How to Find a Good Rabbit Veterinarian

Are you new to rabbit ownership? Do you need to find a good rabbit vet ASAP? You’ve come to the right place!

Finding the right vet for your rabbit shouldn’t be a quick and easy decision. You need to put a lot of time and thought into choosing the right person to work with. Ideally, you want to find someone close and affordable, but that often isn’t the case. And even so, those are not the factors you should look at when making this decision.

Instead, you need to look for someone who’s experienced, highly skilled, and compassionate to pets and their owners.

So how do you find all of that in a rabbit vet? Keep reading to find out.

Where to Find a Reputable Rabbit Vet

The first place is to check your local listings. Location shouldn’t be the only factor, but it’s better in an emergency. You can try the good old Google search to help you find local vets or even a third-party app like Yelp.

Another great place to check for a rabbit-savvy vet is inside Facebook Groups for rabbit owners. Sometimes, you can get much more information there than online. Or, try a vet directory, like this list of rabbit-savvy vets from Rabbit.org.

My personal recommendation is to do a combination of them. Start by compiling a list from a directory or your local listings, make note of their online reviews, and then take those to a Facebook Group or some of your rabbit owner friends for their opinions before contacting the ones you’re thinking about working with.

What to Find Out About Potential Vets

After finding some good candidates, you need to do some research on them. Find out more about who you’re potentially trusting your rabbit’s life with. You want to know that each vet had thorough experience in working with and treating rabbits in a variety of situations.

Sometimes, you can find everything you need to know about potential vets on their website and other online platforms. But it’s always good to get the information right from the source (the vet).

If you do call each office, make sure you’re talking to the vet, not the tech or receptionist, as they likely won’t know anything beyond general knowledge.

Here are some crucial questions to ask each vet you’re thinking of working with:

• How long have you been practicing?
• Do you specialize in small animals or work with a variety?
• How many rabbits have you worked with before?
• Have you worked with specialized breeds before? (If necessary)
• What kind of procedures have you done on rabbits?
• Does your office have emergency hours?

Other Tips

Here are some of my other tips for finding a good rabbit-savvy vet.

Don’t Wait Until You Need a Vet to Find One

My first tip is to find a vet before you need one. An emergency is stressful enough without having to find the right vet. And, in all reality, you can’t make a good decision about a vet in such a short amount of time and while you’re in distress over your fur baby.

Don’t Make Your Decision Based on Distance or Price

Next, (and this one is crucial) don’t choose a vet because their services are the cheapest or the office is super close. In some cases, you may luck out with that kind of thing, but more often than not, the cheaper and easier thing isn’t the best for your bunny.

Don’t Take One Online Opinion as the Deal-Breaker

If you see a negative review during your research, don’t take it as the only opinion that matters. Look deeply at the rest of the reviews, including the dates, and see if it was a misunderstanding or if other clients feel the same way (and why).

Listen Closely to How They Answer Your Questions

If you call the offices to get some more knowledge on potential vets, pay close attention to how they answer your questions. It’s never a good sign if they seem arrogant or stressed about you asking questions. Neither is talking around a question to avoid answering it.

Stay Away From the Fear-Mongerer

In my years of having animals, I’ve unfortunately run into a certain category of vets that I call the Fear Mongerers. These kinds of vets will pressure you into paying for services your rabbit likely doesn’t need by using fear tactics. (This is completely different than when a vet thinks there is a problem and suggests running a few specific tests.)

Unfortunately, with the more delicate (and quiet) pets like rabbits, it’s easy for these vets to take advantage of unsuspecting owners. If a vet suggests bringing your rabbit in to run tests instead of a regular checkup, walk–don’t run–away! And, if you’re unsure if your vet is exaggerating, get a second opinion.

Conclusion

Finding a good rabbit veterinarian is vital to giving your rabbit a long and healthy life. By taking these tips, you’ll be able to find a knowledgeable, experienced, and compassionate rabbit vet you and your rabbit will be happy to have for years to come!