Rabbit-Savvy Vets: The Importance of Having One

Why wait for the situation to arise before sourcing for a rabbit-savvy veterinarian? Why wait till bunny falls sick before bringing him for a check up at the veterinarian's? Why wait till an emergency before panicking as to which vet to call? Why wait for all these before looking up websites or the telephone directory to look for a rabbit-savvy vet and not knowing where to start or which vet is good with rabbits?

It is, therefore, important to know who the rabbit-savvy veterinarians are before any problem arises. It is not just about finding a vet before an emergency that warrants the need to look for a rabbit-savvy veterinarian.

Rabbits require specialized care pertaining to their species, and you will need to find a qualified rabbit-savvy or exotics veterinarian to take care of most of your rabbits’ medical needs. Regular veterinarians that handle cats and dogs may not be well-trained or experienced to administer or provide the right care for a rabbit as certain medical conventions vary greatly between rabbits and their more conventional dog and cat counterparts.

On top of that, rabbit-savvy veterinarians would know which antibiotics, albeit commonly used, are dangerous for rabbits. For example, a tiny dose of Amoxicillin, Lincomycin or Clindamycin can be deadly. Rabbit-savvy veterinarians would understand rabbit anatomy and be aware that rabbits cannot vomit and have highly sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. Therefore, removing food and water before surgery is not only unnecessary but increases risk. It also goes without saying that rabbit-savvy veterinarians know which diseases and conditions have higher prevalence and are specific to rabbits.

Because you would need to take the time to make sure your veterinarian has extensive personal experience practicing rabbit health care and performing small animal surgeries before you decide to use the services provided, it is important to know what questions to ask and not hesitate to inquire about a potential veterinarian's history, experience, and even surgery statistics when searching for a rabbit-savvy veterinarian. As such, it is always better to find a rabbit-savvy veterinarian before you need one.

The House Rabbit Society (Singapore) has listed a list of rabbit-savvy veterinarians in Singapore (http://www.hrss.net/aar/health/health_vets.html). If no one is listed close by, strongly consider commuting (after all, Singapore is a SMALL country, nothing a simple taxi ride wouldn't solve) or ask for recommendations. It might not be simple or straightforward when it comes to finding the perfectly qualified and dedicated vet, but when your pet's health is on the line, it's worth every effort!

Author: Marie Ong (psychedelicstar)