In the post that I’m going to publish on my blog today, which will be labeled with the heading What Kind Of Vet Takes Care Of Rabbits?, I’m going to talk about the following topic. I will share with you any and all pertinent information regarding the position. I have high hopes that you will discover this post to be really useful.
Just like all companion animals, your rabbit will need to go to a vet sometimes. 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.
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.
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).
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.
How often do bunnies need to go to the vet?
Bunnies:
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.
Indoor Rabbits: Do
indoor rabbits
need to go 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 rabbits need vaccines?
Vaccines:
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.
How long does a bunny live?
Bunny:
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.
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 much is rabbit neutering UK?
Rabbit:
If you have two rabbits of the opposite sex and have no plans of becoming a bunny breeder then getting your rabbits spayed/neutered is going to cost on average £80 each.
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.
Pet Rabbits: Do pet rabbits stink
Unlike dogs, rabbits don’t have a body odor You shouldn’t notice any odor emanating from them. If you do, the rabbit is probably sick or has an infection. An ear infection, for example, can give off a musty smell.
Rabbits Diarrhea: What foods give rabbits diarrhea
Soft Cecotropes, Otherwise Normal So remember to give your rabbit free-fed grass hay or include fiber-rich vegetables in their diet. Insufficient fiber is one of the most
common causes
of rabbits with diarrhea. As is giving your bunny too much of a good thing, like pellets or starchy, sugary treats.
Soft Poop: Why does my rabbit have soft poop
Soft poop is uneaten cecotropes. It’s the result of an imbalance in the diet Usually, the rabbit has consumed too many treats and/or pellets. Some rich vegetables, such as kale, dandelion greens, carrot tops and chard, may also cause excess cecotropes.
Gi Stasis: How do I know if my rabbit has a GI stasis
Rabbits with GI stasis can quickly become lethargic and may exhibit signs of pain such as teeth grinding and a hunched posture. They may also begin to produce excessive gas and sometimes soft stool or diarrhea.
Specialized Care: What specialized care do rabbits need
Domestic rabbits are indoor pets that require as much attention as any other pet, including a specific diet and daily meals, regular cleaning of their quarters, daily monitoring and time out of their cage and medical care from a veterinarian with knowledge of and experience working with rabbits.
Yearly Checkups: Do rabbits need yearly checkups
Annual Physical Exam. Our veterinarians recommend that rabbits undergo a thorough wellness exam once a year until they reach “middle age.” Older rabbits should see us more often, but we will give you an idea of how often based upon your rabbit’s health and behavior.
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.
Do rabbits get vaccines?
Vaccines:
There are currently no licensed vaccines available for rabbits in the US In other parts of the world, vaccinations exist to protect against Myxomatosis and Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (RVHD.) These are both acute and fatal diseases.
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.
Do you have to neuter a rabbit?
Rabbit:
Spaying or neutering your rabbit can significantly adds to their life expectancy and benefits their general health and wellbeing The most obvious perk of these routine surgeries is eliminating the risk of reproductive cancers (mammary, uterine, ovarian, testicular) that are dishearteningly common in unaltered rabbits.
How much does it cost to get rabbits spayed?
Rabbits:
You can spay a female rabbit as early as four months and costs for this process vary widely, with some being as little as $75 or as much as several hundred dollars According to the Rabbit House Society, the average cost to spay or neuter your rabbit is $250.
Can rabbits control their poop?
Rabbits:
How frequently do rabbits poop? There is a funny myth out there that rabbits can’t control their dropping at all The idea is that a rabbit will walk around continually leaving dropping in a trail behind them. This myth probably came about because rabbits do leave droppings scattered around.
Clear Gel Discharge: What is a clear gel discharge from a rabbit
Mucoid enteropathy is a distinct diarrheal disease of young rabbits that also can be fatal. The diarrhea contains a large amount of mucus with a gelatinous consistency.
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.
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.
Pet Rabbits: What vaccines do pet rabbits need
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).
Pet Bunny: Can you get sick from a pet bunny
Rabbits that are housed outdoors, captured from wild populations or that are purchased from a pet store may carry zoonotic diseases Zoonotic diseases associated with rabbits include pasteurellosis, ringworm, mycobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis and external parasites.
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.
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.
Can rabbits be left alone for 8 hours?
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.
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 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.
What three 3 signs may indicate a rabbit has calicivirus?
Calicivirus:
Signs include fever, restlessness, lethargy and poor appetite with bleeding from the nose and/or blood on the floor where rabbits are housed Often infected rabbits will show no signs and die suddenly.
Common Cause: What is the most common cause of death in rabbits
The researchers found that the most common causes of death recorded by veterinary surgeons were flystrike (10.9% of pet rabbits), anorexia (4.9%), collapse (4.9%) and gut stasis (4.3%) The
average lifespan
of pet rabbits was 4.3 years, although survival up to 14.4 years had been recorded.
How do I know if my 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.
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.
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.
How much does it cost to look after a rabbit?
Rabbit:
You’ll need to spend about $500 – $800 a year on average Most of the cost will depend on how much medical care your rabbit needs and whether you’ll need to include any furniture repairs. You will also need to factor in regular veterinary care. Again, you should have an emergency fund.
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).
What treatments do rabbits need?
Treatments:
Veterinary check-ups, at least annually – including treatment for external and internal parasites such as fleas and worms. Vaccinating against myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) , as advised by your vet. Keeping away from wild rabbits and areas where wild rabbits live – they can carry diseases.
Sources
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-welfare-association-fund/our-work/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2021/10/16/how-to-find-a-rabbit-friendly-vet/