I really am NOT going to that vets again..

I don't know if many of you remember when my buns had their first VHD, the vets I usually took them to wouldn't change to anivac or hear out our concerns about the Cylap. They were pretty rude to my OH. So in the end, we took them to a different vets for this jab and other ailments...the unfortunate thing about the new vets is that they are about a £5 taxi ride there and then another £5 back, no buses go near it really. Anyway, Luna and Thistle have been due their Myxi booster and for convenience (& because we didn't have problems with this vaccine before) I took them to the old vets, because it is a ten minute walk down the road. Well I shant be going there again, EVER! The vet asked me if they had had their VHD, I said yes, but as he couldn't see it on the records and looked confused I explained I'd had it done at another vets because of the Cylap Limp and I didn't want to risk them getting it. He asked what that was and I briefly explained. Instead of being curious and asking where I'd heard about it, he just went "Well I've never heard of that" with a big frown on his face as if because he's never heard of it, it can't be true. From then on he was rude and patronising towards me, he asked what food I fed them. So I said Science Selective and he just proceeded to tell me "In my opinion people feed their rabbits far too many soft foods, so from now on I want you to just give them hay and then a small amount of pellets in the evening" WELL mister, that's what I do ANYWAY if you bother to ask me. I know it's good advice if people don't do it & a lot don't, but he should have asked me their feeding routine before making assumptions. Plus, for someone who seemed to be trying to prove he knew more about rabbits than I did, he didn't even check their teeth which is one of the most important things IMO. In fact, he barely checked them over at all, just weighed them...and when Thistle was squirming (because he is a wriggler at the vets, believe me!) the vet was tutting and getting frustrated by it.

So now I'm considering taking them to the new vets again any way, for a proper check up...because last time we went for their VHD, the vet said Luna had TINY spurs on her teeth but they were okay. She's eating fine, but if they've got worse I'd like to know before it's too late.

Sorry for the massive rant!! I just needed to get out it to some people who would understand my frustration. I'm considering posting the vet practice an envelope full of all the Cylap Limp evidence, just to prove I'm not making this up or going by hear say which is what it appears they are suggesting! Grumble grumble.

Rant away! Some vets just don't get it and think all owners are stupid. I had a couple of awful vets when I had guinea pigs and it really does grate at you.

Hope they are feeling better after their rubbish day

Thanks!! Gots to get them more grub then clean them out so that should cheer them up, I should have learnt my lesson from before and taken them to the new vets. Cause I was going on my own though it was easier for me, better planning next time. And I'll come back and read this thread so I don't forget and go back there

I think you have every right to feel as you do. To disregard someone who is telling you something, that ultimately is a welfare issue, is at best, unprofessional. I'd send him the NOAH report, the Cylap notes etc.

He just sounds so old school. I have changed vets before becuase of thie attitude, it's not on, people are reliably armed with much better information than they used to be, and that should be taken into consideration. My vets love me going, cos we talk about all sorts of new things on the market etc.

And he isn't right about soft foods. They aren't actually soft, they contain intrinsic fibre, and this is why they should be fed in moderation, but not at the expense of hay.

His lack of full check over could be considered negligent. (see http://www.hoppingmad.org/E2/HealthHealthCheck.htm )

It's really upsetting isn't it, I can remeber how fuming I was when I was spoken to like that. Sadly the last occassion was the day Berts died, and some out of hours vet spent nearly 20 minutes trying to sell me bloomin panacur when we clearly had a rabbit that had bloat - and she hadn't even given any medication at that point - I was actually shouting for the metaclopromide, it was outrageous.

Thanks Jay! Yeah I think I will send him the notes, or maybe for the whole practice seeing as they all seem to be out of touch with any of this information. The other vets we go to are amazing & I wish I had planned to go there today instead, the lady we see is always so thorough and the receptionists make sure we are booked in the with the best rabbit savvy vet there.

I mean the fact that even the people who make Cylap acknowledge the side effects and the vets using it aren't even aware of it is ridiculous! That sounds horrendous what happened with Bertie, I think part of the problem is, as the apparent professional some vets do not like being told they are wrong or something they don't know. It's stubborn, but shouldn't happen. As you say, they should be open to talk about things. He wasn't even curious about what I was saying, just completely dismissive.

He's obviously very good friends with the rep who supplies Cylap to them!

When I first intimated that I was going to ask for a different vaccine, one of the younger vets looked surprised and dismissive. Once I told him about them changing the notification information to 50% of all rabbits showing some form of problem, he looked really shocked. Suddenly, I wasn't such a crazy rabbit lady after all!

Personally, I would write a very measured letter to all the partners explaining exactly why you feel that you cannot use their services any more. Explain about your experience with this vet and his lack of current knowledge. Veterinary medicine is a living profession and involves updating your knowledge and practice all the time.

What an arrogant *****!!!!!!!

Yep!! Just spoken to a friend of mine and she's had problems with him before when taking her cat there. He initially told her not to take her cat Charlie to see the heart specialist, but she did anyway and it turns out her cat has heart disease. He also refused to take urine samples from her cat, even though she had a letter from the specialist saying she needed them done. He also was very rough with Charlie, even though he was told she would be calm and not a problem to handle. My friend described him as her "nemesis". He's the one who upset her when her previous cat passed away too. Grrrr

I think its appalling that some vets dont keep up to date with developments and improvements.

Im only an accountant but part of the criteria of me keeping the qualifications I have is that I keep up with changes and updates in the rules etc.

Surely its the same for vets? Only much more important!