Taking an unsocialized/aggressive rabbit to the vet?

[Alika613]

My undersocialized/aggressive/stressed rabbit is going to the vet for a check up and to be spayed! 

I suppose I’m looking for tips.  My vet has been around the block and knows what he’s doing (my other pets actually seem to like him and his wife, haha), but I was wondering if there should be anything else I should consider.

I’ll bring treats, though she’ll probably be too stressed to take them.  I’ll bring her in the carrier with a comfy towel, bring gloves in case I need them… what else?  What can I do before hand to keep her relaxed and reassured?  Would it be better to do a play session, or give her alone time in a room before?

Victoria is my first rabbit (my family had one, Mrs. Houdini, but I wasn’t particularly responsible for her), so I’m kind of (constantly) nervous.

-Alika613

[mocha200]

don’t worry to much. she will be fine. ummm… when i got my bun spayed i brought a little food and hay in her carrier i am not sure she ate any but its there just in case.

[RabbitPam]

I would say keep your usual routine as is with her until it’s time for the appointment. Make sure she’s in a place that you can get her into her carrier with time to spare. Allow yourself about 20 minutes to do that. (Sammy is tough to catch, and ran around a lot on our last trip.) I ended up throwing a thin towel over her and scooping her up into her carrier, but first try putting it at the mouth of her cage, put a treat in it, and see if she hops into it herself.

Bring her regular food – hay, small amount of pellets, handful of greens. They will have water there. You can put some in the carrier as mocha suggested, but also take a few little containers to leave with the vet so if she stays for hours, or overnight, they can feed her what she’s used to.

Might want to put some soothing music on the radio while you drive over. Not rock n roll, but classical or new age, just sleepy time music that might calm her in the carrier. And/or talk to her calmly as you drive to reassure her that you’re there. She may be aggressive, but you’re still her slave and she knows you.

[BinkyBunny]

For me — the best thing is to communicate in detail with the staff about the aggressive behavior. Like what provokes the most — don’t touch the hind quarters first, etc, etc…each bunny may be different, but you know what triggers your bunny. If just full blown aggressive then just let them know that so they will take steps to protect themselves AND her.

Jack is patient while he’s in the vet’s arms if it’s for a short moment – like to take his temp, but  if he is restrained or held much longer than a minute and he will absolutely bite – and he bites hard – nasty pinch like bite that will leave a big bruise —HURTS! He will break the skin on the second bite if the first one didn’t get your attention. I know what to watch for- and what to do.   So I always warn the vet and staff that he will bite if he’s held for too long.

When he went into surgery – I put a note on his carrier so all staff would know. I didn’t want a vet tech who hadn’t been verbally told (or had forgotten) to get bit and then accidentally drop him (as he will do it very unexpectedly unless you know the signs to look for as he can do it by “seemingly” by surprise.)   After the surgery was over, I asked the staff if he tried to bite and they said… “OH YEAH!!, but thank you for letting us know because we were prepared.”       That way they can bunny burrito him, or protect their own arms and chest with a towel.

Vivian is more of a biter while you try to pick her up, but once she’s up, she normally doesn’t bite, but before that, she used to whip around and lash out at the vet. However, time has mellowed her out a bit with the vet.  She doesn’t mind so much anymore. I still warn  though and my vet will pick her up with her face buried in between her arm and side (sort of like a football).  Vivian likes to bury her head in my arms when she’s scared, so the way the vet decided to hold her was perfect.

So I think just communicating will help the staff handle her more safely. If someone is not comfortable with a possible aggressive bunny, then they may choose to have a more experienced rabbit handler help them. Better for that to happen, then for a staff person not to know and get bit, and then react in a way (accidentally) that could put your bunny in harms way.

Keep us updated with how it goes!

[RabbitPam]

Those are great suggestions from BB. I also want to add that they are so unpredictable, that he may surprise you by not biting the vet at all. some of the bunnies who give their slaves a really hard time have been known to sit perfectly still for the vet (my Sammy does), or even run to their human’s arms for protection. So expect the unexpected.

Forewarned is forearmed.

[Lis]

 Another note to add to the above – also warn your vet if your rabbit thumps a lot.  On his first vet trip, Stormy thumped on the corner of the table, and completely broke one of his back toenails off. The vet had to cauterize it. I turned into a nervous wreck when he did it. He also managed to wiggle out of the arms of a vet tech one day, and jumped off her shoulder and onto a nearby counter.  I now hover like a hawk when he’s getting anything done.

[RabbitPam]

When’s the big day? Have you gone yet?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I was worried about the same thing when I first got Olivia. I had to drop her off for the vet to do a pasteurella culture. I warned the receptionist “Tell the techs to be careful when they take her out, she will probably bite because she can be aggressive when scared”. I was so shocked when I went to pick her up the receptionist said one of the techs took her out, had no problem and was walking around the office cuddling her while she waited to see the vet. This didn’t sound like my Olivia!!!

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Haha I had to warn the vets that Thistle was a kicker when I brought him in to get his nails done! Yea I think it is best that you warn the vets that he is a bit aggressive. Thistle does not bite but he does kick when I clip his nails and that one time I brought him in I thought it was best to warn the vets.

[Alika613]

Posted By RabbitPam on 04/21/2010 03:47 PM
When’s the big day? Have you gone yet?

The big day is the 27th, this Tuesday.  I’m hoping it goes over well.  My main concern is getting her in the carrier, but I’m doing training/free time is the carrier out so that I can tempt her into it and possible make it easier and faster when the real day comes.

 

[Alika613]

Thanks for all the reccomendations!  I’m deffinitely going to write down what Victoria’s normal aggressive behavior looks like, and what usually causes it.  At least then I can be prepared and maybe my vet can give me some advice on countering it and handling her.

I appreciate all the advice I got!  It really relieved some of the stress. 

And the important thing is that even if it doesn’t go to plan, the trip wasn’t frivolous or wasted.  After all, it’s for her health so she needs it.  ^_^  I hope she surprises me and acts like an angel.

-Alika

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