In Saskatoon is the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and they have fantastic vet clinics (one for large animals / livestock, one for small animals / pets). They are the gold standard for care in this province, and they have exotics-knowledgable vets, although if you go on an unscheduled emergency basis, you get seen by whoever's on call, and they make the call as to whether they call in one of the exotics specialists.

We used to use them exclusively when we lived there.

I can't do anything tonight. My choices are (1) get up early, drive 2.5 hours to Saskatoon, wait an unknown length of time to be seen by a non-specialist on a statutory holiday without an appointment and see if they think it's worth bothering an exotics vet to come look at him, or (2) wait 24 hours after that, and take him to the only local rabbit vet as a walk-in emergency, if he seems to need it vs (3) waiting *another* 24 hours for his Wednesday-morning appointment.

Do any of you have experience with respiratory infections? I've read of pasturella and the generic "snuffles", but none of our buns have had this particular kind of problem before.

His chest seems fine - I've survived two serious bouts with pneumonia, so I know the "rattling / crackling chest" noises - but I'm just plain worried.

I would love to hear just about anything from anyone with knowledge or experience with this.

🐰

Thanks...

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@Satori @Byronrabbit @BunnyMama

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts on this. It's a really weird situation, because he doesn't give any cue at all that anything's wrong, other than the sneezes. He ate his entire salad this morning in minutes and is not lethargic or anything (well, no moreso than lazy George usually is... 😉 ). When I posted this last night, it was really late, when I tend to worry more.

I don't think I'd be capable of taking his temperature with a thermometer, but he doesn't feel the slightest bit warmer (or colder) than usual anywhere, from eartips to paws to nose to tail.

I think we're going to keep a close eye on him today. If he shows the slightest sign of getting worse, I'll pack him up and drive to Saskatoon.

Thanks again. It's a good feeling having you people around.

@Satori @Byronrabbit @BunnyMama

... and I'm off to Saskatoon. Wish George luck!

Thanks!

@cazabon @Satori @Byronrabbit

I hope George is back to his normal magnificent self and you all are busy catching up on your naps after your road trip. Here’s another truck-load of bestest thoughts.🚚

@Byronrabbit @Tardis @Satori @BunnyMama

Thank you all - I know others responded elsewhere in the thread, so they're not tagged above - for your good wishes and concern. I have good news to report: George is okay, and is likely to fully recover.

It was a bit of an adventure, and George was in the hospital for six days & nights. There were some scheduling issues that meant he stayed a bit longer than he might have, like a CT that couldn't be done until the next day, adding a night to his stay. There was another procedure that was delayed after he'd been anaesthetized, so he had to recover from the anaesthetic and then do it all again the next day.

Needless to say, I had not originally intended to be in Saskatoon that long. I only packed three days' clothes, for example 😉 . And I had no access to the internet, because I'm a freak who doesn't have a cellphone. I'm sorry for any worry the lack of updates gave any of you.

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#George #vet #veterinary #veterinarian #UofS #USask #WCVM #WesternCollegeOfVeterinaryMedicine #rabbit #bunny #HouseRabbit