Bunny Needs Eye Surgery: Suggestions?

[magellan1010]

So after spending the day in the vet emergency room, it turns out my rabbit needs his eye removed. I’m basically freaking out. It looked a little cloudy and he was squinting and watery eyes late last night, so we went to the e-vet. It turns out it got scratched on something, maybe my other rabbit? Now it has a deep ulcer and the vet was recommending complete removal, which they quoted at $800. My  parents are providing my finances through college, so I don’t have any money of my own. I know about Care Credit, but the problem isn’t that they don’t have the money, more that they can’t justify spending that much on a rabbit. Right now I am trying antibiotics for a week and then taking him in for a follow-up so they can see if it has helped at all, but the vet didn’t sound too confident with that. I am going to talk to my parents later today and try to use this surgery as my x-mas present because I really can’t bear to lose him.

Some questions: Does this price estimate sound about right to you or should I keep looking for a lower price? It’s a vet school hospital, so they have a lot of experience in exotics, and I am thinking this is probably the best I will find but you never know. And does anyone have experience with eye surgery in bunnies or antibiotics for eye problems? I’m so worried…Thanks

[Sarita]

I’ve helped one couple who found a rabbit who had to have the eye removed. The price was about $500.00 but that was here in Dallas and the vet does rescue work. I would ask to get a breakdown of what the costs are for. This bunny was in very bad shape – she had been found by a trash can and her eye was black and it was beyond saving at all.

I would seek a 2nd opinion on this as well. I would imagine a vet school hospital has very competent vets too.

[Deleted User]

I can’t really help,, but i wish you the best of luck!!!

[Beka27]

oh poor guy! i hope you can get this figured out. it is true that buns can live perfectly happy lives with only one eye, i know Osprey’s bunny on BB has only one eye, and probably some others as well… but i understand that’s a big expense when you’re a broke college student. i agree with Sarita, seek a second opinion and quotes, and let us know if you need help locating other exotic vets in your area. please keep us posted.

[KatnipCrzy]

Is the eye badly infected or is the structure of the eye compromised?  It is hard to give an opinion without knowing the extent of damage to the eye- does the vet seem to think there is any chance of this healing even if the rabbit is blind in that eye or has a blind spot from scar tissue?

I don’t think the price is shocking, but prices really depend from area to area.  You could always call a couple of other places to see if they will do this surgery on a rabbit.  If you call around- since this is not a common surgery especially on a rabbit- if the doctor will treat and do surgeries on bunnies- offer to have them call you back with the quote.  I don’t mean to make it sound  like a rare procedure- as it is not, but if someone called and asked me that at work I would have to talk to the doctor before making an estimate.  I would be sure to explain I was at “emergency vet” and my bunny may need this procedure, etc.   Vet teaching schools, in my opinion, are often able to provide specialized care that other vets are not- but they are typically not cheaper than an other vet.  They will usually be the same or more expensive.  They have a tremendous overhead, but an incredible capacity for doing procedures and treatments that others can not.  Even though it is a teaching hospital the students are usually taught and supervised by highly experienced and in some cases board certified veterinary specialists (extra schooling and credentials)

It sounds like if you went to a vet teaching hospital that your bunny is in good hands- but I hope your bunny gets better soon without surgery! 

[magellan1010]

Thanks for all your kind words. As far as how bad the injury is, the vet write-up says that it is a penetrating ulcer with a secondary laceration and cataract formation of the lens. I guess my biggest fear at this point is while I am trying the antibiotics, eye drops, and pain meds, I am worried that an infection will spread to other parts of his body as well. I know that rabbits are very good at hiding their signs of pain, so that’s my biggest concern right now.

I’m located near Cornell vet hospital (they’re the first place I went to). I’ve tried a couple other price quotes, but not too much luck so far. It’s good to hear that they are probably not the cheapest I can find though. I would be fine with traveling several hours to another place, but I’m wary of finding a vet without much exotic experience.

I’m really just hoping infection doesn’t spread. Fingers crossed…

[Sarita]

Oh, you are in very good hands at Cornell! I understand they have a very good exotics program.

[magellan1010]

They do! But that is one reason I am so worried. They advised that the eye be removed today. I feel really apprehensive about going against their recommendation. Poor bunny, he’s only 6 months old.

[Sarita]

Can they tell you why this is so urgent? That does seem odd, but I’m not a vet obviously and I would want to know the urgency of this.

[magellan1010]

Well they said that the eye could become infected, and this could spread to the rest of the body. He’s likely to lose his vision either way. I had never heard of this before, so I was kind of thrown off guard by the whole thing. It does seem painful (he keeps squinting his eye) but he’s eating and drinking like normal so that’s good at least.

[Sarita]

Can they work out a payment plan with you?

[magellan1010]

I might apply for Care Credit, although my parents still haven’t agreed to pay for the surgery yet. He has a follow-up appt next week, but now I’m starting to wonder if something could really go wrong in between now and then.

[Sarita]

http://www.therabbitresource.org/regionalrep.html

Here is a contact list for the Upstate NY House Rabbit Society – I would contact Davida to see if she knows any vets she can refer you too as well or any other suggestions.

[magellan1010]

Thanks so much, Sarita. It’s been helpful to talk to another rabbit lover while I’m so stressed out.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I would guess a vet school is your best bet -both for cheapest care and the best care. They have all the new research, practiced learned vet instructors plus new young minds with students.

The cost sounds average, that’s what my vet quoted for removal of my rabbit’s remaining eye.

{{VIBES}}

Perhaps your parents can pay it as a gift and you can spread out the rest of the payments -or it could be a loan from your parents with you paying them back later. Try to break the fee down to them, 800 sounds like alot to anyone, even for a dog; if your parents aren’t bunny people they’re likely to jump at that cost! Break it down saying what each part is for, that rabbits are exotics and eye surgery is costly. Once they hear you out I’m sure they’ll be more likely to help you out.

Keep us posted! Are you doing well with the eye drops?

I have to clean my rabbits fur around his eye every night, then rinse it and put drops in. I take him to bathroom sink where I already have warm water running and a towel stretched out for him. I use my hands to wet all the fur around his eyes, then comb through the sticky fur. I gently use my fingers to hold his eye open and I put the drops in the top corner of his eye-so that when he feels it and blinks it’s already in and rubs throughout the eye.

[BinkyBunny]

I’m so sorry! $800 sounds about right – at least as far as what I’m used too. Rucy has had two jaw surgeries to remove abscessed teeth and part of her infected jaw, and Bailey had an abscess on her back when I got her. Bailey’s surgery was around $800, and Rucy’s was around $500 – $600. if I remember right.

I don’t know much about the eye problems your bunny is going through but the advice you have gotten to get a second opinion is good.

I sure hope you folks will help you out with this for the Christmas gift. Since it’s not about the money, but what their objections about spending it on a rabbit. Maybe if you phrase it in a way, that it’s not about spending it on a rabbit, but spending it on a living being that you LOVE. That has the most worth of all. Let them know it would be a very sad holiday without him. Do they know rabbits can live to be over 10 years old? I’ve seen very happy one-eyed rabbits and so I sure hope they can understand the joy, quality and worth he brings to your life.

Keep us updated. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

[skunklionshow]

I just wanted to add my 10 cents about Vet Schools.  I live near UPenn (right down the street) & my ex did his small animal rotations there.  So here’s what I’ve learned…

Vet school prices are often higher than what you would pay from your local vet or even other specialists in the area.  They have greater overhead, you are likely having a pretty premier level vet performing or supervising the procedure, and they have NO wiggle room in their prices b/c that is NOT their business.  They generally see ER and other procedures as teaching experiences/services rather than business.  I hope that made sense.

I honestly would suggest discussing w/ your regular vet.  If your reg vet is bunny savy, they may be very comfortable doing the procedure.  Chances are at Cornell you are paying for a veterinary opthamalogist to do the procedure.  I ALWAYS get second opinions from my reg vet if I need to use the ER vet.  Your local vet would also be more likely to cut you a financial break.  This is why I always advocate people develop a relationship w/ a vet prior to an emergency.

You can also seek veterinary opthamalogist, etc. specialists in your area.  I think many people are surprised at the number of veterinary specialists located near major vet schools.  Remember that many people get licensed in the state they learn, some states have varying requirements…what I’m saying is that it’s often easier to stay where you learned.  You may be able to get a price cut of $100-200!

When I had to get radioactive iodine tx for my cat, I found 4 practices in my general area, including UPenn to do the procedure.  Prices varied across the board w/ Penn’s being the highest. 

I also agree that you should ask for a xmas gift.  If your rabbit is in fairly good health, it may very well be worth the price.  I honestly hesitated w/ my cat, but felt that even if it gave me 5 more years w/ him….it was worth it!!!  Good Luck

[magellan1010]

Thanks again for all your advice. Update: After 10 days of antibiotics and eye drops, I took him back in for a follow-up appt. It was a different vet this time, and this one seemed a lot less worried about future complications. So it looks like the surgery may not be needed after all! One bad thing is that I had just finished bonding him with my other bunny and then they had to have 10 days of separation (vet’s orders). So now they are getting re-acquainted and I hope they can be happy together again! I’ll have to get some pics up sometime, they’re very cute together.

[Deleted User]

i’m glad it seems to be going ok…good luck w/ the re-bonding…and yes…PICTURES PLEASE!!!

[Beka27]

oh that’s great! so was this newer vet more rabbit-savvy than the last or…?

good luck with the bonding!

[magellan1010]

Yea I’m not sure. Maybe they underestimated how well the antibiotics would work or something. He was extremely healthy beforehand so I’m thinking his immune system was just stronger than they expected. It’s possible he has some vision loss but it’s really hard to tell either way. He’s certainly still finding his food!

At first when I put them back together, they started getting a little defensive, so this morning I took them on a little car ride and then they spent some quality time in the x-pen. Now they are eating some apple together, so I think they’re on better terms haha.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Wonderful news!!! And that’s so great they are doing well again together

[Sarita]

Glad she is getting better and the bonding is going good.

Sounds like they did get a little too anxious in the beginning before they let the medication work.

[KatnipCrzy]

Yeah- glad to hear that surgery is not required!  Well, hopefully your bunnies will continue to bond well- even with the set back.  Just remember though that the bunny that may have lost some vision in one eye may be jumpier and more nervous about being approached on that side- by bondmate or even you.  But bunnies and other pets seem to adapt well even with some scarring in the eye that creates a small blind spot.  I have heard it explained this way “They never read the newspaper- so it should not bother them and they will adapt”.

[BinkyBunny]

Haha KatnipCrzy…I like the newspaper explanation.

Well, I don’t have much to add just – Whew! Sounds positive.

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