Vet Search

[Sealy]

I have been searching for a Bun savvy vet here in MS. for awhile now with no luck. I did hear of one that is somewhat but I'm not too fond of the whole vet office and such.( once had a great reputation , now, meh, questionable).
I love my dog's vets, but they know just rabbit basics and not real experienced. However, when I took Dandelion in to get his teeth trimmed, they were very willing to learn. They have spayed/neutered several buns, but that's about it.
I know there are bun savvy vets a few states away from me ( Alabama, Lousiana, Texas) & have even had offers to stay with or leave my buns for a few days to visit the vet or recover after spaying & neutering, from some great people but I would really prefer to have someone local. In an emergency, trying to get buns to the vet hundreds of miles away just isn't realistic.
I did read the questions listed @ the HRS for vets, but how do I work with my already established vets in learning more without giving them the impression that I am a know-it-all or insulting their education?

~Sealy

 

[Pipp]

Sorry Sealy, our MS Vet list is broken, should be fixed soon.

The best bet is to print out as much material from sources a vet would deem credible (Medi-Vet, vet journals, other vets, biologists, etc), augment it with material detailing other bunny owners' experiences, and take it with you.

sas

 

[naturestee]

If you want to work with your current vet, it's a good idea to ask them to consult with a rabbit-savvy vet over the phone for advice. Ask who they would consult with- vets usually know each other and know who is best with what.

There's some good info here on resources for vets:
http://www.rabbit.org/vets/index_vet.html

You could also ask them what, if any, rabbit medical textbooks they have. If the don't have any you could ask if they'd buy one to have around for reference.

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

Have you tried you phonebook? There is probably a vet listing and you could find a small animal vet. Thats how I found mine.

 

[Sealy]

Thanks for the advice y'all, sorry it took me so long to post an response :/

I've been all through the phone bok, Googled, read all of the online vet lists, and called every shelter here in a tri county area O_O
I get the same responses... all of the vets are trained in general rabbit care, they know how to take care of rabbits. Sigh.
So, I asked one vet what did they reccomend doing for GI Stasis.. heh.. he gave me a puzzled look and said I would have to look that up.
As far as them calling a rabbit savvy vet.. 2 vets were very insulted when I asked this question and it just didn't go well. These are definetly not the vets for me, but I'm getting a bit aggrivated. Makes me want to go through Vet school just to specialize in Buns. ( heh, I'm 39, and may actually get to practice Vet medicine a couple of years before retirement age if I did that!)
Problem is, this is Mississippi. We are always slow to get anything. ( but yes, we do have running water, indoor plumbing and electricity now )
We do have some terrific vets but just lack progressive Bun care due to the lack of good Bun owners here.
Every vet 's office I have contacted so far ( around 20) have said they get a few buns here and there, done a few spay and neuters and no deaths ( that part is promising )
I am thinking of approaching my vet again with this issue and go about it this way:
" Dr. So and So, I have been so grateful that you are my dog's vet, you are the best in my opinion and my dog's just love you. I would really like for us to work together on my rabbit's health, Mississippi seriously needs a bun specialized vet. There are many of us Bun owners desperately searching for such, and for one that doesn't charge a house payment & many bun owners are driving out of state for rabbit care. If you become the 'rabbit vet' here in MS. I believe you would get many repeat, loyal clients, and possibly they would travel from other surrounding states to come to you.
I would be willing to share with you all of my research, links, print out information and even books and a list of vets in other areas that specialize in rabbits to enable us to work together."
That isn't verbatim, but a gist of what I would like to say, I would of course refine it before I talked to him.
Any other suggestions of what I could add or subract from that?

~ Sealy

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o_(")(")

 

[ratmom]

I thought it was harder to find a rat vet, but no way. You would think in tx of all places there would be some people that know about rabbits. I finally found one hopefully she's good, because I'm tired of looking LOL. I was even having problems with old vets, if they can't fit me in I don't even bother. I had a vet I adored and he won't take any patients in after 3pm now which seems crazy to me. I do know how you feel though I searched through google & phonebooks and just called anyone I could find. Sorry for the vent.

 

[Maureen Las]

I know theire are vets in other parts of the country who would be willing to do consultations with vets that don't know rabbits well but are open to it.

I think that your first vet (the one you like) probably has a lot of potential because he is interested in learning more.

The only problem with that is that doing procedures would be lst times for him.

I thought that HRS has a list of vets who will do phone consultations ..maybe look that up but I'm fairly sure that there is.

I also do not have a vet who has knowledge of everything. I have vets that know some things and don't know other things. I go to about 4 vets in la Crosse and one in Verona Wi for teeth.

I understand your plight as when I lived in Chicago I had my choice of exotic vets but here in Wi it is much more difficult at least in south west Wi.

 

[Sealy]

I found my bunny vet! * does human binkies all over the room*
The vet is one I have used before when my vet was out of town. I really like this vet, and he answered all of my questions correctly (the ones listed at HRS to ask a vet) He sees a few buns a week and has done lots of spays and neuters.
I took Dandelion in for a tooth trim and he did great with Dr. Rick. ( and now weighs 3 pounds! .. Dandelion, not Dr. Rick )

Im headed to post a vet for MS. now, finally!

~ Sealy
* who never knew finding a vet could be such a happy day*