 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Selecting a veterinarian for your house rabbit can be just as difficult as selecting a pediatrician for your children. The time to find a vet is BEFORE you have an emergency. It may seem like a lot of work to go through to choose a vet, but it is important that you find a veterinarian that is knowledgable and experienced in the care of rabbits. A good rabbit veterinarian will have a working knowledge of rabbit anatomy and physiology, nutrition and the common diseases and syndromes of rabbits. |
|
|
 |
|
A good place to start is to check the House Rabbit Society and PetBunny recommended veterinarian lists, to see if there are any recommended rabbit vets in your area. Also, check your yellow pages for vets advertising in your area, especially those that care for "exotics". Make a list of a few of the veterinarians in a radius from your home that you feel would be close enough to take your rabbit in case of a problem. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Next, you want to call each of the veterinarians and ask them a few open-ended questions. Do not ask "Do you treat rabbits?", instead ask "Who can you recommend I take my house rabbit to?". If they tell you that they treat rabbits, write their name down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Select two or three veterinarians from the phone interviews and make an appointment to visit the clinics. Many vets won't charge for a quick non-medical consultation. Check the clinics for cleanliness, friendliness of the staff and their ability and willingness to answer questions. Ask to see the exam rooms. Again, check for cleanliness. Ask to see where the rabbits are kept if an overnight stay is required. Pay note to where the rabbit would stay in relation to the other animals. A noisy area can be very stressful on a rabbit (especially one that is ill). Again ask questions. Ask the vet about basic rabbit care and health concerns. You might also want to ask which conferences they've attended lately that had talks about rabbit medicine and what journals they read. Ask about special service and equipment that the veterinarian and clininc offer for rabbits, such as isoflourine for anesthesia, a dental drill for over-grown teeth. When seeking details, ask open-ended questions. |
|
|
|
|
The most import thing you can do when choosing a veterinarian for you house rabbit is ask questions! Don't be afraid to ask too many. You need to have a way to discern his or her level of knowledge and experience with rabbits and, just as important, your ability to communicate with each other. The health and saftey of your house rabbit depend on it. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|