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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A PLEASE HELP! FREAKING OUT!

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    • RabbitMtnMama
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        This is our second forray into owning a rabbit. (The first, a Netherland Dwarf, died mysteriously within a week of bringing him home.)

         

        We’ve had “Pat” since the middle of April. I know nothing about what breed she might be, but she has long, white hair that is very fine. Her ears have a few mottled spots of tan, but otherwise she is entirely white with brown eyes.

        She eats pellets, hay and fresh greens daily. We occassionally give her treats like carrots, green peppers, apple peels, etc.

         

        She appears young.

         

        Today she was hopping around the living room, enjoying a plate of spring mix when I noticed a bald spot on her neck/back. The skin doesn’t look particularly irritated but upon closer examination, I see tiny, white bugs crawling on her. We have many other pets (no other rabbits) and 2 young children. Should I be concerned this may be contagious? I am FREAKING OUT.

        I see no symptoms of “mange” (no hair loss around her face, ears or eyes). Does this sound like fur mites? I am terrified to handle her and we have no vets that treat rabbits in our area. She requires daily attention, and we always allow her to have some time with us outside and in the main part of her house. (Her cage is kept in the basement).

         

        Please give me some advice/insight. I am so horrified. Reall REALLY freaked out.


      • jerseygirl
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          It could be mites – which are easily treatable. Sometimes it’s called “walking dandruff”. You can treat with kitten dose of Revolution but it is best to see a vet, establish what exactly it is, then get the correct dosage. Even a non rabbit vet should be able to recognise what bug it is.
          Good idea to treat all the pets as a preventative.
          Rabbits can be given Revolution or Advantage but NEVER Frontline. Frontline can be fatal for them.


        • RabbitMtnMama
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            Thank you for responding. All of our cats and dogs are on monthly prevention (dogs Comfortis or Revolution, cats are on Vectra).

            Should I avoid any and all handling of her until we know what is going on? I can easily run to the vet in the morning and pick up a dose of revolution. Would that treat ALL possible mites or only certain types? Is this common? I am so freaked out I’m considering running out to buy an outdoor hutch for her so we aren’t being exposed to this. My son (4) loves her and really participates in her care. It will be difficult to keep him from handling her.

            Is the Revolution applied directly to the skin?


          • jerseygirl
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              That your other pets are on a preventative is good. I’m not sure what is advised about handling them ourselves though. My 2 were treated for fur mites not too long ago and I just vacuumed a lot and changed out their mats to wash more frequently. I still handled them though.
              Here’s the House Rabbits Societies advice on fleas, ticks, mites etc. http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/groom.html#Fleas

              Hope that helps.

              Edit to add: Please reconsider about putting her outdoors. She’ll likely keep getting reinfected out there. Also, a change of housing will cause stress and it’s better her immune system is not stressed currently.  It’s quite possible she’s had mites all along and quite possible the other animals bring parasites like mites into the home even if they don’t become a host.


            • Sarita
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                Really you don’t need to worry about handling her – you cannot contract this nor can your other pets. Don’t move her outside either – that is definitely going to freak her out and she will be much more exposed to fleas, ticks, etc.

                Really, you don’t need to worry or freak out – your family will be fine and it is easily treated :~)


              • RabbitMtnMama
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                  Thank you again. I’m a little calmer now. Though it may not seem like it, we’re a very animal savvy home. We have several foster dogs and cats as well as our own (we even have chickens).

                  “Pat” is our newest addition. After months of hearing my son beg for a bunny, we found an adorable rabbit in need of a home and we took her on the spot. (I think she is a she). We did a lot of reading and coaxed our kids on knowing how differently to handle her and we’ve been very careful about her diet. We were surprised by how sweet and well adjusted she seems. She even suffered (which thoroughly shocked me) more than the other animals while we were away for 3 nights, refusing to eat while we were gone, despite having a pet sitter. It is obviously important and to her well being to have regular contact with us so I hate to even entertain the thought of moving her outside.

                  I will admit that little bugs on animals really freak me out. We recently had a foster dog treated (and recovered) from sarcoptic mange. (I was VERY careful to be sure he was separated from all other animals during his contagious period) but I’m still sqeamish at the thought of creepy crawlies and I definitely SAW the little white bugs on her. Is it safe (or stupid) to presume it is not a burrowing type of mite based on the fact that there were so many. She has huge ears that she frequently lays flat so I just noticed the bald spot on her skin. We’ve even been brushing her regularly and this is the first sign of any abnormality, but the bald patch is significant. (I see no others on her, her tummy looks clean) but I do think she feels a bit “boney” compared with her normal self.

                  I really want to avoid stressing her by taking her to the vet. Our vet doesn’t regularly treat or see rabbits in his practice (I called to see if they would spay her when we brought her home and they said “no”) so if at all possible I would much rather not add any more stress to her delicate system than necessary. We have a small scale here would it be best to just use the dose of Revolution? Do we repeat the dose monthly or is it a one time cure? She seems otherwise healthy, hopping around, eating kale from our hands and drinking normally….

                  I really appreciate your advice.


                • Tate
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                    You really should take her to the vet anyways, even if the mites can be treated with Revolution. She needs to have a check up as well as get spayed, as females have an 80% of developing uterine cancer. Rabbit.org has a list of vets that treat rabbits. Just because your normal vet is not well versed in rabbit care, doesn’t mean others aren’t either. A rabbit savvy vet will be able to answer all questions for you.


                  • jerseygirl
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                      Burrowing mite is pretty rare in rabbits and you likely wouldn’t see them. You might see a change in behaviour though.
                      They can get sarcoptic mange but what you’re describing sounds like fur mite or just moulting. Some rabbits shed right down to skin.
                      You could treat as the instructions are in that HRS article but the weight loss is a little concerning. Sometimes mites become a problem because the immune system is busy fighting something else.


                    • Juli
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                        maybe it would help if you put up a photo of her. Just so we can see what your talking about and we an help you more.


                      • LoveChaCha
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                          By not taking her to the vet, you are making her suffer Her health is in your hands.

                          The vet is always stressful for any animal, but it is something that we as owners have to do. Sick children are taken to the doctors office, it is the same as taking a sick animal to a vet to find a cure to whatever health issue there is.

                          I believe that only a vet knows the correct dosage of flea medicine to put on a rabbit, if I am not mistaken.


                        • RabbitMtnMama
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                            Tate, we live in an extremely rural area of Appalachia. Our vet is the only vet within 30 min of us. I also went to the web site you recommended. My state has no listings. The closest “big city” to us is approx 2 hours one way.

                            JerseyGirl, I agree, the weight loss is a bit concerning. I see no other symptoms, she is eating well, (I notice she is shedding quite a bit, but her fur is excessive and seems to pull easily if that makes sense). Of course, I am not a vet, and the mere sight of tiny white bugs crawling on her bare skin grossed me out. I chalked the weight loss up to stress from the mites, but I understand the mites could be a byproduct of her compromised immune system and the weight loss a product of whatever ailment she is potentially fighting.

                            Any other thoughts or ideas? We really want to do the right thing here, but driving 4 hours round trip isn’t an option for us. She is housed in a metal cage with access to food (pellets), hay, water and fresh greens, treats and toys. She gets outside time daily and is allowed to run about the house part of the day (she uses a litter box in her cage and hops back to the door when she’s ready to go).

                            I honestly can’t thank you enough. She was going to be sold as an “Easter bunny” until someone overheard me mention that my son wanted a rabbit and I was asked to keep her until after the holiday to ensure she wasn’t someone’s impulse buy…We decided to keep her after enough begin from our son and some cute nose twitching on her part. I have no clue as to her age and no way of even guessing. I suppose it’s possible she’s old and sick, and in our ignorance never recognized it but I certainly hope that isn’t the case!


                          • RabbitMtnMama
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                              I will try to post a picture of the bald spot. I also have a picture of her the day we brought her home for reference. I will note that she did have some mucus on her stool once that I noted but I have seen no other signs of any bowel issues. She eats VERY well…I didn’t even notice the bald spot on her back until she had finished her second helping of Organic Spring mix.


                            • LoveChaCha
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                                Does the vet that is 30 minutes away know of any other vets?


                              • RabbitMtnMama
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                                  Posted By LoveChaCha on 05/22/2011 01:12 PM
                                  By not taking her to the vet, you are making her suffer Her health is in your hands.

                                  The vet is always stressful for any animal, but it is something that we as owners have to do. Sick children are taken to the doctors office, it is the same as taking a sick animal to a vet to find a cure to whatever health issue there is.

                                  I believe that only a vet knows the correct dosage of flea medicine to put on a rabbit, if I am not mistaken.

                                   

                                  I understand that you are trying to help her. Please understand that I am not purposely denying her vet care to cause her further harm or suffering. There simply aren’t any vets within reasonable driving distance that treat rabbits in my area. I am seeking the advice of experienced rabbit owners and doing my best to treat her.

                                  I have children and many other pets so I’m well versed in “what-to-do-when-sick” situations, but thank you for pointing that out. As I mentioned in earlier posts, I tried to have her vetted and spayed by our veteranarian but was told they didn’t “do” rabbits.

                                  Again, I am very grateful for the advice. I know that no one here is answering my questions with the intention of taking the place of a qualified vet, but considering my options, I apprecaite the reference of knowledge and experience.


                                • Tate
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                                    I would still only recommend going to a vet. Generally, death and uterine cancer beat out a longish car ride. Rabbit savvy vets are soo hard to come by! Unfortunately, it’s a big problem with many of the members on here. My preferred vet is 6 hours away, although I do have one closer in case of an emergency but would never allow them to operate on any of my rabbits. I’ve driven to the vet 4 times this year alone to get surgeries/neuters on my bunnies.
                                    Also, while the rabbit.org site is a good place to start, it certainly isn’t comprehensive. Neither of my vets are on it. You could call around to different vets. I think bunspace.com has some rabbit vet listings as well… all user submitted!


                                  • RabbitMtnMama
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                                      Posted By LoveChaCha on 05/22/2011 01:35 PM
                                      Does the vet that is 30 minutes away know of any other vets?

                                       

                                      No. There are plenty of vets throughout the mountains here, but none within reasonable driving distance that have knowledge of rabbits. A google search in addition to the web site reccomended by a previous poster confirms that there are none that advertise this knowledge.

                                      I live in a remote part of the country where our vets are significantly behind in providing optimal standards of care  for the most common animals (dogs, cats, horses)…With no local competetion encouraging better practice I don’t see that changing any time soon. It just is what it is…I assure you, I am not lazy, careless or stupid. I hope to alleviate any of her issues and sought the advice of people with far more knowledge and resources to point me in the right direction.


                                    • LoveChaCha
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                                        I did not say that you are lazy, careless, or stupid. I was saying that a vet would be better in this case, if it were mites. I hope that you will find a solution to your issue with bunny


                                      • RabbitMtnMama
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                                          Posted By Tate on 05/22/2011 01:45 PM
                                          I would still only recommend going to a vet. Generally, death and uterine cancer beat out a longish car ride. Rabbit savvy vets are soo hard to come by! Unfortunately, it’s a big problem with many of the members on here. My preferred vet is 6 hours away, although I do have one closer in case of an emergency but would never allow them to operate on any of my rabbits. I’ve driven to the vet 4 times this year alone to get surgeries/neuters on my bunnies.
                                          Also, while the rabbit.org site is a good place to start, it certainly isn’t comprehensive. Neither of my vets are on it. You could call around to different vets. I think bunspace.com has some rabbit vet listings as well… all user submitted!

                                           

                                          I will check with bunspace.com Thank you for the reccomendation. I have an infant and another young son, I’m a stay at home mom and we’re a one vehicle family. Driving that far is completely out of our realm of possibility.

                                          I did call to two neighboring counties when I was told my local vet wouldn’t treat her and got the same resonse. No one knew of a vet to refer me to.

                                          …will keep my fingers crossed that bunspace has more references.


                                        • Tate
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                                            Fingers crossed!
                                            Let us know if you find one!
                                            One more thing you may be able to do: put an ad up on Craigslist looking for bunny owners and where they take their bunnies to the vet! They might know of an obscure vet that is within a reasonable distance that could at least look at Pat. I do see quite a few ads on Craigslist where I’m from asking for care advice, etc.


                                          • RabbitMtnMama
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                                              Posted By LoveChaCha on 05/22/2011 01:54 PM

                                              I did not say that you are lazy, careless, or stupid. I was saying that a vet would be better in this case, if it were mites. I hope that you will find a solution to your issue with bunny

                                               

                                              I know you didn’t. I apologize if I came accross defensive. Our brief experience with the Netherland Drawf left me entirely unimpressed with rabbits, but this little girl really changed our perception. I am frustrated that we can’t accomadate her here with proper veterinary care and though I know some of you may think Im a terrible person for not rushing her to the vet 2 + hours away, it’s not something we are able to manage. Perhaps when we have a trip planned, we can fit that in and I will certainly weigh that option. In the mean time I am certainly shocked to piece together more parts of this puzzle and realize that it may be more than a “gross” bug infestation and I’m concerned for her well being.


                                            • RabbitMtnMama
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                                                Posted By Tate on 05/22/2011 02:04 PM
                                                Fingers crossed!
                                                Let us know if you find one!
                                                One more thing you may be able to do: put an ad up on Craigslist looking for bunny owners and where they take their bunnies to the vet! They might know of an obscure vet that is within a reasonable distance that could at least look at Pat. I do see quite a few ads on Craigslist where I’m from asking for care advice, etc.

                                                 

                                                Great idea! Thank you again for all the suggestions. I will post an ad on CL right away.


                                              • Monkeybun
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                                                  I have to agree with some of the others. It may not seem a reasonable drive to you, but… it could make the difference. Especially to get her spayed. Cancer isn’t worth not driving. And getting the mites treated if your cat/dog vet doesn’t know what they are should be a priority. Make it a fun trip with the kids maybe. Taking the bun on a road trip

                                                  In some states it is actually illegal to not provide the proper vet care, so think of that in perspective

                                                  And… other people have been known in the past to drive 8 hours to take a bunny to a specialist. So it isn’t that unheard of. Not to sound like a mean bunny lady, but you NEED to do what is best for your bunny. They can’t do it on their own. They need humans to speak for them.


                                                • RabbitMtnMama
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                                                    Posted By Monkeybun on 05/22/2011 02:55 PM
                                                    I have to agree with some of the others. It may not seem a reasonable drive to you, but… it could make the difference. Especially to get her spayed. Cancer isn’t worth not driving. And getting the mites treated if your cat/dog vet doesn’t know what they are should be a priority. Make it a fun trip with the kids maybe. Taking the bun on a road trip

                                                    In some states it is actually illegal to not provide the proper vet care, so think of that in perspective

                                                    And… other people have been known in the past to drive 8 hours to take a bunny to a specialist. So it isn’t that unheard of. Not to sound like a mean bunny lady, but you NEED to do what is best for your bunny. They can’t do it on their own. They need humans to speak for them.

                                                    I can assure you that my nursing infant would not find a lengthy road trip with our bunny, “fun”.

                                                    The reason I pointed out earlier that I’m not “lazy, careless or stupid” is to illustrate that I’m not disregarding “Pat’s” health…it isn’t an option for us. I wish I could say that I regret taking her on at this point, but I don’t. I’m doing my best, within my ability, to provide care for her. 

                                                    I am not breaking any laws in my state….nor am I denying her proper vet care. There isn’t any available here, and I resent the comparison (to someone who does).

                                                    I understand that you are concerned for HER. As am I.

                                                    I’ve gotten some wonderful suggestions, but please don’t make me regret seeking advice. It’s a well known fact that many people here wait for the wave of CL posts after Easter offering free, unwanted bunnies (to eat) I was only hoping to help Pat avoid that fate. I suppose I shouldn’t have “spoken” for her and instead allowed her to end up with the other sad bunnies at the feed store, peddled to kids who’s parents wouldn’t even bother to seek your advice in the first place.

                                                    It’s not unheard of for people to remortgage their homes to help pay for life saving surgeries for their dogs, and as much as I love mine, that isn’t an option for us…apples to oranges.

                                                     

                                                    I get it. I’m new to rabbits. I seem like an irresponsible, underprepared, novice to most of you. You think I should be willing to spare no expense and effort, regardless of the impact on my human family. Unfortunately…that’s not how it works in my home. I’m an animal loving (vegetarian), activist…I’m well educated on animal rights and human responsibility to care for our domesticated pets. Attempting to guilt me doesn’t change my family situation…nor does it add much creedence to your opinion.

                                                     

                                                    I care about Pat…I took pictures of her, though I’m not comfortable posting them now. I posted an ad on CL asking if anyone could refer me to a vet who has any knowledge of rabbit care. I took the initiative in the beginning to have her spayed, I called 3 vets to no avail, I provide her a balanaced diet, a safe, “bunny proof” home and I seek help when  something is obviously wrong. Although I understand everyone here is concerned for her well being, implying that I am not because I’m not ABLE to drive her to a vet 2+ hours away, alone, with 2 children (in another state I might add) is pretty unreasonable.

                                                     

                                                     

                                                     

                                                     

                                                     


                                                  • RabbitMtnMama
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                                                      …and just to clarify. It’s not that it doesn’t “seem like a reasonable drive” to me. As previously stated, we’re a one car family. My husband is not able to take off work in order for us to use the car to get Pat to and from a vet in another state.

                                                      I’m all for doing everything within my power to make sure the animals I am responsible for are well cared for to the best of my ability. That is what I have done/am doing.


                                                    • Sarita
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                                                        I agree, a long drive for you is very unreasonable – I don’t think at all that a one or two hour drive is reasonable for anyone no matter what everyone says.

                                                        I’m sure you will find a good vet in you area to help you take care of Pat and we are here if you have any questions to help you and recommend some articles to help your vet. I find that many vets are very interested in learning about a new species and will help you help your rabbit.

                                                        Please keep us updated on Pat and we’ll try our best to help you in any way.


                                                      • Monkeybun
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                                                          *shrug* I wasn’t meaning to say you were an unreasonable bunny mum, was just stating what I thought.

                                                          I’m one of the people htat would drive as long as necessary for my critters, they are family, not pets. As it is, I drive a half hour for my vet, and the e-vet is an hour away. It’s reasonable to me. My own doctor is farther, why would I drive less for those that depend on me?

                                                          I’ll leave the thread now before i get yelled at again for giving advise from my point of view.


                                                        • Lintini
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                                                            Hello!

                                                            I hope you can figure out what those creepy crawlers on Pat is and get rid of them soon, parasites gross me out too.

                                                            That is really too bad that you don’t have many vet options in your area but unfortunately when Binkybunny members are out of ideas our only suggestion for you will be to take your rabbit to a vet – even with the over the counter parasite meds you have to be very careful with the dosage.

                                                            Everyone here really loves rabbits and want the best for them so saying you can’t provide vet care for your rabbit will upset members here on BB and only frustrate you more since you are unable to in your situation.

                                                            Best of luck to you


                                                          • Huckleberry
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                                                              You might consider calling some local colleges. Some colleges have vet schools that may have exotic pet specialists! Good luck!!!


                                                            • KatnipCrzy
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                                                                I hope you can figure out what it is and get treatment as it sounds icky and unpleasant to have to see and deal with for both you and the bunny.
                                                                However- I agree with your decision to NOT POST PICTURES. We are not vets and no medical diagnosis, treatment or prescription could be recommended in a situation like this that involves the need for vet care.

                                                                There is an emerging difference between house bunny care and “typical hutch bunny” care- and not every rabbit owner may agree with most of our members passionate opinions about house bunny care and their role in a household. But that is one of the things that I love about this site- that I can talk to and get advice from other house bunny owners.


                                                              • jerseygirl
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                                                                  I notice she is shedding quite a bit, but her fur is excessive and seems to pull easily if that makes sense

                                                                  Make sense to me as that’s what I was seeing with my two. They had bald spots but not the flakes. I did finds some scabs though. My Doe also seemed a bit boney and seemed to gain weight after treatment. IF it’s fur mite, then Revolution should take care of it. In your position, perhaps you can treat then if it’s not clearing up, pop over to your local vet (30minutes away?) and have them test the skin area and go from there. Even though they don’t spay or see a lot of rabbits, I would think they’d be well versed enough to recognise parasites and can advise how to treat. Actually, even a call to this practice now to see what they advise might be an idea.

                                                                  You might like to read this response to a rabbit owner by Dana Krempels. She’s pretty well respected in rabbit care. It talks a little on enviroment and treatment. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/2008/12/Fur-mites-Treatment-environment-1.htm

                                                                  I think people have been somewhat side tracked by the spay issue. It’s a hot topic around here I guess. You’ve only had this rabbit 1 month and called a number of vets to enquire about spay. That tells me you have her best interests at heart.


                                                                • LBJ10
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                                                                    Maybe I missed it somewhere, but did you say she has long fine hair and is fairly young? The reason I ask is because my Wooly had a bald spot on the back of his neck when he was a baby. It filled it once his adult coat came in. I honestly don’t know anything about the parasites, but I’m wondering if they are actually the cause of the bald spot if it is on the back of her neck like you described. I have heard of using the medications that the other members mentioned, but I don’t have any idea of the dosage.

                                                                    I am really sorry that you are having difficulty finding a vet that will see rabbits. They can be hard to find no matter where you live. My vet is not advertised as a “rabbit vet”. Their ad in the yellow pages says they specialize in exotics. There are two vets sharing the office, one does birds and reptiles and the other does small mammals. I like the craigslist suggestion. You may also want to check with your local humane society or animal shelter if they offer small animals for adoption. If they do, then I imagine they have a vet that they use. I think it is a good idea to find someone now when it isn’t an emergency so that way you’re not panicked looking for a vet if something awful were to happen and it was a real emergency. I hope you haven’t been scared away by the other members, I certainly understand that taking a several hour road trip with a rabbit and kids would be completely unreasonable in your situation. And I think you deserve credit for taking the initiative and trying to find someone to spay your bun. I know it was frustrating going to 3 different vets, but don’t give up yet. I’m sure bunny owners in your area are taking their buns somewhere.


                                                                  • Tate
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                                                                      Posted By LBJ10 on 05/22/2011 08:57 PM
                                                                      You may also want to check with your local humane society or animal shelter if they offer small animals for adoption. If they do, then I imagine they have a vet that they use.

                                                                      THAT is a good idea! Hopefully you have a humane society that isn’t too far away… there is usually one in every county but it depends on how far out you are!

                                                                       


                                                                    • mossling
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                                                                        i agree with jerseygirl. mites is something that can happen to any animal, so even if you vet doesn’t see a lot of rabbits, it is still something that they should be able to test for and treat. since revolutions is also used just for fleas, they may be willing to give you a dose without having to actually bring the rabbit in.

                                                                        i have also lived in a very small town with limited vet options. while my vet didn’t see rabbits on a regular basis, we had a great relationshop and she was willing to learn and treat most things. she was not comfortable doing a routine spay, but was willing to preform any emergancy procedures that might have arisen (never happened, but it was something we discussed). if something was wrong beyond her abilities, then i drove four hours to an exotics vet in albuquerque (for altering, too). i am also a stay at home mom with a small child and only one vehicle. i fully understand your situatuion. nothing about a long car trip with small children is “fun”, and when your spouse works full time and you only have one vehicle, it’s just not an option. don’t worry about the spay right now. it is important, but not something that has to be done right this moment. talk to your vet. see if he is willing to provide at least basic care. you may have to do a lot of the work. learn to recognize common rabbit issues, familiarize yourself with symptoms and treatment options (such as knowing revolution is safe, frontline is not). if your bunny needs the vet, go in armed. you may not be a vet, and you will not be able to replace one, but if your vet is a good one, with a little work and knowledge, and help from you, he should be able to handle all but the most extreme situations.


                                                                      • BinkyBunny
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                                                                          It does sound like mites, but again it is impossible for us to really know, and it would be irresponsible for us to diagnose your bunny and tell you exactly what you need to do.  We could give you the wrong dosage or have you spend money on something that doesn’t even work. 

                                                                          However, I think that some great suggestions have been made and it looks like you are working on those.

                                                                          Is it possible for you to have your local vet at least confirm whether it’s mites or not?  Then you could call the vet that is far away and see if they will at least give you a dosage recommendation for your bunny. (they will need accurate weight which is what you can get from your local vet, and an estimated age)    They may even have a references for vets that may be closer (someone may have already suggested this). 

                                                                          I also thought it was a great idea that one of our members suggested to google the nearest shelter or rescue and see if they have any references. If you have a hard time finding a local shelter, then check out Petfinder.com, put in your zipcode, and the type of animal.  Alot of rabbits will come up but they are normally posted by shelters — therefore you can hopefully find one somewhat close to you, and call them to ask them who they use for their vet. 

                                                                           I am lucky to have many rabbit-savvy vets close by and it’s easy to forget that that is not the norm. I am guilty of having expectations that may be unreasonable in certain situations.  It’s something that creates a debate within myself –(do whatever it takes to get the animal the care it needs as you would with anyone you loved versus what someone can actually realistically do under certain circumstances).  This is something that can be difficult to reconcile for many of us at times.    

                                                                          Regardless of which side one leans towards, it is undeniable that you care for Pat and you are looking for options that will help her.  It sounds like Pat is much better off with you than what the alternative was.  I shudder to think about what would have happened to her if you had not taken her in based on what you described.  The fact that you are seeking care, have checked out three vets, and are already taking action with some of the suggestions (going to bunspace — posting on craiglist) speaks volumes.

                                                                          And actually IF we are able to help you find a vet that is closer then that will be best for your bunny anyway.  Most of us have had to take our bunnies to a vet at LEAST once (that’s just par for the course), and many times, because bunnies hide illness, it becomes an emergency quickly.   You would want to have a closer resource for any future serious issues if at all possible.  So maybe the persistence to search for a closer vet will pay off.    I hope so!

                                                                           

                                                                           


                                                                        • Beka27
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                                                                            If you’re still reading this thread RabbitMtnMama, I’d like to welcome you to BinkyBunny! Thank you so much for saving Pat from what might have otherwise been a very sad, lonely, scary life. I am confident that you’ll be able to get her fur situation taken care of. Parasites are not exclusive to rabbits, so a regular vet will be able to help you with dosage. After this gets under control, if you would like, we can help you try to locate a more specialized vet.


                                                                          • Kate Monster
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                                                                              Perhaps you could visit the vet that is closer to get a diagnosis a vet versed in cats and dogs should be able to recognize mites. Make sure that you keep a close eye on any handling of the bunny though, a non-bunny expert might not be all that versed in how to hold a bunny and be prepared for the potential bunny squirms. Then call the vet that you know of that is an expert and see if you can get a medication and dosage recommendation based on your bunnies age, weight, and the diagnosis and get the actual meds from the vet close to you. Just a thought and good luck!

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                                                                          Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A PLEASE HELP! FREAKING OUT!