A bad vet experience left my bun & girl concerned. . .

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Elliot Cannon

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Hello! Please inform me if this is in the wrong thread, I don't go to forums much for help so I'm a smidge lost. :( You can skip to Paragraph 7 since I ramble all too much..

Alrighty, for starters, I have minimal experience with bunnies, and don't know all too much except for what my girlfriend regurgitates to me in her care for her havana, Boba T.

And a small background, Boba T. has his own bedroom (decked out with his essentials.. and then spoiled a smidge), and has a diet of collard greens, bell pepper & celery (with a constant full feeder of hay, of course)! She feeds him 2 cups of the aforementioned food. :0) She also is a stay-at-home momma souley for our fur&scale-babies.

So, story time! Boba T. has dipped his fuzzy toes into the dreaded hormonal stage of a young bunnies life, and as soon as we noticed the red flags rising (on May 20th), we called around until we found an "exotic pet specialist" farther inland -- and scheduled it for Tuesday, June 4th 8:00 am. They would require a pre-screening before the surgery, which was no stitch. We went ahead and set it up.

We made the trip up there, and were informed that there was never an appointment scheduled. After a scrambled search for proof via my call history, they decided to squeeze us in later, towards the evening.

We could not make the trip home & back in time, so we spent the day out while trying to find ways to keep Boba calmed & collected.

Once we got to the vet, checked in and went into the backroom, it started to go crazy. My girlfriend opened the carrier to pull Boba out & the vet declined, stepping in front of her and began to pull him out (by his midsection). Boba immediately starts kicking as the stranger drug him out of his cozy carrier. After a period of Boba squirming and resisting, the vet decided to "come back to him" and dropped him back in, in a complete state of panic. My girlfriend immediately wanted to check him over after the vet walked out, to which in his panicked state: he lunged and scratched her.
After my girlfriend cooed at him (apologizing if she startled him ... sreceived_389372065012000.jpeg received_2292929247703330.jpeg o profusely, as if he could understand), and tentatively reached in, offering him a sniff. He immediately dipped his head down for more accessible lovings. She scooped him out, and he was as cool as a cucumber as my girlfriend continued to apologize for having to hold him off the ground as we waited a few more minutes for the vet.

At the door, we heard two voices talking about a "extremely skittish, unmanageable rabbit". A new vet walked in. Immediately annoyed with the previous care and now ill wording they had for the little guy, I was quick to point out the "unmanageable monster bunny" who was somehow okay with the excessive holding from my partner (way to go Boba!). Admittedly immature, but I was getting a tad heated.

My girlfriend offers again to hold him so they could check his heartbeat & was immediately denied. They told her to put him on the table and then scooped him up -- or attempted to. He slipped through the Drs. fingers and skidded a crossed the examination table towards the sink, slamming himself into the glass display and nearly tumbling off the edge. My girlfriend and I tried to calm and grab him, but the doctor would constantly try and scoop him up as soon as he slowed in reach of my partner or I. My girlfriend is almost in tears, the doctor is determined to grab up Boba no matter the cost of Boba's health, and when he does, it's around Boba's chest with a tight grip.

Boba starts screaming. It's a blood curdling, heart breaking sound. The doctor doesn't respond, and just goes in normally to check his (racing, I'm sure) heart.

He put's Boba in the carrier, and looks at my girlfriend, Annie. Pure displeasure on his face.

"Is it an outside rabbit?"

("No. Absolutely not, he has his own bed room and free-roam when the dogs and other critters are with me".)

"Do you actually spend time with it?"

("I got him FOR Annie TO spend time with. An animal at home so she doesn't only look after my babies all day." )

"Well it's obvious you haven't taught it how to be handled. You need to take the time you spend with it and teach it how to be picked up. That will make our job easier."

My girlfriend is staring at a caged and terrified bunny. Doe eyed and taking everything to heart.

Hours later, she's still questioning if she's doing something wrong or being detrimental to Boba's health. I try informing her that a quick google search will tell her that her only ever lifting Boba as needed, not forcing him to tolerate being held Constantly isn't bad. But she keeps doubting herself.

It may sound like a one sided ramble, and I'm sure it must be frustrating to try and check a heartbeat of a frightened bunny, but if the vets weren't rushed and forceful I'm definite there wouldn't be a hassle.

To end it off, could someone please post thoughts or opinions on the experience? Care tips if Annie IS doing something wrong? Or just loving pics of your bun to make her feel better.

Sorry for the ranting! Thank you again.
 
I would NEVER go back to that vet again. It also sounds like you were extremely lucky that vet didn't end up injuring your rabbit with rough/poor handling(hopefully your rabbit isn't injured). I would take the time to give an online review stating the facts of my visit, so no other rabbit owners have to go through what you did. If you feel the vet actually did something wrong in regards to your rabbits care and treatment(such as the handling of your rabbit after it has screamed out in pain/fear), I would also suggest lodging a complaint with your states vet licensing board.
https://www.avma.org/public/YourVet/Pages/Complaints-against-Veterinarians.aspx

Some rabbits are just nervy rabbits, particularly at a vet office. It has very little to do with how much it's handled or if it's an indoor or outdoor rabbit. It's more about individual personality. A good rabbit vet would have listened to you about the best way to handle and check your rabbit, since you know your rabbit the best. The vet I go to always has me take my rabbit out of the carrier myself, and allows me to assist in helping handle the rabbit during the exam when needed, and the vet always listens to what I have to say and any concerns I have.

Not only does the vet you went to have poor rabbit handling skills, but also poor skills in treatment and communication with you both as the owners. Just because a vet is an exotics vet, doesn't mean they have a clue about the proper care and treatment of rabbits. My most detested rabbit vet I have ever seen(and will NEVER go back to again) is an exotics vet, who used outdated treatment info, was condescending, and very difficult to try and work with. Remember, ultimately your vet cannot demand or force you to allow anything concerning your pet. It is your rabbit and you can tell them to stop whatever they are doing immediately. YOU are your rabbits advocate, and sometimes vets are wrong and you have to stand up and make sure your rabbit is safe and getting the proper treatment.

If you are wanting to find a much more knowledgeable rabbit vet, check the link below, but also go online and look at reviews as not all vets on the list are great despite being recommended as rabbit savvy. If you have any concerns that your rabbit could have been injured, find a knowledgeable rabbit vet right away, and have your rabbit checked out by them immediately, letting the vet know of your concerns and previous experience.
https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/

Poor little bun :( I hope he's going to be alright.
 
I didn't even read JBuns reply yet but that's unacceptable do not let them do surgery on your bunny because they do not know what they're doing. I work at the vets and even non rabbit savvy vets would not do that. That's actually pretty crazy. Please go somewhere else, if they treated your bunny like that in front of you, imagine when you're not there?!?!!

Also if the bunny doesn't like to be picked up, your gf is right to not keep picking it up. Geeze!
 
I agree with everything JBun said.

Her link is to the House Rabbit Society page of rabbit vets -- that's what I used to find my vet when I first got rabbits.

A rabbit-savvy vet should be very experienced in reading & handling rabbits of all temperaments that come into their clinic.

I never handle (i.e., pick up) my free-roam house rabbits; yet, my vet and the numerous vet techs/assistants who have picked them up, trimmed their nails, examined their teeth, etc. have never had any issues whatsoever. It's pretty obvious when they know what they're doing & they're comfortable around rabbits.

You had a bad experience, but don't let it sour your opinion to all veterinary professionals. Find a better clinic that knows how to work with rabbits and never look back at that place you just went to!
 

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