Rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, tortoises
Rabbits, guinea pigs and small pets
Rabbits are the third most common pet in Britain and the most often let down by vets who treat them as small cats. Cerys is our rabbit and small-mammal lead: vaccination, neutering, dentistry, gut stasis emergencies, and husbandry advice that prevents most of it.
A rabbit that stops eating is an emergency within twelve hours, a guinea pig cannot make its own vitamin C, and a hamster's teeth never stop growing. Small pets have their own medicine and we treat it as a speciality, with a vet and two nurses who have done the extra training and a ward kept separate from the dogs and cats.
Rabbits get a yearly combined vaccination against myxomatosis and both strains of viral haemorrhagic disease, which are both common in the Vale and both fatal. Neutering is recommended for all pet rabbits, for behaviour and because uterine cancer affects most unneutered females by five. Dental disease from the wrong diet is the commonest reason a rabbit sees us; we burr overgrown teeth under anaesthetic and, more usefully, fix the diet so it does not recur. Gut stasis, when a rabbit stops eating and passing droppings, is seen the same day and treated with fluids, pain relief and syringe feeding.
Guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, degus and tortoises are all seen, and the husbandry conversation is the most valuable part of most visits: diet, housing, company, temperature. Tortoise pre-hibernation checks run in October. We do not see birds, reptiles other than tortoises, or exotics, and we will give you the name of the practice in Cardiff that does.
What is included
- A vet and two nurses with small-mammal training
- A separate quiet ward away from dogs and cats
- Rabbit vaccination and neutering
- Dental burring and diet correction
- Same-day gut stasis treatment
- Tortoise pre-hibernation checks in October
What it costs
Consultation £48, rabbit vaccination £48 once a year, rabbit neuter from £110, dental burring from £140. Rabbit health plan £12.50 a month. Prices include VAT and every one is on the prices page; the health plan takes 10% off all of them. Emergencies, day or night, are on the emergencies page.
Questions about small pets
My rabbit has not eaten since this morning. Is that urgent?
Yes. Ring now. A rabbit that has not eaten for twelve hours is at real risk, and the sooner fluids and pain relief start the better the outcome. Bring their usual food and some hay.
Do you see birds or reptiles?
Tortoises, yes. Birds, snakes, lizards and other exotics, no; they need equipment and expertise we do not have, and we will refer you to the exotics practice in Cardiff rather than do a poor job.
Can two rabbits be neutered on the same day?
Yes, and we recommend it so they go home together and stay bonded. Each is £110 to £140 depending on sex, with the pair discount on the prices page.
Register a pet, or book an appointment.
Registration takes five minutes and we request the history from your previous vet. Sick pets are seen the same day, emergencies at once, and out of hours one of our own vets answers 01632 960 813. Every price is on the website.