Any Vets about - the vet accidentally injured our rabbit

[ShaggyRug]

Took our rabbit for his booster shot and nail clip this morning.

When clipping his nails the vet accidentally ripped out a dewclaw. The rabbit flinched and the vet pulled back and the whole dewclaw came out.

It bled a lot and the vet treated it. He then suggested I now need painkillers and antibiotics for the injury to be safe as since it’s his foot it could easily get infected.

He has charged me for the medicines which cost around £25.

WIBU to write and complain about this or is it right that he still charged me for medicines due to an injury he caused?

Never had anything like this happen before so I just paid and left but it doesn’t feel right.

Happy to be told I should still pay but hoping you vipers could tell me if it’s right or wrong - especially any vets out there.

Thanks 🐰

I wouldn’t have paid as it was the vet that pulled the dew claw out. As you have now given over the money it will be difficult to ask for it back.

Shouldn't have paid, and I would write in and complain, ask for a refund/money on your account. Injury was caused by the vet, therefore they are liable.

When our female dog was neutered she was stitched up badly, which resulted in it not healing properly, the vets were very good about it and had her in twice a week to check and clean and the medication she was given, everything was all free. I would have not paid in your sit. I think ask for the practice manager and make a complaint, your poor bunny!

fire .. it’s not difficult to ask for it back at all. I paid for medication for my cat - turns out she didn’t need it, the vet hadn’t listened to me properly about symptoms (long story) - I just said “so I’ve paid for medication that she didn’t need and wouldn’t help her” ... they refunded me the medication price and left it in my account as a credit. This then came off my next treatment.

OP ... I can see it from both angles (rabbits fault as it flinched, but vet should have anticipated this and held accordingly)... but personally I would have mentioned it there and then to the vet.

If I were you I’d pop in and have a chat with the receptionist. You’ve been home, thought about it and realised you’re not comfortable with what happened etc. You’d like a refund, or at least to chat to the vet about it properly.

My bun ripped her own claw out and the vet adivsed just dunking it in the pink antiseptic liquid they give you (I forget the name). I think they gave her a little shot of painkiller but they said it happens quite often in the wild and although it bleeds a lot at first they usually heal up right as rain. Don't know about complaining...if it we're me I wouldn't but my two kick the fuck off when you do their nails. If they randomly jumped at the exact moment the clippers we're closed I can see how it happened tbh.

Thanks all for the advice and thoughts. I went with the majority and contacted the vet manager and she agreed that I should not have been charged for the medicine and is refunding. It was obviously an accident on behalf of the vet but she still apologised and said I should not be charged. So happy ending money wise but now I’ve just got to get antibiotics into the rabbit for a week. He’s a grumpy bun by nature so he’s not going to be impressed 🐰

Are they liquid and is he a good eater? My little one takes it off shreddies ☺️

Pop and get some hibi scrub (the sell it in boots) it’ll be handy anyway as fab anti septic for pets.

Definitely not unreasonable to ask for the money back.

I posted the other day about my vet who had misdiagnosed a fairly straightforward problem. They have now agreed to carry out the correct procedure free of charge.

Well the rabbit is currently pissed off at me for trying to get his second dose of meds in him tonight and refused no mater how I tried, going as so far as an attempted nip to warn me off. So I left the liquid squirted on a couple of pellets which he normally loves but he’s currently sulking down stairs in his hutch and won’t come up to eat them or see me even for a dandelion. He must be mad at me.

@Thisnamechanger thanks for the tip I’m going to try that.

Bun is not a people bunny by nature but we love him grumps and all. On a rare good mood he may lick your arm if he’s feeling particularly jovial (as long as it’s on his terms). I hope he forgives me for taking him for his traumatic visit and now for daring to poison him with medicine 🤷‍♀️🐰

Hope bun is okay. Mine is also a pain to give drugs to. Along similar line to shreddies I give her it on fenugreek crunchies. She loves them and they have a good surface area to put the liquid on. Have also used things like bigger basil leaves with it on sandwiched together in the past.

Aw poor bunny!!

One of ours needed medicine recently. She chomped down on my thumb in protest. Took ages to heal.

Then 2 weeks later, they both needed their vaccinations and both got cross with me.

I suppose it is the time of the year for hot cross bunnies...

Thanks for all the advice. Happily Bun is taking his meds squirted on a few pellet treats so fingers crossed they’re working. Side note : he’s still mad at me 🙈🐰

Mines still mad at me for the annual bum shaving appointment. Actually I think he may still be mad at me for the castration he had 8 years ago.He has meds for being a bit arthriticky which usally involves me having to roll him up in a towel to squirt meds down his mouth. Usually get most of it in but for a grumpy pensioner bunny he can move very very fast.