietly away from dogs and cats?
Don't choose a vet based simply on location. A five-minute trip to the clinic may be ideal when you're faced with a crisis, but will do you no good if the veterinarian cannot correctly diagnose and treat your rabbit.
If you want to dig even deeper, contact the American Veterinary Medicine Association (http://www.avma.org) and find out which vets in your area specialize in rabbits, or if the vets on your prospective list are currently registered and licensed with the Association.
While rabbit medicine is still considered somewhat "exotic", more and more vets are acquiring the knowledge and experience necessary to treat them on a routine basis. As rabbits become increasingly popular as pets, vet schools are gradually incorporating rabbit medicine into their training. Supply your vet with health-related articles to keep them up-to-date, and encourage them to network with other rabbit vets. You, your vet and your bunny will all benefit in the long run.
© Copyright by Chandra Moira Beal. All rights reserved.
Available to buy now
