Vet appointment today

[MissPinUp]

I took Lucy to the vet today to get her nails trimmed and to get her checked over, just to make sure she’s healthy.  She is, 100%.  Unfortunately the vet clipped one of her nails too short  It could happen to anyone, and better him than me, she’s doing fine now.  Just a little flinch and she was ok.  Now down to my questions.  He printed off an estimate for spaying her.  Can someone give me some feedback on the charges, just to make sure everything is being done right?  I know the less expensive, the less pre and post care they get, so I guess I just want to make sure she’s getting the best care she can right now.

 

Rabbit spay      $120.00
 

Anasthesia – Inhalent (Isoflurane)     $98.00

Medical Waste Disposal     $2.70

Laser Surgery     $78.00

Metzcam/Meloxicam Injection     $25.00

Total     $323.70

 

Does that sound about right to everyone?  Also, he kind of scared me a little bit.  He told me that switching a bun’s diet can kill them.  If you go from giving them just pellets to veggies or something, because of something having to do with bacteria, I didn’t quite understand.  Now I’m a little worried.  I had her on this pellet blend, but now I can’t find it anywhere!  I threw out the bag because I put it in a huge Rubbermaid container.  It was pellets and had dried veggies in it.  I give her a tiny bowl of fruits and fresh veggies every day anyway, but will switching her dry food hurt her?

[MooBunnay]

Is your bunny still getting the same kind of un-limited hay? Since pellets are only a small part of the normal bunny diet, switching the kind of pellets shouldn’t make a big difference. I usually use the Oxbow Timothy based pellets from Petsmart (they are called Bunny Basics T) and feed two tablespoons per day. Your bunny can have two cups of the dark green leafed veggies, but only a teeny bit of the fruits. As long as your bunny has the unlimited hay I’d say that it is fine to vary the types of veggies, and the types of pellets.

As far as the charges, the only one I don’t understand is the laser surgery – what is that? The other costs seem to be comparable to what I paid for my bunny’s spay.

[MissPinUp]

Honestly I got her one of those unlimited feeders. Is that a bad idea? She doesn’t eat a lot, I figured she stops when she gets hungry, but should I switch back to her bowl?

http://www.arcatapet.com/fullsize/4324.jpg

[BunnyLiz]

Lucy (my Lucy!) had laser surgery. My dogs got that to. Its more expensive, but the healing time is shorter, less painful, less risk for infection. From what I remember at least.

[BinkyBunny]

The laser is instead of the knife I am assuming?  I’ve only recently heard of this kind of surgery. The estimate sounds about right with the laser.  Spays prices can vary, but around $250 or so is right and with the “laser” charge that’s added that seems about right.

Regarding the switching pellets. Even though I have seen a quick switch of pellets without a problem, my understanding it is best, especially for young bunnies(how old is your bunny?) who do eat more pellets and  who are still getting the right kind of bacterial balance in their stomach to change slowly with pellets. 

Even when you are going from a less healthy pellet to a healthier one.  I’ll try to explain it the easiest way – The reason is is that different kinds of bacteria develop for different  elements, like sugars, carbs etc.to aid in digestion. So for example, if there was alot of sugar or carbs, then more bacteria for that element are developed.   So when you switch, say from a very high carb, sugary diet, to even a healthier one, the bacteria that is used to breaking down the other types of food elements begin to die, and when bacteria die, they give off a gas, and this can cause not just gas, but a digestive imbalance and upset that can cause a slow-down of the digestive tract which can end up being serious.  Not always, but I think it’s even more of a fragile situation with young bunnies and so that is why your vet was cautioning you.

I use Oxbow Pellets, and on the directions, it does suggest that if you are using it for the first time to do a gradual switch over a month’s time, and gives instructions on how to do that.

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