Looking for bunny-savvy vet in Houston, TX

[bunnyluvr]

Hi everybody – I have been a member for awhile but have never posted b4.  I love this site, it’s very informative and I think it’s just wonderful!Anyways, I lost my beautiful Boogie-girl on 7/02/08.  She was having trouble urinating the week before and I took her to our vet (who has been seeing my buns for 5 years now).  He thought she had a bladder infection and gave us some antibiotics, sent us home and told us to call in a few days to let him know how she was doing.  On the 3rd day of being on the antibiotics she didn’t seem to be doing any better and was only eating small amounts of parsley and romaine and was barely touching her water.  We started giving her the water in a syringe and I called the vet.  This was on a Thursday and he told me that some bunnies just take a little longer and with her history (she’s had GI twice and had to have a tooth pulled and several filed) that was probably the case. He said to give it another day and if she still wasn’t drinking to bring her in for fluids on Friday afternoon which I did because she wasn’t.  He said this should help flush out her bladder.  They were going to be closed for the weekend so he told me to call on Monday and let him no how she was doing.  On Sunday she had stopped eating & drinking all together so we started force feeding her Oxbow Critical Care and the water but she kept seeming to be more & more sick.  First thing Monday morning I called the vet again and let him know she wasn’t eating or drinking and he said to bring her in for an X-ray.  Turns out she had bladder stones – 2 very large ones and about 10 small ones.  He referred me to an exotic specialist for the next afternoon for surgery.  Well the next morning she was so sick, she was cold to the touch, wouldn’t take critical care, water or antibiotics, she was breathing very rapidly and was in tremendous pain (making horrible sounds that I pray I never have to hear again – no bunny should make such sounds).  I called the vet as soon as they opened and told them I honestly didn’t think she’d make it to her appt.  They said to bring her in, gave her some pain medication and contacted the exotic hospital and they said to bring her right away.  They ran blood tests on her and found out she was sepsis (I dont know if I spelled that right but it’s when the bacteria from the infection gets in the bloodstream) and she wasn’t producing urine and she was in extreme pain.  The reason she was so cold is she was in shock.  They tried for 2 days to save my angel but she couldn’t take it anymore.  We went to visit her on 7/02/08 around 5:30 pm she passed away about 15 mins after we left her.  I was so happy that I got to see her and give her a kiss and pet before she left.  I guess she said her goodbyes to us and decided to just let go.  I’m so glad her suffering is over but wish she didn’t have to go through it at all.  That is the point of my loooong post.  I feel that my vet wasn’t aggresive enough in treating her,  I think he was to busy (they are a very, very busy vet office) to notice how sick she was and that if he had taken the X-rays sooner (8 days passed from the time I first took her in until he found the stones and set up her surgey which she ended up never having because she was to sick to make it through the surgery) then we would have known about the stones, had the surgery and she may have never gone sepsis and had to go through all the pain and misery (it breaks my heart thinking of it).  Of course I’ll never know for sure but I also had another bunny that passed away the same day he saw this vet who obviously didn’t realize how sick he was.  I think he does fine for check-ups & neuters/spays but not so great in emergency situations.  So I am hoping that someone can recommend a very bunny-savvy vet here in Houston, TX.  I need some one I can trust to see how sick they really are and will treat them accordingly – not be in such a rush.  Any help, advice or recomendations will be greatly appreciated.  I still have 2 more precious ones at home both under a year old that need loving care.  Sorry this is such a long post and thanks for any help.

[kralspace]

omg, I’m sitting here crying at work. I am so very sorry for your loss and what your baby went through. I don’t know what to say, it is so devestating to lose a furbaby like that.

prayers and bunny hugs, Kathy

[Sarita]

Oh, I am so sorry.

Contact Houston Buddy Buddies for some referals.

Here is their website:

http://www.bunnybuddies.org/

They have a vet list but I’m sure you can contact them directly too. 

[bunnyluvr]

Thank you both for your sympathy. It’s been just awful being without my precious girl.  I only had her for a little over 2 years and it wasn’t nearly long enough.  She was my heart.  But as I said b4 at least she is no longer suffering and she is now with her sweet Flopsy  (who we lost about a year ago) and they are doing binkies all over cuz they are so happy to see each other again!

Sarita – thank you for the Bunny Buddy suggestion – I have gone to their site before (its wonderful too!) and found a list of vets but I was hoping to get a more personal referal – someone who has been to the vet and knows he/she is good.  I never thought to call them tho so I think I will try that and see if they can recommend a vet or 2. Thx for the suggestion.

 

[Beka27]

i’m so sorry for your loss. that is very upsetting.

bunnies are so delicate, she very well would have gone regardless of what vet saw her. please do not blame yourself. there’s no way for you or anyone to know this, but i can understand your desire to find someone else to care for your other buns. good luck with your search.

[Sarita]

I have 2 friends in Houston that go to a very good vet there – I will email them and then email you so you can talk to them personally.

[bunnyluvr]

Thank you so much Sarita – that would be awesome!

[BinkyBunny]

I am so sorry.  How heartbreaking.   

Thank you Sarita for helping her find a good vet. 

Here is also some helpful information from the House Rabbit Society on how to find a good vet.  Includes screening questions and the correct answer.   http://rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html

It sounds like your bunny was loved and well cared for by you, and I’m sure she knew it.  You have given her a wonderful life.

[bunnyluvr]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help and sympathies.  With the help of Sarita and a couple of her friends here in Houston I have found my new bunny vet! Yeah!  I plan on making an appt for my sweet little boys next week to take them in for an introduction/check-up.  And I plan on getting my baby Happy neutered in a month or so, gotta save up. I’ll let you all know how it goes. Thanks again.

[BinkyBunny]

Yeah! Good News about locating a good bunny vet. Keep us updated.

[Author]

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