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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bunny’s FIrst Vet VIsit

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    • DaisyBinks
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        So, tomorrow is Bunny’s first visit with who I hope will become her vet and soon surgeon for the spay. 

        I am insanely nervous. I have never brought an animal to the vet before since every animal I’ve had before has been with my family. 

        Basically, I am not sure what to expect and what to make sure happens. I wanna feel out the vet a bit more before I commit to choosing her for Bunny’s spay, and want to make sure my baby gets checked for all the things she should be for her first check-up. The vet mentioned taking blood, but not much else, but sounded really excited to meet us and very welcoming. /

        Thanks again guys. 


      • CinnabunMom
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          Since it’s a routine checkup, the vet will probably do some of the following: check eyes to make sure they are clear, check nose, check teeth for proper size (if the teeth are a tiny bit long, your vet may want to trim them. Cinnabun got her teeth trimmed the first time at the vet and I invested in more wooden toys), check her ears, check her body for any bumps, listen to her heart, her gut, and probably take her temp (average bunny temp is about 101.00). The vet will want to know about diet (what you feed her, how much you feed her, how well she eats) and probably her potty habits. Some vets ask that you bring some of their poos in a baggie for inspection.
          If you’re going to talk to the vet about spaying, I’d ask the following: how many spays does she do a year (or even per month), what’s her loss rate (the lower the better. If she’s over 5% in loss, run away and fast); of the bunnies the vet has lost, ask her what caused the loss; ask about her spaying procedure.
          That’s all I can think of right now. I’m sure there will be other with hints! Good luck!


        • Danniidee and Lilly
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            I’m taking my bun, Lilly to the vet today for her First check up too. I’m in the same situation, as I have never taken a pet to the vet before.. it was great to read the reply from cinnabunmom, of what they look at and what you should expect the vet to do with your bun. My rabbits behaviour has changed since we moved her into a new hutch outside. When we take her inside during the day she isn’t as affectionate, not racing around the house like she normally does.. anyway this was very helpful guys, thanks


          • DaisyBinks
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              Thank you Cinnabunmom! That sounds pretty easy to handle. I’m so protective and worried about her being poked and prodded and then being upset with me, but I know it’s important
              I am definitely going to ask a TON of questions about the spay and the vet’s experience, and go with my gut after seeing how she handles her too. If I don’t feel comfortable with putting Bunny’s life in her hands, then I’ll find someone else

              Good luck danniidee!!


            • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                I would say make sure you get to go in the exam room. I’ve heard of vets that take the pet in the back (quite common in emergency vet clinics) without you, but I want to be there-For one you get to ensure your pet isn’t handled roughly, for two you can see how clean the room is, for three you can bombard your vet with questions. You are paying for his/her time and you should be able to ask questions during the exam or any procedures.

                Otherwise for what you should expect-a confident vet, who asks questions of you to help establish how healthy your bunny is and what their normal behaviours are. You can also ask at this time what emergency vet your vet recommends-maybe he/she has a 24 hour on call at their clinic, or they can recommend a particular vet to see in emergencies

                Good luck!


              • TH004
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                  I recommend bringing a few treats along too. If my vet does something I know that my rabbit doesn’t like (such as a shot), I give him a treat following it. It is like getting a sucker for a shot when we were kids It distracts him and makes him forget he was getting upset.


                • DaisyBinks
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                    Just got back. She did not like it at all! Poor thing was struggling the whole time, very stressed out. They had her in a bunny burrito during all the normal check up stuff, and the entire time she was breathing so hard and looking at me and I wanted to cry I felt so terrible. Then they took her away to a different room to take her blood and were gone for almost 15 minutes. 

                    She was very shaken up, and I brought her home and let her on the bed since thats her usual spot. she ran from me, and hunkered down low and was visibly scared. She was making squeaking noises and had scared eyes. I gave her her hideaway she loves (its a cat one with a cat bed inside) and she hid in there. She let my boyfriend come to her and didn’t run at all. A few minutes after, I noticed she was licking her front paws and then shaking them rly fast, so I came over to her and noticed she had urine all over her face, and had peed all over the cat bed! she has a bandage on her back leg from the bloodwork that I need to take off, but I can’t get near her right now. 

                    She is in her cage now, I thought being in her personal space would help her calm down. I can’t believe how scared she is right now, I feel like a monster. 

                    The vet mentioned that she was worried about how she would handle a spay with being “such a nervous bunny” I explained that she isn’t nervous ever at home, and is very affectionate and calm and even ballsy. I wonder if i should worry that the vet is worried. 

                    Has anyone had a rabbit react this strongly to a vet visit?


                  • CinnabunMom
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                      Cinnabun doesn’t like it, but I’ve never had her freak out to this extent. Normally I get the bun butt for about 20mins after we return home and then she’s back to begging to treats and affection. What did the vet have to say about her spay rate?


                    • DaisyBinks
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                        I actually forgot to talk about pricing. We talked about everything else though. She is going to call me tomorrow with the blood results and then talk about when and how much for the spay if I decide I was to go to her. I’m gonna think about it before I make the appointment though. And she wants to wait a couple of weeks since it was so traumatizing today just for a normal checkup


                      • DaisyBinks
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                          Just the ckeck-up was 140$, does that seem reasonable? I’ve never had my own pet, so I’m not sure what is normal.


                        • TH004
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                            I live in a major city (meaning things are more expensive) and a vet check-up is $35. It is like an extra $10 to have bloodwork done. It is extra for any special tests or meds, but my vet always asks first, even knowing I can’t say no.

                            This is just me… but I would find another vet. My first buns was scared to death at many vets, but loved her final vet. It made taking her when she was sick easier, plus it didn’t make her sicker. It doesn’t mean the other vets were bad, but she definitely felt relaxed with the final one. My vet has had pet rabbits– maybe that helps?

                            I’m so sorry you are having to go through that! I hated seeing mine get all upset


                          • DaisyBinks
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                              I thought it sounded steep. I liked the vet in general, but not enough to let her do surgery on my baby. Bunny was really freaked out. up until 5 minutes ago she was huddling in corners of her cage and hadn’t touched her water or food since we got back. She finally went for the water and is now eating, and seems like she’s going to be fine. But almost three hours of looking that upset an stressed seems like way too much to me. Time to find a different vet

                              thanks so much!


                            • CinnabunMom
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                                My two cents: when I take Cinnabun for a check up it’s 45.00 ( I live in a VERY small town). The spay for her was 190.00 I…would also shop around for another vet. She seemed really freaked out by it. Good luck!


                              • Deleted User
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                                  I live about an hour away from a metropolitan area and travel up there to take my bun to a vet. Regular check up is $60 and they want $200 for her spay. They charge the same price for rabbit neuters/spays as cat and dogs. I’m sorry your bun was so scared. =[


                                • DaisyBinks
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                                    The profile of the vet I was going to call next says she has three rabbits of her own, and her photo is her holding a Flemish giant, so that seems a lot more promising already!
                                    I cannot believe they got me for 140$ and my rabbit was this traumatized. It took us a half an hr to get the bandage off of her leg it was so tight, poor thing.
                                    I’ll let you all know how it goes once I see another vet. Thank you all so much for your insight, I am a newbie, but my gut was not feeling good about this situation today at all.


                                  • Mimzy
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                                      I have an appointment for Mimzy’s spay and it’s going to be $140. Spays are usually around 200+ so if they charge 140 for a check up & blood work, I wonder how much they charge for spay?
                                      Definitely go with your gut feeling! The pic of this new vet with a flemmish giant does sound promising. I hope it goes well! good luck


                                    • Milove
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                                        My vet charges $100 for a checkup and 111$ for blood panel (very steep, but they are the best in the area). But my buns have never come back freaked out like that… and Milo didn’t have a bandage from the blood test… I wonder why they needed to use a bandage? Shouldn’t it have clotted on it’s own?
                                        @TH004 I wish I lived where you do! So cheap!


                                      • LittlePuffyTail
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                                          The vet mentioned that she was worried about how she would handle a spay with being “such a nervous bunny” I explained that she isn’t nervous ever at home, and is very affectionate and calm and even ballsy. I wonder if i should worry that the vet is worried.

                                          This makes me think this vet is not very rabbit experienced. Most bunnies are nervous at the vet. My girl, Olivia gets super stressed and hyperventilates but she was still spayed, no problem.

                                          That check up seems pretty steep to me too. Maybe this vet charges a hefty extra fee for exotics. My vet has a set fee for exotic checkups but it’s actually cheaper than cats or dogs.


                                        • TH004
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                                            @Milove I guess it is cheap compared to everyone else! My vet will even talk to me on the phone when I’m worried about something for free to help diagnose and see if my buns really needs to go in.

                                            @DaisyBinks The new vet sounds very promising! Once you get a good vet you can count on, it will make you feel so much better, knowing your baby is being well cared for.

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                                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bunny’s FIrst Vet VIsit