Wonderful (but ‘spensive) Bunny-Vet in Chicago

[wendyzski]

I took Pepper in to the clinic today.    She’d been sneezing a bit since last Saturday, and I started noticing bunny-boogers Tuesday night.  She was eating, pooping, and running around like usual, so I figured it was OK to wait a couple of days for an appointment but still important to bring her in

Animal Exotics in Skokie (www.exoticpetvet.com) is at Dempster and Ridgeway.  The 215 Pace bus stops 3 blocks away, but I think next time I will just take the Skokie Swift out and take a cab from there.  They are the one that the Red Door Shelter uses for their buns, I had seen a story on them on 190 North, and according to the website at least half the staff have bunnies of their own.  Office visits are $48 plus whatever they have to do.

Dr Horton was wonderful – I had warned her that Pepper was a flailer so she came prepared with an extra set of hands and a towel.  Pepper wiggled during the exam but with 4 hands they were able to get it done.  She took the time to show me the ear infection (I could see irritation and a little pus) and to explain what they were going to do.  Then they towel-wrapped Pepper and took her off to another room to flush out her ears and nose.  She came back about 10 minutes later, mortally offended and rather damp – she kept shaking her head to get the water out and her big loppy-ears were making flapping sounds!   She accepted a raisin foe being a good bunny but I suspect actual forgivemess will take more time.

The tech was wonderful too – she showed me how to wrap her and how to give her her meds – taking time to make sure I understood and letting me give one so I understood the technique.  Pepper has a liquid antibiotic, a probiotic, ear rinse, and ear drops, and i have to bring her back in 2 weeks to see how she is progressing.  I have enough of all the meds for a month in case she needs to stay on them longer.  They also did a bordetella culture, since I hope to get her a friend come spring and so I need to know if she’s got it.

Total cost ended up $230 – more than I expected but with all they had to do I guess I can understand.  They take checks and credit cards.

So, in short – they are costly but I thin they are worth it.  I totally trust everyone there and I recommend them to any bunny-people in Chicago.  Just start saving your pennies now!

[BinkyBunny]

It sounds like you have found a great place.  This sure can offer peace of mind.   What might help with the pennysaving too, is pet insurance.  http://petinsurance.com/.

They pay about 70%.   At least that has been my experience.  They don’t cover pre-existing and parasitic type of illnesses, like ecuniculi, but ear infections, abscesses, colds, snuffles, gi stasis, these common things are covered.

It cost about 12 bucks a month, or less if you have multiple bunnies.

[wendyzski]

Thanks for the reminder!

I always meant to do so, but the ones I was looking at said you couldn’t apply till you have had your critter 60 days, and her vet visit was at 57 days .

Still, now that I’ve been reminded I’ve got her signed up, and it should be in place in time for her well-bunny visit in January.

[BinkyBunny]

OH YEAH!!! Right.  Deja vu.  Been here done that with you already huh. Sorry, I had a litte fuzzy bunny brain moment.

I keep forgetting because I didn’t have to go through that.   Maybe they do that now because of rescue animals. Many times zero info on the record, so they wait to see if a health issue pops up before they cover it.

 

[wendyzski]

Poor Pepper!  He runny nose is all cleared up, but that nasty ear infection is still going on waaaay down there.  So we’re in for another 4 weeks of Baytril, probiotic and Full-Contact Bunny-Wrestling 3x a day to get those ear drops in there.  No funs.

I’m getting better at it and she seems to be learning that I’m not going to eat her, but it’s still no fun for either of us.  She bit me really hard once early on, and I’ve gotten a couple more disapproving nips since then.  She will lap up her probiotic right from the syringe but I have to hide the Baytril is a dab of canned pumpkin or applesauce.

But the fact that the infection is sooo stubborn combined with the fact that she’s FINALLY letting me pet her head on occasion (which she never did before) lead me to believe that she may have had this already going on when I adopted her.

Oh well – at least we have a good vet….

[BinkyBunny]

Awwww!!!  How is Peppers ear infection now?  I do understand about the long term Baytril.  Rucy has chronic weepy eye infections. Partly due to a few jaw abscess surgeries she’s had in the past the resulted in scar tissue clogging thing up that make her more susceptible.  

It’s low enough grade that it’s not contagious, but if she gets stressed (like moving) it can get worse and I have to do the whole Baytril thing. 

[wendyzski]

Well, it’s a little less smelly now so I think it’s going down, but we’ll have to see

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