Veterinary Care

Tampa Bay House Rabbit Society

PO Box 277
Oldsmar, FL 34677-0277
tampabayhrs@aol.com
813-891-6144

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Veterinary Care

Since rabbits are prey animals, they hide their illness. Once you see signs of illness, they are usually quite sick. The following conditions require immediate veterinary attention:

Diarrhea with listnessness.
Sudden loss of appetite with abdominal bloat and or gurgling.
Loss of appetite with labored breathing, runny nose and or runny eyes.
Head tilt with loss or coordination and/or paralysis.
Incontinence (urine-soaked rear legs).
Absesses, lumps or swelling.
Thick ocular (eye) or nasal discharge.
Any sudden behavior change.

TBHRS Recommended Vet List

Highly Recommended Vets (In alphabetical order)	Alicia Emerson, D.V.M. 4540 Clyde Morris Blvd. Port Orange, FL 32129 (East Coast) (386) 788-1550 Peter Helmer, D.V.M., Diplomate ABVP - Avian North Bay Animal Hospital 9801 W. Hillsborough Avenue Tampa, FL (813) 855-4477 www.northbayanimal.com Dr. Helmer also sees patients at sister hospitals: Temple Terrace Animal and Bird Hospital 5023 Busch Blvd. Tampa, FL (813) 988-1189 www.templeterraceanimal.com Pamela Borderieux , DVM Pebble Creek Animal and Bird Hospital 19440 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa, FL 813-973-8566 www.pebblecreekanimal.com Note: Dr. Borderieux does not have the clinical experience of Dr. Helmer and the other vets on the Highly Recommended List but she worked with Gainesville Rabbit Rescue while a vet student at University of Florida and helped out with the Snell Isle rescue in 2001. She currently has five rabbits and we're trying to help her find #6. Lynn Holladay, D.V.M. All Creatures 11212 Tamiami Trail North Naples, FL 34110 (239) 593-1232 James Hughes, D.V.M. Hughes All Creatures Animal Clinic #11 3438 East Lake Road (corner of East Lake and Tampa Rd) Palm Harbor, FL 34685 (727) 785-0405 Teresa Lightfoot, D.V.M., Diplomate ABVP - Avian Nicolas Maldonado, D.V.M. Florida Veterinary Specialists 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. Tampa, FL 33614 (813) 933-8944
Rabbit Vets (In alphabetical order)	Elizabeth Baird, DVM Country Oaks Animal Hospital and Kennel 1412 Belcher Road Palm Harbor, Fl 34683 (727) 785-6524 David Danielson, D.V.M. Peter Saleh, D.V.M Ehrlich Animal Hospital 8009 Gunn Highway Tampa, FL 33626 (813) 920-0566 Laurie Gray, D.V.M. Veterinary Medical Clinic 4241 Henderson Blvd. Tampa, FL 33629 (813) 289-4086 Rita Manarino, D.V.M. Steele Animal Hospital Seminole, FL 33708 (727) 398-7601 Diane Perry, D.V.M. 916 Broadway Dunedin, FL 34698 (727) 735-0500 Dr. Perry focuses much of her practice on cats but she is a wonderful vet. Terry Readdy, D.V.M. Barsch Animal Clinic 9999 Plantation Boulevard Tampa, FL 33624 (813) 962-7117 Suzanne Topor, D.V.M, Diplomate ABVP - Avian Livingston Animal & Avian Hospital 15104 Livingston Avenue Lutz, FL 33549 (813) 979-1955 Michelle Curtis-Velasco Fleming Island Pet Hospital 4711 US Hwy 175 Building D Orange Pary, FL 32003 (904) 264-7387
Specialists	Kathleen Barrie, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVO (opthamology) Michele Stengard, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVO (opthamology) Florida Veterinary Specialists 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. Tampa, FL 33614 (813) 933-8944 Dan Wolf, D.V.M., Diplomate ACVO (opthamology) Debbie Roik, C.V.T., Certified Canine & Equine Massage Therapist Rehabilitation and Massage Services to rabbits (727) 251-2727 - no office, house calls only

DISCLAIMER: TBHRS has compiled a list of veterinarians who have experience with treating house rabbits. We do not receive any compensation for including a veterinarian and reserve the right to remove a veterinarian. This list is provided as a service to area rabbit caretakers, although it is up to the individual caretaker to select and screen their veterinarian. Click here for a list of questions to ask.

Several factors go into a veterinarian's inclusion, including but not limited to:
Formal education including internships and residencies in exotic medicine.
Participation in continuing education.
Experience with treating house rabbits.
Personal recommendations from long-time rabbit owners. We will not add a vet solely on the basis of a personal recommendation.
We make every effort to keep this list up to date. We appreciate hearing from you when a rabbit vet moves into the area.