Why Rabbits Need a
Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarian
Many people don’t realize their rabbit needs a specialty, “exotic” veterinarian. Veterinary medical schools typically do not cover rabbits as a required species; making rabbit-savvy veterinarians a specialized group of doctors. This page covers rabbit-savvy veterinarians near Austin, Texas. If you need a list for another state, check down below for House Rabbit Society’s National List by State.
Having a vet who is knowledgeable in the uniqueness of rabbit’s anatomy and systems is of extreme importance for your rabbit’s health and welfare.
On This Page:
Rabbit Emergency Vet in Austin, Texas
House Rabbit Society’s National List of Rabbit-Savvy Vets
List of Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarians near Austin, Texas:
Austin, Texas
24/7 Emergency Vet Hospital
While not specifically a rabbit-savvy vet hospital, Central Texas Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital is the only 24/7 Emergency Vet Hospital in Austin, Texas, and in an emergency they will be able to assist you with your rabbit until you can get them to their regular rabbit-savvy veterinarian.
They have 3 different locations, look below and find the location closest to you.
CTVSH Locations with Contact Information and Addresses:
South Austin Area Location
After-Hour ER Services –
512-580-9233
4434 Frontier Trail
Austin, TX 78745
North Austin Area
24-Hr ER Services –
512-580-8915
12034 Research Blvd Svrd SB, Suite 8 Austin, TX 78759
Round Rock Area
After-Hours ER Services – 512-982-0535
301 Chisholm Trail, Round Rock, TX 78681
For the National List of Rabbit Veterinarians,
please visit House Rabbit Society’s
Central Texas List of
Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarians
The following lists are of rabbit-savvy veterinarians in the Central Texas area by town.
HRRN does not make any claims as to levels of expertise, preferences for specific antibiotics, anesthetics, or fees. Therefore, each rabbit owner should inquire about these issues when choosing a rabbit veterinarian. It is the owner’s responsibility to make informed decisions as to the care and/or treatment the rabbit is to receive.
Greater Austin Area
Pflugerville
White Rock Veterinary Hospital: (512) 670-5400
Dr. Todd Riggan, DVM
Dr. Sarah Cox, DVM
Dr. Noor Sandhu, DVM
2509 W. Pecan St. Suite Pflugerville, TX 78660 (greater Austin area)
Austin
Westgate Pet & Bird Hospital: (512) 892-4463
Drs. Paul Brandt, Rick Lusk & Ginger Davis
4534 Westgate Blvd. Ste. 310 Austin, TX 78745
Leander
Agave Veterinary Care and Exotic Animal Hospital: (512) 559-6300
Dr. Sarah Miller
10824 E Crystal Falls Pkwy #603, Leander, TX 78641
San Antonio
Southeast Animal Hospital: (210) 534-4300
3608 S. Gevers San Antonio, TX 78210
Mission Pet Emergency: (210) 691-0900
8202 North Loop 1604 W, San Antonio, Texas 78249
Check the list with Alamo City House Rabbits here as well.
Houston & South Texas
Houston
Bunny Buddies has a great list of bunny vets in the Houston Area:
https://bunnybuddies.org/find-a-vet/
Corpus Christi
Emergency Pet Clinic: (361) 992-2873
Dr. Tim Tristan, DVM
1502 Airline Rd Corpus Christi, TX 78412
Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarians
Finding the Right Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarian
A frequent question we get asked is, “Why can’t I use a regular dog and cat vet for my rabbit? They all went to medical school didn’t they?”
Unfortunately, veterinary medical schools typically do not cover rabbits as a required species; veterinarians interested in rabbit medicine must learn about rabbits elsewhere, such as by attending conferences and completing continuing education modules, and working with rabbit rescue groups.
A regular dog and cat vet not versed in rabbit medicine may accidentally overlook something important in a rabbit, because for a dog or cat it would be nothing to note. Therefore, having a vet who is knowledgeable in the uniqueness of rabbit’s anatomy and systems is of extreme importance when it comes to your rabbit’s health and welfare.
Below are some good, basic questions to ask a veterinarian when you are searching around for one.
Finding a Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarian
Questions to Ask
You want the answer to be several, not just one or two. If the answer is just one or two, it’s most likely they’re attention and expertise is aimed at other species other than rabbits.
If the answer is only a few a month, this vet may not be as specialized and focused on rabbit care as we rabbit-caretakers would like. A rabbit-savvy vet will be specializing in rabbits, and therefore should be having several a week come through their doors.
A rabbit-savvy veterinarian will know amoxicillin and most of the “…cillin” drugs like penicillin are dangerous to rabbits.
Antibiotics that should never be given to rabbits are: Amoxicillin, lincomycin, clindamycin. Even one dose can kill a rabbit.
The answer should be something along the lines of: “Provide your rabbit with hay every day, preferably 24 hours a day. Provide daily exercise and brush frequently”
The answer should be “no”. Rabbits should never be fasted.
Especially if you live in a rural area, this is an important question to ask, as many “rabbit-vets” in rural areas only know and deal with 4H and FFA rabbits who are being raised for meat or fur. A meat or show rabbit’s diet is much too high in calories, fat, and protein for a normal house rabbit. They don’t normally spay or neuter them either.
You can find more questions to ask when interviewing veterinarians on House Rabbit Society’s website: Your House Rabbit’s First Visit To The Veterinarian
Finding a Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarian
Other Notes
Make sure you have a rabbit-savvy veterinarian as your vet BEFORE an emergency happens.
If you don’t live in Austin, TX, check out House Rabbit Society’s National List of Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarians for a list of rabbit-savvy veterinarians by state.
Social Media is a powerful resource nowadays with tons of contacts available at our fingertips. Find your local rabbit rescue group on Facebook, or by searching in Google for their website, and email or message them and ask who they recommend in the area. There may even be house rabbit-enthusiast Facebook groups you can join with locals in your area and ask them which vet the like and use, and if there are any they don’t recommend.
Things Not to Do When Searching for a Rabbit-Savvy Veterinarian:
- Do not make your choice based on how close the vet is to your home (unless that veterinarian is the clear “winner”). Paying money for a veterinarian who doesn’t know anything (or very little) about rabbits is just throwing your money away and can cost you the life of your rabbit.
- Don’t assume that just because a veterinarian works with breeders or local 4-H clubs that they’re experienced with house rabbits or the medical needs of older rabbits. Unfortunately, such veterinarians often tend to approach rabbits as stock animals rather than as beloved companions. They may never have done a spay or neuter, and be inexperienced with varying levels of “treatments”, and quickly jump to euthanasia (when dealing with stock or show animals, the financial bottom line may be the primary consideration).
- Know which antibiotics that should never be given to rabbits. Even one dose of the following can be deadly: Amoxicillin, lincomycin, clindamycin.
Have Another Question About Your Rabbit's Health?
Check Out Some of our other Pages
House Rabbit Medical Information Homepage
Internal and External Parasites in Rabbits
(within the Why Outside is No Place for a Rabbit page)
Rabbit Diseases
(within the Why Outside is No Place for a Rabbit page)