Need help with screening questions for new vet

[mocha200]

I am moving 2 1/2 hours away on June 9th an would like to have a rabbit savvy vet before then. I found 2 that treat exotic animals, but I am leaning more towards one. I won’t list the names because I am not sure that is allowed so I will just call it Exotic vet #1 and exotic vet #2.

Exotic vet #1

This vet I am a little unsure about. It has no website or info online other then a name, address, and phone number. The only place I could find out they were exotic was on Yellow Pages. They had a facebook page but no one had ever posted on it. Their is only 3 reviews and 2 of them don’t like them very well but prefer him over the other vet.

Exotic vet #2

This vet seems great! They have 2 locations. One is in the closest town to me and the other one is about 45min away. The website has information about both locations and the vets! They have pictures of the vet on their website so you know what the exam rooms look like etc. I messaged them on their facebook page asking them if both locations treat rabbits and they replied a few days later tell me they do.

I want to call both of them and ask them some questions but I wasn’t sure what answers I should get from them. Some of them say but these questions I was unsure about. All questions from rabbit.org

 

• about how many rabbit clients does the veterinarian see in a year?
• Ask how many rabbits are seen at the clinic each week. (should I ask both^?)
• Ask how many rabbits are spayed or neutered each week.
• how many spays/neuters OF RABBITS has the veterinarian has done in the past year? (again, Should I ask both^?)
• what anesthetics are used–some veterinarians are quite successful with anesthetics other than isofluorene, but the bunny is “hung over” after surgery, which increases the probability that s/he will be slow to start eating again, which can lead to serious problems if not dealt with. ( this one confuses me. Is it anesthetics or isofluorene that is better)
• You might also want to ask which conferences they’ve attended lately that had talks about rabbit medicine and what journals they read. We want our veterinarians to be up on the latest in rabbit treatment. (how recent should it be)

Thanks for reading! I understand both of these vets may not end up being good, but I am hope they will be fine! Let me know what you guys think about these vets and what the answers to the questions will be. (I will ask more then these questions, these are just the ones I did not know what they should answer.) Hope this all made sense!

[CinnabunMom]

Along with the “how many spay/neuters in a year” question, I would ask how many of those are successful. I know it seems almost a bit rude, but if they’ve lost 50/100 bunnies, then you want to turn and run in the other direction. I read somewhere once that a rabbit savvy vet should, have lost no more than 5/100 bunnies, or the rough equivalent of percentage for how many bunnies he’s fixed in a year. It might be nice if you ask what sort of services the vet offers too: what sold me on my vet was that they’d clip Cinnabun’s nails for a very small fee (I get way to nervous to try it myself).

[Pandorachik]

You might also want to ask what percent of rabbits make it after spaying/nuetering, if you haven’t considered it.

Also, I am not a rabbit pro, so, I don’t know what they should answer to…
Hopefully someone can hel much beter than I did

[CinnabunMom]

Oh! Also, if they have lost a rabbit during a fixing surgery, ask WHY they lost the bunny. My vet, in the past year, had only lost one bunny during a spay and that was because when he opened the bunny he discovered a very bad blockage and had to open the gut to try and fix it, and the bunny died.

[mocha200]

Along with the “how many spay/neuters in a year” question, I would ask how many of those are successful.

Yes I was going to. The above questions are just the ones I need answering, All the other questions I will be asking are in these two links:
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html#questions
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/spay-neuter.html#good-questions
Thanks though!

My vet, in the past year, had only lost one bunny during a spay and that was because when he opened the bunny he discovered a very bad blockage and had to open the gut to try and fix it, and the bunny died.

That’s to bad. my current vet has only had 1 bunny die during a neuter in the passed 10 years. Can’t remember why but she said his heart stopped beating.

[mocha200]

Someone on the WHRS said this about the exotic vet #2: “She’s not an exotic specialist, but she’s a good diagnostician and will research problems and consult with the UW Vet School as needed.” That makes me a little nervous… But it sounds like the their second location has an exotic vet but I am not positive. This is what it says about the Dr. at the second location: “Dr. ___ brought her interest and ex-perience in avian and exotic animal medicine as well as acupuncture and complementary medicine.”

I know I will know nothing for “SURE” until I call them but I just wanted to throw that out their.

[Sarita]

I would not let the matter of not having a website deter you. That is not a qualification as to how good the vet is. Also you have to take into consideration the part of town you are moving in – perhaps pet rabbits aren’t as prevalent as cats or dogs. So while the vet may or may not see as many rabbits, do they want to treat rabbits and enjoy treating rabbits…that’s important, some vets may see them but may not be that interested in treating them.

I would ask him how he would treat a rabbit in stasis – what would he look at and for. What is his/her protocol for this.

As for losing a rabbit during spays or surgery, if he see’s many many rabbits losing a few, is par for the course – it’s going to happen and it’s not always the fault of the vet. Like Cinnabun said, it’s really a percentage and sometimes if they do spays/neuters for rescues, the rescues don’t always do a full work up blood panel due to the cost factor so there is always a risk.

Also remember, it’s not just about spay/neuter since your rabbits have already been altered, it’s going to be more of the medicine part.

Ask the vet if they do alot of dental procedures for rabbits like tooth trims, etc…

What types of antibiotics does the vet prescribe for rabbits (you know the ones they shouldn’t).

[Sarita]

I would not be nervous if the vet is a good diagnostician and is willing to seek help from the outside from specialist – in fact, I would prefer that over someone else who would not seek help. Diagnosing the problem is as important as treating the problem.

[mocha200]

Yeah I know but I just didn’t know the answers to those questions. They say on the HRS to ask questions about spaying and neutering along with other questions. I will add the GI stasis and dental procedures to the list! Thanks!

[mocha200]

I would not be nervous if the vet is a good diagnostician and is willing to seek help from the outside from specialist – in fact, I would prefer that over someone else who would not seek help. Diagnosing the problem is as important as treating the problem.

OK! Thanks!

[Sarita]

I think they probably say to ask because they are usually assuming your rabbit is not spayed or neutered and that you will be getting them spayed or neutered. I would ask them but I would focus more on the medicine at this point since your rabbits are past that stage.

[Sarita]

BTW how old are your rabbits now Mocha?

[LBJ10]

I agree, you might not need to worry so much about the spay/neuter questions since that is not what you will be seeing them for. Some more relevant questions like Sarita suggested may be the way to go. Just remember to ask the vet or at least a vet tech these questions. If you ask the receptionist, they may not always know. I get some weird responses from the receptionist at my vet’s office, but the actual vet is very knowledgeable about rabbits and other small critters.

[mocha200]

BTW how old are your rabbits now Mocha?

They both just turned three! I feel so old now! haha

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

My vet clinic is JUST getting a website so try not to judge based on that lol I love my vet and she confers with a specialist at no charge for me too

I would ask how much yearly exams are, blood work, xrays etc. Ask if they have equipment on site for this, or if you have to go somewhere else. How long does it take for results. Do they stock the basics, or will you have to go elsewhere or wait for an order(metacam reglan critical care etc) Ask if they have an after hours emergency number for clients to call in an emergency. Can they squeeze in a walk in when you find something wrong that needs seeing immediately.

The big one-do you go in the exam room with the bunny, or just drop them off?

Good luck and good luck with your move!! Exciting!

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