to be annoyed at the vets?

[Injuredbunny]

My house rabbit went for a spay on Monday, completely fit and well before then, she hopped into the carrier and off we went. Collected her late Monday evening and she resumed eating and drinking straight away and although a little grumpy she was fine.

She wasn't walking properly but i thought that would be due to her being in pain in her stomach however over the last two days i've noticed it's a specific leg and she's dragging her foot and not putting any weight on it. I've phoned the vets and they've said they'll check her over for the £39 and any treatment i'll have to pay for, Ive said that this doesn't seem fair as it's only happened since I took her home on Monday evening but they're saying it's nothing to do with them and it's nothing they've done but the second she hopped out the carrier when we got home she was like this... AIBU to be a little annoyed about this? Obviously i'm going to take her and suck it up and pay it but it's really annoyed me!

It's hard to get a photo but it's her back left leg

It is really annoying, and I’d feel really frustrated too. But you probably signed a disclaimer stating the risks of surgery and accepted them. I’d say it’s now a separate issue. Sorry

I would keep stressing throughout the consult that it has only appeared since the op, and was obvious as soon as she came home. See what the vet says. They are not going to own up to anything over the phone.

@Seeline that's very true a receptionist is hardly going to say over the phone in front of all the people in the vets that it was their fault. She claims the vet told her it must be a pre existing issue but it started as soon as she got in the door! Thanks for your reply

@QueenJane That's true I signed a consent form about the risks and the anaesthetic etc but I don't know how getting her uterus removed under anaesthetic can damage her leg unless it was the way in which they restrained her or something

There are loads of possibly causes relating to surgery. I can only comment from a human point of view though.

To be fair it could be anything , just see what they say
Hope she is better soon

I used to work as a veterinary receptionist, and it would absolutely not be their place to say either way whether they will charge for this appointment...the vet may well waive the consult fee, but that’s at their discretion and will depend on all sorts of factor, not least whatever the problem turns out to be. Hope this helps, and bunny recovers well :)

Thanks for well wishes, taking her back this afternoon and thankfully insurance have said they'll cover the check up and any treatment so that's great

I think that is rubbish tbh they should at least give her a check up for free.
Just to add. Something similar happened to my friends rabbit. He hadn't been operated on but she had put him in a run in the garden on a nice day (he was a house rabbit) as soon as she brought him back in her was dragging his back legs. The vet said there was nothing that could be done for him 😢. She didn't accept it and did lots of research, it was a specific condition that is sometimes brought on by stress in rabbits. Maybe it is something similar ? The rabbit lived for years after.
Hope she is ok

@lolarosey that's interesting to know thank you, do you know what the condition was called? She has been super stressed the past week, the first vet we took her to she was seen in the same room as a dog who jumped at her and was snarling and she hasn't fully been herself since then and then obviously this operation was pretty stressful for her too!

the vet i'm seeing today is an exotic specialist and looks very good so hopefully he can provide answers but then if it is because of something they've done then they might not say

Things like vet visits in general are really stressful for rabbits...mine had stasis once and came back from an over night stay at the vets with a balding patch all the way round his middle. That was just stress, it did come back in his next coat change but it lasted a while. They’re sensitive little things...I’m sure she’ll be fine :)

I don't sorry but I could try and find out. My friends rabbit was also frightened by a dog in the garden I think it really stressed him out and affected his nerves

Aw hope she’s ok am sure any decent vet with waver the fee if it’s anything that has happened on recovery.

@GoldenGumballs hope so! I'm just waiting at the vets now

Aw poor bunny! Hope she recovers soon.

Animals can get very stressed. My mum's dog gets so stressed by having her hair clipped (and she has to have it done regularly or it gets matted) that she almost develops PTSD; shivers and shakes for 24 hours afterwards. Vet has prescribed her anti-anxiety medication for this now. Sounds bonkers (I know) but she gets into such a state. Hope vet can reassure you.

It was an infection (think it is a parasite) called e cuniculi apparently it lays dormant and can be triggered by stress.

At first they said it's a previous injury that the anaesthetic just brought to light but then they said It's possibly a torn ligament or something pulled from how she layed out during the surgery, didn't have to pay to get her seen and i've been given some different medicine to give her.

I bought two huge bags of hay for her and my other rabbit too 🐰🥕

Glad they didn't charge you. Sounds like she needs some rest and time to recoup 🥕

Hope she’s ok they do have to position them for surgery so may have tweaked something that was underlying. No way would this usually injure your bunny. Hope she’s ok and got some yummy metacam.

Poor little mite - hope she feels better soon

You too with all the worry

Aww that’s a good outcome, hopefully she’ll be feeling brand new after a rest! I didn’t think they would charge, sounds like you have good vets :)

How’s your bunny doing?

@GoldenGumballs Thank you for asking! She's still dragging her leg but is back to her usual self now which is good. She's currently stropping on the sofa because I finally got some bitter spray today which means she can't eat through all our furniture anymore!