The following subject, What Vet Should I Take My Rabbit To?, will be covered in great detail throughout this article on the blog, and all pertinent information will be included in the discussion. Keep reading if you want to find out more about this subject.
The big difference is that rabbits require a special vet – an exotics or small animal vet Most dog and
cat vets
just do not have the experience needed to safely and effectively treat your rabbit.
Rabbits Cost: How much do rabbits cost at the vet
If you plan on neutering or spaying your rabbit you can expect an initial $125-$250 worth of veterinary care. After that big expense (but well worth it to prevent other health problems and behavioral issues) you should have a regular annual exam with your exotics vet (find an exotics vet near you).
How often should I take my rabbit to the vet?
Rabbit:
Rabbit exams should be done at least annually, often twice a year in rabbits over 5 years of age Stool samples should be evaluated at the first three visits if the rabbit is kept only inside. If your rabbit is taken outside, a stool sample should be checked at every visit.
Do veterinarians take care of rabbits?
Veterinarians:
Preventive Care and Vaccinations Take your rabbit to see a veterinarian once yearly for an annual health examination Spaying or neutering your bunny will help it to live a longer, healthier life. Uterine cancer and infection are very likely in intact female rabbits as they age.
Vet Check Ups: Do rabbits need vet check ups
How often should you take your rabbit to the vet? Rabbits who are healthy only need to be brought to the vet for a checkup once a year If your rabbit is elderly or has frequent health problems, then you should bring them to the vet every 6 months.
Do bunnies need vaccines?
Vaccines:
Although pet rabbits in the United States do not require any vaccinations , veterinarians in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe routinely inoculate for two
fatal viruses common
to the continent’s wild rabbits: Myxomatosis and
viral haemorrhagic disease
(VHD).
How often do rabbits need vaccinations?
Vaccinations:
Book your rabbit’s vaccination We recommend rabbits are vaccinated every 12 months to protect them against contracting potentially fatal diseases such as Myxomatosis.
How long does a rabbit live?
Rabbit:
Rabbits, just like other domesticated animals, have an average lifespan which can help an owner keep their bunny in optimum health in every stage of life. Unlike their wild relatives, who live for an average of one to two years, domesticated rabbits can live between eight to 12 years.
What vaccinations do rabbits need?
Vaccinations:
Rabbits need vaccinations to protect against myxomatosis, Rabbit (Viral) Haemorrhagic Disease (R(V)HD) and a strain of R(V)HD – R(V)HD2 – all of which are often fatal and cause intense suffering to rabbits.
Do bunnies get sick easily?
Bunnies:
Rabbits are very adorable and fun little pets. However, just like people, they are susceptible to illness, injury, and disease Floppy can’t really communicate to let you know she isn’t feeling well, so you’ll need to keep an eye out for symptoms.
Bunny Poop Toxic: Is bunny poop toxic
Is Rabbit Poop Harmful? While rabbits can carry parasites like tapeworm and roundworm, their waste is not known to transmit any diseases to humans.
Indoor Rabbits: Should
indoor rabbits
be vaccinated
Should I vaccinate my house rabbits? Yes, we recommend vaccinating both indoor and outdoor rabbits because Myxomatosis, RVHD-1, and RVHD-2 can all spread via insects (such as mosquitos and fleas), wild rabbits, and on surfaces such as clothes and shoes.
Why do vets not treat rabbits?
Rabbits:
Historically, pet rabbits are a byproduct of the meat and/or show industries , whose breeders do not always (and some never) seek veterinary attention. Rabbits are easily reproducible and fast-growing, so economically it makes more sense to cull a sickly animal than to treat it.
Rabbits High Maintenance: Are rabbits high maintenance
Myth 1: Rabbits are great, low-maintenance pets. Reality: Although they don’t need to be walked like dogs, rabbits are anything but low-maintenance Their quarters need daily leaning, and
fresh food
and water must be offered daily, including a salad of well-washed, dark-green leafy vegetables.
Female Rabbits: Do female rabbits have periods
Rabbits do not menstruate If unspayed females start passing blood, they can bleed to death within a few days. Blood in the urine can also be a sign of bladder stones. If a bunny is not feeling well, or if it is obese and has soft poop, then it will not groom itself well in its genital and tail region.
How much does it cost to put down a rabbit?
Rabbit:
If your rabbit is particularly unwell, or is not responding to treatment, your vet may advise you that it is kinder to have the animal put down. The vet will administer a painless injection which will slowly send your rabbit into a permanent sleep. This costs around $15 and is a service offered by all vets.
Should you neuter a rabbit?
Rabbit:
Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancers Reproductive cancers are relatively common in rabbits, although more frequent in female rabbits. Neutered rabbits are much less likely to display undesirable hormone-induced behaviors such as mounting, urine spraying (or territorial marking), and aggression.
How do I transport my rabbit to the vet?
Rabbit:
The best method of transporting rabbits is with a plastic hard-sided carrier It’s the same type of carrier people use to transport cats or small dogs. You can line the bottom with a towel and/or hay, and include a favorite toy (if the bunny is by himself) and a treat.
How much does it cost to neuter a rabbit in my area?
Rabbit:
How much should you expect to pay? Costs vary between $125 for a low-cost neuter to $1,500 for a spay done by an exotic specialist.
Male Rabbit: When should a male rabbit be neutered
Neutering male rabbits is called ‘castration’. This is a routine surgical procedure under general anaesthetic to surgically remove the testicles via two incisions in the scrotum. It is usually done at 5
months old
but can be done from 3 months if the testicles have descended sufficiently and the rabbit is big enough.
How long can rabbits be left alone for?
Rabbits:
Rabbits are not particularly independent, so they can’t be left on their own for more than two days However, if it’s just a weekend or a working day, we can make sure they get everything they need, so we can spend time away from home without worrying too much about their health.
Do rabbits need worming?
Rabbits:
Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits generally don’t require regular worming treatments as an infestation of worms is less common. That’s not to say they’re immune to catching a dose of worms though.
Salt Licks: Do rabbits need salt licks
Many rabbit owners provide their animals with salt or trace mineral licks. Such items contain salt and other minerals a rabbit needs in its diet. Also, they may aid in wearing down the teeth and help provide enrichment or prevent boredom in the rabbit. Rabbits do not need a salt lick if they receive a complete feed.
Flea Treatment: Do rabbits need flea treatment
For Outdoor Rabbits Treat all rabbits, cats and dogs in the home with flea treatment Check other furry family members carefully to check they are not also infested, and treat if required. If any indoor pets have fleas, make sure to treat the house as well as the outdoor hutch.
Rabbits Scent Glands: Do you need to clean rabbits scent glands
If your rabbit is unable to clean herself, then you need to keep a check not only on urine or faeces sticking onto the underside, but also the scent glands. If there is a lot of wax and the area is particularly smelly, you will need to clean the glands This needs to be done very gently and carefully.
How old does a rabbit have to be to be vaccinated?
Rabbit:
When should I vaccinate my rabbit? As a general rule, your rabbit can be vaccinated from seven weeks old with the combined Myxomatosis RHD Plus vaccine and immunity takes three weeks to develop.
Human Years: How old is a 2 year old rabbit in human years
Like that, you can find out your bunny’s age, for example: 1-year-old rabbit is 21 years old in human years. 2-year-old rabbit is 27 years old in human years. 3-year-old rabbit is 33 years old in human years.
Single Rabbit Survive: Can a single rabbit survive
Rabbits can live alone , but you’ll need to provide your pet with the attention (company, petting, grooming, exercise, playing, and enrichment) that a bonded rabbit partner would provide. It’s always advisable to keep rabbits in pairs. If you can find a pair of rabbits that are already bonded, so much the better.
Human Years: How old is my rabbit in human years
Basics Behind the Calculation The easy thing to do would be to divide the 75 year life expectancy of humans by the 10 years of life expectancy of a rabbit, and say that every one year of rabbit life would be equal to 7.5 years of human life.
Can rabbits infect humans?
Rabbits:
Zoonotic diseases associated with rabbits include pasteurellosis, ringworm, mycobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis and external parasites. Rabbits can transmit bacteria through bites and scratches.
Can you declaw a rabbit?
Rabbit:
Can you declaw a rabbit? Your veterinarian can also clip your rabbit’s nails for you. They should be checked every four to six weeks. Never ever declaw a rabbit ; it is not recommended for rabbits and is also unsafe, inhumane, and totally unnecessary.
How can you tell if a rabbit is in pain?
Rabbit:
Often a rabbit in pain will sit hunched up, unwilling to move A rabbit that sits hunched up, with eyes half closed, and firm teeth grinding is likely in pain and needs a vet check form filled out and supervisor notified.
Rabbit Pee White: Why is my rabbit pee white
Whereas dogs and cats will only absorb the amount of calcium their body needs from their diet, rabbits absorb all of the calcium within their diet and excrete the excess through the urinary system This is why rabbit urine is often observed as being cloudy or white in colour.
How can I tell if my rabbit is cold?
Rabbit:
Symptoms include shivering (although this will suddenly stop when their temperature reaches dangerously low levels), pale lips and gums, low energy and a loss of coordination Hypothermia is an emergency, so if you spot any of these symptoms, bring them into the warm and contact your vet immediately.
Sources
https://smallanimal.vethospital.ufl.edu/clinical-services/zoological-medicine/how-to-care-for-your-pet-rabbit/
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2021/10/16/how-to-find-a-rabbit-friendly-vet/
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-welfare-association-fund/our-work/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/
https://www.rabbitholehay.com/pages/vet-locator