To not bother with rabbit insurance

[Cranfieldmc]

Wondered if you can help me. I'm new to having a proper pet that you need a vet for (have lots of fish and am a fairly enthusiastic owner but I always self-diagnose and treat my fish (with the help of the internet) rather than go to a vet). I am thinking of getting a pair of bunnies and am currently researching all aspects of care.

I have heard it said many times on mumsnet that you should have pet insurance for your cat and dog. I am wondering if the same applies for these bunnies. I have been quoted circa £30 a month for the pair (sure I can get it cheaper if I search around). I'm just wondering if this is worth it in bunny world. Do you take your bunnies to the vet often for illnesses and is it expensive (more expensive than £360 per year).

Just to be clear, if I didn't insure the bunnies I would be able to pay high vet fees if they arose (and would do so rather than leave an animal in pain or to be unnecessarily put down). I just want to make sure insurance is a sensible option. Many thanks for your help.

Sorry not read replies. Try Exotic Direct.

Unfortunately one of my rabbits had to be put to sleep a couple of days ago.

The bill was about to be £700 initially. I'd rather pay £7 a month and be covered for that amount of money in one go. We didn't get a chance to go ahead with any treatment :(

Oh and Exotic Direct cover 50% teeth problems (after the excess.)

I have rabbits and don't insure BUT one of my previous rabbits cost me just under £1000 for an aggressive recurring abcess. I have also paid £400 for emergency care for another rabbit only for her to die on the third day of her stay at the vets. Another cost me £125 for an emergency consult and a couple of injections as she stopped eating. Of course it had to happen on a Sunday so it was £85 just for the consultation. If I hadnt taken her she would have died as she had gut stasis and bloat.
I have found they may not cost much in vets bills when they are young but can be extremely expensive in old age. Especially if they have dental problems.
So it all depends if you an cover unexpected costs.
The other option is the vets themselves may have a scheme where you pay in a certain amount a month and you get the myxi/vhd jab for free and discounted rates for any treatment.

My friend's rabbit broke its leg about a fortnight after they go it. They've just had a vet's bill for nearly £4,000. Luckily, they'd got a free month's insurance when they bought her.

I didn't insure our buns. Didn't think it was worth it. 4 months after we got them they had a fight, the male ripped the females belly on Xmas Eve. Straight to vets, surgery and overnight stay, collected her on Xmas Day. Two weeks later the wound got infected and reopened. More surgery, lots of antibiotics and having to separate two previously great mates. 2nd hutch, and cage before slow reintroduction. Male is lovely, female hates my guts.

Total cost £3200.00

Fucking "Free" rescue rabbits.

(Now insured, but won't be covered if there is another fight - and the monthly cost is more than the MuttDogs)

I've just paid over £700 because of a poorly ear.
Get the insurance!!

I had no idea that rabbit insurance was so much and that people were prepared to pay such large amounts of money on a rabbit.

I understand it for a dog or cat but not for a rabbit.

I wouldn't insure it and I'd put it down if it got very sick. I thought that's what most people did. I'd pay for the vaccinations and neutering but not for operations.

Youare Why on earth would you think that? Is the life of a rabbit less valuable to you just because the initial purchase price is usually low? Rabbits can be just as intelligent as other domestic pets and have brilliant personalities too.

OP, if you can afford vet treatment running into the hundreds/ thousands then I wouldn't insure. I'd always, always recommend insurance for anyone who couldn't afford a big bill though. When your pet is sick the last thing you want to do is offer them no / a lesser treatment because of finances. My rabbits aren't insured but any bills that arose would be paid without question. Rabbits can be prone to dental issues, my chinchilla suffers from the same and a dental is about £200, required every six weeks. Those are the sort of expenses you need to budget for, worst case scenario.

Please don't let that put you off though, they make fabulous pets for adults and are hugely misunderstood. They are not cheap or easy to keep, but they are absolutely worth it. My bunnies make me smile everyday and I completely underestimated how individual and great their personalities are before I had them.

The best place to get them from is a rescue centre who have a pair that are already bonded and neutered.

Honestly, no.

I've owned rabbits. It's not worth it. Small problems like not eating, not pooping, or even teeth cleaning are affordable, and will likely never pay for themselves if you get insurance. Even including the cost of neutering them if you don't adopt, over their life time most rabbits won't accrue more than a few hundred worth of vet bills.

Rabbits are small animals, and illnesses will kill them regardless of any vet treatment. If you have a true emergency, it doesn't matter how much you pay, they go down fast and die. Coming from someone that has both rushed my rabbits to the vets and let them die peacefully at home, you're better off keeping them at home and letting them die in peace.

Don't forget stress can kill them too. So you have an emergency where they're already at death's door, combined with the stress of being surrounded by people with strange things shoved in their faces and getting poked with needles, they really just don't stand a chance. I've yet to have a rabbit survive a life or death emergency. It's more merciful to cuddle them in a warm blanket and let them fade away in your arms.

Not only that, unless your insurance covers 100% you're just paying $15 a month, plus a reduced vet bill which when you crunch the numbers at the end of the year doesn't really save you money.

Unless you have an expensive and on going problem, you'll lose more money than you save.

Get the rabbits, see their general health and go from there. Pet insurance doesn't deny animals based on pre-existing conditions. I'd go based on needs, and if it's right for you than a general yes or no.

Why do rabbits need vaccinations and worming? They do not normally meet other rabbits to get infected?

Why do rabbits need vaccinations and worming? They do not normally meet other rabbits to get infected?

They don't here in the US. But from the sound of your vet bills, they're also cheaper to maintain in the US too. Even with surgeries, I've never paid more than $400 on a vet bill for mine.

Rabbits should be vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease, both of which can be spread via biting insects which can travel several miles. I've seen myxi in pets in urban areas of London.

Worming is a bit more of a controversial topic.

Tiptops it's not to do with the price of the rabbit that I wouldn't want to pay out for expensive operations it's more because it's a rabbit. They are cute and lovely but they are just 'rabbit'. I would never be cruel to one but I wouldn't want to pay out lots of money on expensive operations. I would just get it put down or let it die at home. I'd take the advice of the vet on what was best.

I bet a lot of people would think the same as me. It really suprised me that people spend thousands on a rabbit.

Carol as oneday has mentioned, VHD and myxi can both be passed on by insects so even indoor bunnies are at risk. Vaccination really is essential, myxi and VHD are both horrific diseases that can be avoided. Worming is essential too, rabbits often have a parasite in their brain (e cuniculi) which can cause serious neurological disease if it isn't treated regularly with wormers. I worm my rabbits for 6 weeks, bleaching their cages on certain days too as that is the only way to get rid of the spores in their urine.

youare I'm afraid as a rabbit owner I just can't get my head around that. They aren't just boring little creatures that sit around all day, they are great fun and can be as interactive as a cat. Have to confess I was completely ignorant to this before I had my rabbits, but they have such great personalities.

Agree with the poster above. My rabbits are litter trained and started as house rabbits. One used to jump up wherever I was and lay alongside me for a cuddle etc. I got more from him than some of the cats I've had growing up!
When they were outside rabbits they'd play chase (with each other or me!).
Now one has died, we've brought the other back indoors so she has company and warmth (as she has no mate to snuggle up to). She goes out into the garden and back like a car would.

*cat! Not car....

Pet insurance does exclude any condition they had prior to taking it out.

They're better pets than cats IMO (I have cats) much more interactive and you can clicker train them to do tricks. Yes they're pretty boring if you keep them in a hutch, but not if you give them the space and attention they actually need.

YouAreBoring your attitude is fucking disgusting.

Seriously, never get any pets. You are clearly not responsible enough.

And I'm aware my posts will probably be deleted but I don't care. Attitudes like yours make me sick.

I got more from him than some of the cats I've had growing up!

YY to this! I get more fun and interaction from my bunny than I do my cats.

My rule with dog insurance is insure (lifetime policy) until they reach maturity, in which time you expect a lot of the troublesome characteristics to have raised their heads. If, at that stage, you know you've got a pet with skin problems, gammy legs, allergies, a proclivity for eating coat hangers or whatever, then keep insuring them. Otherwise, start saving the insurance subs instead. Note that insurance premiums go up as your pet ages, for good reason. Review how much you're saving each year and increase as appropriate.

Oh dear. ThereisACar Blimey, no need to be so nasty I'm not advocating bunny cruelty, I'm just saying I wouldn't spend lots of money on operations. It's not an outrageous thing to say. I'm not telling anyone else they shouldn't. Bulbasaur is saying the same thing.

I've never been told I have a 'sick attitude' before .

Rabbits are very delicate creatures and can have costly health problems. If the big costs come in the first few years you're better off having them insured, if they came in the last few years you're better off not insuring, but how can you know this in advance? If you can afford the worse case scenario don't insure.

Rabbits are surprisingly clever animals that need stimulation and interaction - don't expect them to be happy in a cage all day long. I've had house rabbits before and they were great fun but they did chew everything, e.g. live cables, books, plaster, etc. Also keep in mind that many rabbits do not like cuddles and can be quite vicious when kicking with their back legs.

Overall I don't think they are very good pets for children, especially young ones. A young cat, past the crazy kitten stage, might be a better choice.

Sorry but your attitude is disgusting. Attitudes like yours should be called out.

I don't know where you are but in the UK not getting your pet vet treatment is classed as animal cruelty and is also illegal. And that applies to all animals including rabbits.

I stand by what I said. Never get any pets. You don't deserve them.

Don't talk bullshit and try actually reading what I wrote. I said I would consult a vet and I only said I wouldn't pay thousands of pounds for operations. Bulbesaur said similar? You are being ridiculous and nasty.

You do realise that people eat rabbit in the UK don't you?