Family Friends?

Anyone bring their bunny to Family Friends Vet Clinic in Grand Rapids, Mi ?

Anyone have experience using acupuncture or cold laser with their bunny?

My old bunny is having issues with arthritis and is losing the ability to move his back legs. My vet has him on Metcam and Tramadol which helps some. He was is otherwise bright and happy.

Family Friends advertises acupuncture and cold laser services.

I have not used Family Friends- so I cannot speak to them.

However, laser and acupuncture, if you can afford it, is GREAT. If you can only choose one, I personally would choose the cold laser. It definitely works well (but it takes time! So you won't see results after the first one or two, but you will in the long run).

Thanks for the reply! I don't know if this clinic has dealt with rabbits before. Anything special I should know/ask them about?

Acupuncture is somewhat species specific- so I might talk to them to see if they do see rabbits at least periodically. All acupuncture is based on human acupuncture, though- so it should translate ok to rabbits (my vet does it on rabbits, but she sees rabbits regularly). Lasering is not so species specific. With both of these, keep in mind it takes a while to see results (like I mentioned before and like the vet will probably mention) so don't give up right away! Most hospitals around where I live offer package deals- so I would ask about those (these tend to be pricey and any small cut is a good one). Let us know how it goes!!

I don't have personnal experience with either the clinic or the technics but I know several rabbit owner's who had very good things to say about acupuncture and laser for the problems you mention. Of course, like Ravenousdragon said you have to make sure those people really know what they are doing and are used to treat rabbits. It's too bad it's in French - we have a pretty good magazine about rabbits and they had a whole section dedicated to arthritis and loss of mobility just last month. They said massages could help too and linked those videos (don't know if that can help):
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZr9xOm45k"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZr9xOm45k[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByvHZrDpYNs"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByvHZrDpYNs[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-vRIOwG6B0"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-vRIOwG6B0[/ame]

Hi! I'm also in GR and use Dr. Ritzman at Cascade Hospital. I found her through the HRS.

Speaking personally, and as a scientist, I would never pursue accupuncture or any other Eastern medical techniques that, in my view, don't hold up to medical scrutiny -- I'd go with invasive surgery and pharmaceuticals without a second thought.

I've never heard of cold lasers in a medical context before, but a quick search points to it being another alternative medicine thing. I'd recommend sticking with real medicine; but again, that's my personal opinion.

A clinic that hasn't dealt with rabbits before is a red flag to me. I wouldn't be willing to take the risk of using a vet who didn't possess relevant certifications and experience with exotics if I had a choice.

This post probably came off strongly. I won't apologize -- I know I'm biased And I assume you're posting on a big message board to get input and opinions across the spectrum

I like to discuss/argue EVERYTHING, so here is my biased response:

Cold waver laser isn't big in human medicine yet but it will be I'd bet. Both acupuncture and cold wave laser have been scientifically validated (cold wave laser activates the ETC in the mitochondria of the cells, which creates more ATP, and faster tissue healing and reduced inflammation- however, we aren't quite sure YET how the ATP is directly related to inflammation). Cold wave laser and acupuncture will NEVER replace antiinflammatories or pain medication, but they can help.

I'm also a 'scientist' type (granted, it's been 3 years since I've worked in a traditional laboratory setting doing primary research) and these are both used in veterinary medicine with positive results! Chiropractors (for example) however, don't- and no chiropractor will ever touch my pets . And now the idea that lysine helps herpes in cats is being debunked, so I stopped giving my cat lysine for her herpes. BUT both acupuncture and cold wave laser (also called class 4 laser therapy) have been accumulating more and more data that they do work- do you mind if I ask to what scientific journals you have access to see if I can find you a study to validate my claims? I have access to tons, but that's through school (I don't actually have to pay for them directly) so I don't want to cite any to which you don't have access.