Rabbits really are expensive!  That is one thing people don’t realize when they get  a rabbit, but they are actually considered exotic – can you believe it?  But it’s because they really do have a different system and so it’s like taking a parrot to a vet.  

I have a great pet insurance.   VPI   http://www.petinsurance.com   It cost about 12 bucks a month and they pay about 75 – 80%.   The only thing that they don’t cover is known pre-existing conditions and parasitic illnesses.  (but some illnesses, like jaw abscess can be taken off the pre-existing list if they have been free of the abscess for over a year and a vet verifies this.

 I can tell you that this insurance has saved me over thousand dollars!    And just to let you know, I don’t work for them, they don’t pay me to say that, they don’t even know how much I recommend them – I should get paid!  ,

I also have a  low interest credit card just for health emergencies (includes human and animal)  (http://www.carecredit.com) and so far the vets I have seen take it, but you will want to call and make sure.

So what I do is put the bill on the credit card, then turn in the claim to the insurance company.  The insurance company pays within a month and I use that money to help pay for the majority of the credit card bill.

I’m glad to see that you have VPI.  I was looking at them, but since I just adopted Annabelle Lee this past weekend they won’t cover her till I’ve had her 60 days.  I am totally getting it as soon as I can.  I also have simethecone on hand and Critical Care on order, just in case.

I didn’t really know much about VPI, but I’m really glad you asked since now I’m thinking about getting it too!

ligeia – Surgeries for stasis are only if there’s a clear obstruction – like the bunny has eaten something that’s blocking their system from working. In most cases stasis is a build up of fur and will work it’s way through the system with some meds, medical care and assist feeding.

wendyzski – it’s a really great idea to keep Critical Care & Simethecone around the house. I find it very reassuring if there’s an emergency to have it on hand, since emergencies always seem to happen on Saturday nights of a holiday weekend! I also like keeping some of the clear pedialyte too, since it can help with making sure your sick bun stays hydrated.

wendyzski – They won’t cover you until you’ve had her for 60 days?  Wow, that’s new. I didn’t have to do that three years ago.  They were just immediately covered.   Things must have changed.

I forgot to add:  I bet Joann was talking about me!  Do you know people over at SaveAbunny or did you contact them from the link we have here on the site?

For tus U.K.-ers the insurance tends to work slightly different. i insured all 3 buns, and i got a discount for multiple pets (i think it can be any combination). i found very few pet insurance companies that deal with rabbits but PetPlan, one of the few, seem the best by far. For the 3 of them i pay approx 21 pounds (how ironic, my keyboard only has a dollar sign!) per month and this is life cover so i would only ever pay the first 50 pounds fees for any illness or injury then they cover the rest up to 2500 per year for unlimited years/ per bunny (and you only ever pay the initial 50) for illness and there are extras like they’ll also pay for ‘x’ amount of alternative therapies, boarding fees if you get ill, etc. the only exclusion is illnesses that you KNEW about prior to getting insured (which i think is invaluable if you adopt from rescues and dont know any history). Illness cover starts after 14 days and injury cover is instant.

The ‘health-card’ sounds like a fab idea, they should provide something like that in the UK since the NHS subsidies have all but been revoked! (thats a gripe for a different site…!) but seriously, simply for animal emergencies, does anyone over this side of the water know if we have something similar?

Yep – 60 days.  There is even a little tool on their website that will send you a reminder in 60 days so you can reply.

I e-mailed and asked "what if I don’t know my rabbit’s exact age – I got her from a shelter?".   They replied that they used the vet’s estimated age, so I have that.

Ligeia –  Oh I am so glad that things worked out.    You did exactly the right thing.  By noticing things right away, and contacting the vet, you really saved her life.

How is she doing today?

Well, ultimately, if you have doubt, I would call the vet.  I myself, would keep going with the  vets orders, especially because your rabbit’s poops are not yet back to normal.   Little hard poops are a good start, but it doesn’t mean normal –  and especially because GI stasis can mean a life or death thing in such a short amount of time so it’s best to make sure her system is really working well.   I’d continue on with the vets orders, and if I had any questions then I would definitely call the vet. 

And though your mom is a nurse for humans, a bunny’s digestive system is even unique for many vets – that’s why it’s important to find a rabbit savvy vet like the one you have. SO ultimately, no disrespect to nurses, but I would follow your vets advice first. 

hi ligeia,

Glad you checked in with the vet.

It’s good that they’re having you continue the sub-q fluids, since keeping a bunny hydrated really helps them feel better. I’m hoping she’ll start eating more hay – since all the fiber is really important to keep their gi tracts moving and leads to the piles of poop you were talking about. Just a thought – does Floppy get other hays beside timothy? You might try picking up some oat hay or orchard grass to see if they’re more appealing to her now.

BB, would you happen to have the full plan details on pdf? I emailed them about it and it’ll probably take a year for them to ever respond. The website quote doesn’t give info on what is covered and how the deductible works. Is it that you have to pay $50 deductible for every visit and anything over that is covered by the insurance? Once Medusa has hit her 60 days I am going to enroll her.

nevermind, found the plan benefit schedule. http://www.petinsurance.com/downloads/Avian-Exotic-Ben-Sched-2002.pdf

Sorry, I took me a while to get back to you.   Looks like you found it!   I do know they do not cover parasitic type stuff – like mites, fleas and e.cuniculi.    Also, I have found them to have great customer service over the phone.  I haven’t emailed them often.

Thanks for posting it as I can refer people to this post for future reference.

does anyone know, are they pretty stingy with calling things pre-existing conditions? for example i want Medusa’s teeth to get checked out once her insurance starts in Feb. if they find anything, will it be a pre-existing condition?

They may consider it a pre-existing condition   I just don’t know.     That is a tricky one.  When I signed up years ago, they didn’t even ask for a wait time.  They immediately covered,.  I know with Rucy, she had a pre-existing condition of jaw abscess, and because they are so frequent, they made me wait a whole year before a vet was allowed to give a full bill of health and she could be taken off the pre-existing condition status.

so rucy alreayd had the jaw abcess when you added her on the insurance?

the thing is when I adopted Medusa they told me the vet told them she had no dental problems. in another month she will be eligible for the insurance and I want to take her because I think she may have some minor malocclusion problems because of her face and slightly wet nose. she seems to be eating fine and eating hard veggies alright so i’m debating whether i can wait the extra month. on the other hand if it is going to be a pre-existing condition than i may as well take her now but it could be pricey…i’m in los angeles!

BB, how much did your jaw abcess end up costing you?

Rucy was already added but it was considered pre-existing because her medical records showed that she had a jaw abscess and since they are known to return, she had to be healthy for a whole year before she could get off the pre-existing condition list.  But at least they would offer that Unfortunately, the jaw abscess did come prior to the year up, and the FIRST surgery, if I remember right was around 500 (including the medicines that she had to be on) 

Then it began to return and she was on different meds trying to combat that, so with tall the appointments and the meds over 8 months, it reached almost $500 bucks again  But since it kept coming back, they did x-rays and found that a though the tooth had been pulled, that the root was still in and growing, causing the problem, so then she went back into surgery with  a vet and a vet specializing in  dental  problems.    The x-rays and appointment around $200 bucks and the last surgery (knock on wood) was about $250 with the meds.  So for Rucy $1450.   ACK!!!   And no insurance.  But in just a few months she will be FINALLY one year free of abscesses and so she can be taken off the pre-existing condition  (unless that has changed, I bet!)   Now 4 years later!

Bailey developed an abscess on her lower back from a bite that Rucy inflicted when they first met.  It wasn’t  a bad bite, but because Bailey wasn’t fully healthy when I got her, she didn’t have the immune system to heal well.    The insurance covered most of it. The surgery for that was $800!!!  But I only ended up paying about $150 or so because of the insurance .

were you able to find these abcesses by feeling them?

With Bailey I was able to feel it on her back pretty easily, plus abscesses SMELL bad when they break or exposed to air. 

With Rucy, I noticed her jaw on one side getting a little more swollen, and when I smelled her breath, it was foul – usually bunnies have great sweet breath!  Anyway, to the touch, the abscess was a firm soft (if that makes sense)  but not hard.  When I touched it, it bothered her.  

Now because her she has developed scar tissue from the surgeries, and also if an abscess happens and heals with medication, it can leave a hard harmless mass where it once was.  So she has a funky jaw now –  you can’t see it, but I can feel it.  Bumpy.

Because she’s had an incisor and a few molars removed, some of her other molars can get spurs on them, and that can cause irritation. I don’t feel any swelling, but I can see her eyes water more, and when she purrs, it hurts her and she jumps up.   So I have to get her molar spurs trimmed about 4 times a year.

I just got health insurance for my two non-foster buns! I feel like such a very responsible parent now Thanks for the idea! I had always been a bit afraid that something would happen and I would not have the $$ I needed for a surgery, now I feel quite a bit better.

glad you got the insurance…its a good thing to have.

i ended up taking medusa to the vet because i was so worried about her having a potential dental problem…she ended up having nothing thank god! and my visit was free because i adopted her from the Bunny Bunch!