Rabbit Care is a very specialized field. Most veterinarians are not trained in the proper care of rabbits. It is VERY important to do your research when seeking a vet who specializes in rabbit care. The time to find a veterinarian is now, not when your rabbit is sick and you are forced to take what you can get. A good place to start in finding your rabbit's veterinarian is to ask for recommendations from your rabbit adoption personnel, other rabbit owners and rabbit special interest groups (such as the House Rabbit Society). Then move on to interviewing the veterinarians. The secret here is not to ask "Do you see rabbits?" but, rather, "Who in town should I take may rabbit to?" If the vet volunteers "We see rabbits," jot down his or her name. Take the time to call around in a radius from your home that you feel would be close enough to take your rabbit in case of a problem. Select two or three and call for an appointment to meet them. Most hospitals charge for an office visit, but some waive the fee for a quick non-medical consultation. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You need to have a way to discern his or her level of knowledge and experience with rabbits and, just as important, your ability to communicate with each other.

A good rabbit veterinarian will have a working knowledge of rabbit anatomy and physiology, nutrition and the common diseases and syndromes of rabbits. Rabbits should make up a sizable part of the vet's practice. Unless you find a specialty practice, it is unlikely that rabbits will make up a significant portion of the patients, but 10 percent would be an acceptable minimum. Ask what special equipment and services the hospital offers for rabbits. The "standard of care" should include the use of isoflurane anesthesia, the ability to trim incisor teeth using a dental drill (not toe-nail trimmers) and, preferably, the ability to house the rabbits away from barking dogs and the odors of cats.

When seeking details, ask open-ended questions. For example, don't ask, "Do you use isoflurane?" Instead ask, "What type of general anesthesia do you use for rabbits?" "How would you fix overgrown incisor teeth?" "What housing arrangements do you have for rabbit patients in your hospital, particularly in relation to other animals?" A critical questions is "What oral antibiotics do you commonly prescribe for rabbits?" If the answer ends in "-cillin" (penicillin, ampicillin, etc. ), beware. Oral (but not injected) "-cillins" are deadly to rabbits and you need a vet who knows that. After finding a vet, your next goal is to maintain a relationship with this doctor. Although rabbits don't require regular vaccinations, they should have an annual physical exam. This exam can help detect problems early and help you plan health management as your bunny ages.

Dr. Donald Holmes Pecan Grove Veterinary Hospital 655 W. Warner Suite #111 Tempe, AZ 85284 (480)598-3669

Dr. Alicia Ruiz Central Phoenix Animal Hospital 25 West Thomas Road Phoenix , AZ (602) 277-5155

Dr. Jay Johnson, Dr. Kevin Wright Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital, LLC 744 N. Center St. Mesa, Az. 85201 480 275-7017 kwright@azeah

Dr. Brad Rosonke Hillside Animal Hospital 11495 N. 136th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85259 (480) 391-7297

Dr. Richard Panzero River Animal Hospital 5615 East River Road Tucson, AZ 85750 (520) 577-3100

Dr. Parva DVM Dr. Pamela Ford DVM Arizona Animal Wellness Center 3317 South Higley Rd., Suite 101 Gilbert, AZ 85297 (480) 988-3660

If you searching for a rabbit savvy vet outside of Arizona please visit Rabbit Savvy Vets by state

The Bunny Basics does not endorse any veterinarian or their practice.