If you know other rabbit owners, ask for recommendations. You can also check with local rabbit shelters or rescues for their recommendations as they usually have lots of experince with vets. You might also just rry calling aroudn to different vet clinics and ask if there is a vet around to whom they refer rabbits or complicated rabbit cases. If several clinics refer rabbits to the same vet, that vet is a good one to try first.
Here is a quick list of questions to ask a potential vet. There is an emphasis on surgical questions because a spay or neuter will probably be the first (and hopefully only) major procedure your bunny will need:
- How many rabbits do you see in your practice?
- How often do you do surgery on rabbits? How many spays or neuters have you performed on rabbits?
- Have you lost any rabbits during routine surgery? What was the cause?
- What will I need to do to prepare my rabbit for surgery?
- How do you close the incision?
- How soon after surgery can my rabbit come home? If he/she has to stay overnight what sort of accommodations do you have for rabbits?
- What is the best way to prevent hairballs?
- What antibiotics are dangerous to rabbits?
The third question is a bit of a trick question; ask the vet about fasting prior to surgery. If your vet says to fast your rabbit (remove its food or water) for more than a couple of hours before surgery then the vet is not experienced with rabbits. Dogs and cats are often fasted overnight prior to surgery due to the risk of them vomiting under anesthesia, but rabbits do not vomit and therefore do not need to be fasted as long. Furthermore, the function of the digestive system in rabbits can be adversely affected if the rabbit does not eat for long period. Rabbits are often fasted for a short time (2-4 hours) before surgery in order to decrease the pressure from stomach and intestine contents on the chest (which helps lung filling during anesthesia).
Rabbits are somewhat notorious for removing their stitches, so your vet will probably uses sutures that are entirely under the skin (subcutaneous) and/or tissue glue. Skin staples are another effective alternative.
Ideally, once your rabbit is up and about after a routine surgery, your vet will send him or her home the same day. Rabbits are often more comfortable and less stressed in their home environment and this will help in their recovery. As mentioned above, if a rabbit does not eat for a significant length of time, digestive system problems can result so the quicker your rabbit gets over the surgery and anesthetic and begins eating normally, the better. Your rabbit should be back to eating something by the morning after surgery, although their appetite may be decreased for a couple of days. If your rabbit is going to stay overnight at the clinic, try to ensure that a quiet secluded environment is available to limit stress.
As a general rule, rabbit vets would know that generally the best hairball prevention is to make sure your rabbit eats lots of hay and other roughage, and gets plety of exercise and regular grooming. He or she should also readily know which antibiotics that are dangerous to rabbits (penicillin and its derivatives (amoxicillin, etc.), clindamycin, erythromycin, and some others).
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