Vet Recommendations
Selecting a Vet
Selecting a vet may be difficult as you need a vet who is experienced with exotics such as pigs or rabbits. Many vet clinics won’t even see these animals because their care is so complex. Some vets who do see them, don’t have any experience with treating illness or doing surgeries, and so can't be trusted in an emergency. You’ll want to ask a potential vet questions to determine their level of experience:
- Can you do an anesthetized dental exam? (Needs to say yes)
- What would you prescribe for mites (ivermectin or selamectin, NOT Frontline or sulfur baths)
- What types of antibiotics would you prescribe for an upper respiratory infection? (Baytril, Bactrim, or TMZ, NOT any penicillin derivative, as these are toxic to small animals).
- Does your clinic have hand-feeding formula such as Oxbow’s Critical Care and could you teach me to hand feed if my pig or rabbit was critically ill? (Needs to say yes)
How Often Should We Go to the Vet?
We recommend that pigs and rabbits visit the vet at least once per year. A full checkup is advisable; at the very least, they will need to have their rear molars examined and trimmed if necessary. A urinalysis to check for the formation of sludge and stones is also advisable. As these animals get older (5 years) we recommend twice yearly visits, and your vet may recommend a yearly bloodwork panel such as recommended for senior cats and dogs.
One of the best ways to monitor health is to weigh your pet every 2 to 5 days. A sudden weight loss is often the first sign of illness, and may not be noticed just from observing food levels, especially if there are multiple animals in the cage. But if you take each individual's weight regularly, recording the weights and dates in a notebook to observe trends, you may catch illness sooner. A digital food scale that weighs up to 5 lbs is perfect for pigs, although you may need a larger one for rabbits.
Recommended Vets:
We have personal experience with these vets and know them to be highly experienced with pigs and rabbits.
| North Carolina: | Wisconsin: |
| After Hours Animal Emergency 409 Vick Ave Raleigh (919) 781-5145 Dr Scott Munn Avian & Exotic Animal Care Dr. Brigham Griffin Avian and Exotic Veterinary Hospital Dr. Lauren Powers Dr. Laura Lathan |
Animal Hospital of Verona 203 W. Verona Avenue Verona, WI 53593 608-845-6700 Dr. Erickson Special Species Emergency Clinic for Animals Animal Emergency Center
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Other Vets Known to See Rabbits/Cavies:
We have no personal experience with these vets, so cannot testify as to their level of expertise.
| North Carolina: | Wisconsin: |
| Timberlyne Animal Clinic, Dr. Amy Melendy & Dr. Zoe Forward 110 Banks Dr. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 919-968-3047 http://www.timberlyne-vets.com Dixie Trail Animal Clinic Inc Dr. Diane Deresienski Dr. Mark Stehr Dr. Holly Brigman Dr. Brianne Strand Dr. Kelly Baete Dr. Susan Booker Dr. Sandra McAvoy |
Click here for a list of recommended vets from the Wisconsin HRS.
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If you know of other vets you think should be listed, please send us your suggestions!