Vicky Scare

[Lagomorpheus]

On Saturday morning, Vicky was refusing to eat her veggie breakfast. She’s done this before, so I didn’t start worrying. Then I noticed she had been sitting in an unusual spot all morning, hardly moving at all. I tried to entice her with veggies and even offered her her FAVORITE – pellets – but she just turned her face away and wouldnt have anything to do with it. Now I was worrying. I had also observed her trying to lounge at several spots in the house (litter box, floor) and then like backing up, backing up, and then finally getting back up onto her feet. It was weird, like she couldn’t get comfortable. She hadn’t eaten anything and only took a tiny sip of water.

We took her immediately to the emergency rabbit vet and the doctor said she was in pain from gas buildup and that the bahavior where she lays down and then gets back up was because she couldn’t get comfortable from the pressure from the gas. The lack of eating and drinking was the real danger (as I know most of you already know). They recommended we keep her there for 3-5 days while they would do assisted feeding, under-the-skin water treatments, adminster pain killers, and observe her.

They said the price was $610 a night. For 3-5 nights, that’s more than two months’ paychecks for me. I told them we couldn’t pay for that but would be willing to do anything to ensure she got the treatment she needed, including giving her up to a shelter that WOULD pay for what’s necessary. This was a sad moment for us (my girlfriend was crying), but this was largely a bluff as I knew there was surely a cheaper method or some sort of assistance that would be given before they would recommend we give her up. The nurse then told us she could charge us the $110 for the check-up, and then another $40 for pain killers, and then $20 for laxatives (in case the cause was fur) and we could go to the grocery store and buy Gas-X for infants and administer everything to her ourselves, at home! This means instead of paying $2,000+ we would pay $170 and get to treat her ourselves, where she is surely more comfortable, with the two rabbits she is bonded with.

She improved immediately after the water treatment at the vet, the painkillers, laxatives, and gas-X and was eating and drinking before the night was over. When we finally got her home she was overjoyed to be back to her familiar territory and be able to relax and recover with her bonded family. We kept her in a spare cage sow e could observe if she was eating and pooping OK.

We’re super relieved that she is all better now and we learned a lot about the sympoms she exhibited and what to do.

I kind of feel like the vet was trying to rip us off!

Vicky as comfortable as can be and healthy as a hare!

[rabbitsmba]

Holy cow! That vet totally tried to take you for a ride! Yes, your situation was serious but over $600 a night? WHAT? Imagine the HOTEL room you could get for that! And all she needed was some gas-x! We use Ovol which is simethicone you give babies for gas and it works like a charm within an hour or so. Of course, I’m no vet and I always recommend you go to one if you think your bunny is sick, but I sure hope you don’t go back to that vet again. They don’t deserve your business.

[Sarita]

I’m so glad she is better!

You have to be careful with those emergency vets too – makes me mad that they would suggest you keep her there all that time. An emergency vet is just that to get your pet through the night or weekend until you can get her to your regular vet.

[JK]

That’s a total rip off!  Never heard of such a thing – keeping a bun for that long for gas!  I would never go back there again.  I’m so glad your bunny is better!  People here deal with these issues all the time and it certainly is treatable at home. That vet has no morals in my opinion! 

[Beka27]

yikes! when you said she was lounging and then backing up, my first thought was GAS! Meadow will do that about once a month and (at my vet’s recommendation) i give her a tiny bit of the gas drops and she’s fine shortly after. but 600 bucks a night? unreal.

i certainly hope that if they had said it was the only option, you would have left and not given her up! that’s so upsetting. you’re already in a fragile state b/c your bun is sick, plus you’re dealing with the issues with Brambles.

speaking of Brambles… is it just me or does he look just like rabbitsmba’s bun in her avatar?!

[babybunsmum]

((((((vicky))))))  i’m so glad she improved so quickly… that sure would be scarey!   i feel similarily about some vets… i learning that you have to really ‘barter’ with them to find out what expenses are necessary.  i think i over paid for pinky’s spay because the vet kept her overnight and judging by others here this is not really needed.   i didn’t try to fight it but in hindsight wonder if i should have.   ah well.  it great that you found such a reasonable way to give her the best treatment!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

That stinks they charge that much!! I’m glad you were able to figure it out though and I’m glad Vicky’s feeling better!!

[reds2212]

I was going out of town and my bunny has been having problems with GI stasis and of course it started the night before we left. My vet admitted her to the hospital. My total bill for a 5 night stay with meds given twice a day and a urinalysis was $350. That price is RIDICULOUS!!!

[kittsbuns]

Thank God my vet never charges me room and bourd when she recmends Ziggy stay the night. Those prices are rediculas sorry about spelling no spell check.

[Scarlet_Rose]

I agree, that vet was seriously gouging you! Wow, I am dumbfounded but I suppose they justify it by the salary of the staff member(s) that have to stay there overnight. That is still wrong and outrageous. I am glad you got the meds you needed for Vicky and were able to treat her more economically and comfortably at home.

[Deleted User]

yeah that sounds like a ridiculous amount of money! from my experience w/ the stuff i’m going through with Boston, I’m glad you decided to keep her at home. She would miss you as much as you would miss her. My boyfriend and I administer food, water, and medicine everyday, sometimes by ourselves, so there’s no need to keep her at a vet for that.

I’m glad she’s okay!

[Jyka]

Shows what a dedicated bun-mum you are to be willing to give her up so she could be healthy. You must really love her. Glad to her she’s doing well and MY God!! that vet was soooo ripping you off!!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Glad your bunny is okay

And don’t get me started on vets who try to rip you off….

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