Ensure your rabbit gets the most from its next vet visit by following our easy tips
Rabbits are prey animals (and are not naturally good travellers) so, they can easily become stressed on occasional but vital visits to the vets. Make sure you get the most from your rabbit’s next vet visit by following our simple advice.
Prepare Properly
Write down any un-usual symptoms your pet may have shown as well as any questions you want to ask. Please call us before you travel to check what we need you need to bring.
Things to bring
The three things we’ll normally ask you to bring are;
- A recent urine or stool sample
- A familiar blanket to help keep your rabbit calm in the consulting room
- A treat to reward them at the end of their visit
Get a Great Crate
Ideally you want a rabbit specific carry case that opens at the top. Place the case in the rabbits’ environment before the trip so they can get used to it. Feed them in it, to build positive associations with the case.
Give Good Grub
On the morning of the trip give your rabbit a good breakfast and pack lunch with favourite foods and some of their usual pellets. A foodie treat may help to encourage your rabbit to start eating again if they lose their appetite.
Top Travel
The journey is probably going to stress them. So, make sure the car is clean, odour free and as quiet as it can be. Double check that the carry case is secure and level. Then, drive gently and when you get here, try to minimise the amount of time you spend in the waiting room and or keep your rabbit as far away from other pets that are waiting as you can.
Bring a Friend
If your rabbit lives with a companion, bring them both. It will be less stressful for them to be kept together.
When you get home
Ideally your rabbit will have enjoyed a treat before they finish their visit but once they get home do make sure they are eating and drinking as normal. If they are not, call us and we may ask you to syringe feed to get them going .
As ever, if you are in any doubt, following your visit, call us for further advice.
Preparing your cat or rabbit for surgery
No matter what the operation is, understanding what to expect and how you can prepare will make the whole thing a lot less stressful for you and your pet.
Read our four-point guide for a little advice and reassurance. If you’re worried or have questions we’re here to help at any point.
Before surgery
We’ll be checking your pet’s overall suitability for surgery by asking you questions about their current health & recent medical history. We’ll weigh them, check them and talk you through any risks with the operation.
We’ll talk to you about what to feed them the day before and the morning of the operation. In broad terms; cats should not be fed after midnight before the operation, but rabbits can be fed as normal. We’ll confirm any specific feeding advice for your pet’s op.
On the day
We’ll answer any last minute questions, then after you drop them off, we’ll prepare them for surgery and may give medication for any pain or anxiety. They may have some fur shaved and a drip inserted to allow us to administer medication, then, once prepared they’ll be taken to our operating theatre.
After the operation
After the procedure your pet will be moved to our recovery ward and may be given additional pain relief. As they come round, Katy and the nursing team will give them a bit of love and company and we’ll call you to let you know how it went.
When they get home
Given they have just gone through surgery you’ll want to leave them to their own devices for a day or so whilst you keep a close eye on them.
Make sure they have somewhere quiet to retreat to and keep them as calm as you can. Keep an eye on what they are eating and call us for further advice if their appetite does not return after a day or so. You can often get rabbits eating again by offering soft fruit as treats and if you heat cat’s food that can help them get their appetite back.
Your pet may need to wear a collar to keep them away from any stitches and you may need to help by distracting them. Other than that, please make sure you administer medication on time, check them daily for any unusual signs and try not to miss follow up appointments.
If you notice anything unusual or have any concerns as their recovery progresses, please don’t hesitate to call us for a little help or reassurance.
