Veterinary Care

Tampa Bay House Rabbit Society

PO Box 277
Oldsmar, FL 34677-0277
tbhrs@tampabay.rr.com
813-891-6144 (read info on home page before calling)

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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.

Did you find a wild rabbit? Read here to learn more about what to do. You may be able to return the babies to a nest but they also may require veterinary attention. NOTE: You must hold permit 68A-9.006 Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit to keep a wild rabbit in captivity. If you do not hold this permit, contact a wildlife rehabber immediately.

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) 885-4477 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 has house rabbits and volunteered with Gainesville Rabbit Rescue when she was a vet student. 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 Florida Veterinary Specialists 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. Tampa, FL 33614 (813) 933-8944 Note: Dr. Lightfoot also sees patients at FVS Brandon and FVS Clearwater. Call FVS in Tampa to schedule. Nicolas Maldonado, D.V.M. Animal Care Center of Pasco County 4041 Little Road New Port Richey, FL 34655 (727) 376-7600
Rabbit Vets (In alphabetical order)	Avian and Animal Hospital of Bardmoor Nichole Zellner, D.V.M. Katie Wentworth, D.V.M. 11405 Starkey Road Largo, Fl (727) 398-1928 www.AvianandAnimal.com Note: Dr. Wentworth has house rabbits. Elizabeth Baird, DVM Country Oaks Animal Hospital and Kennel 1412 Belcher Road Palm Harbor, Fl 34683 (727) 785-6524 David Danielson, D.V.M. Farid Saleh, V.M.D. Ehrlich Animal Hospital 8009 Gunn Highway Tampa, FL 33626 (813) 920-0566 Michelle Ferrera, D.V.M. Boyette Animal Hospital 10931 Boyette Road Riverview, FL 33569 (813) 671-3400 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 Terry Readdy, D.V.M. Country Chase Veterinary 12501 West Linebaugh Avenue Tampa, Florida 33626 (813) 814-1814 Suzanne Topor, D.V.M, Diplomate ABVP - Avian Livingston Animal & Avian Hospital 15104 Livingston Avenue Lutz, FL 33549 (813) 979-1955 Michelle Curtis-Velasco, D.V.M. Fleming Island Pet Hospital 4711 US Hwy 175 Building D Orange Pary, FL 32003 (904) 264-7387
Specialists	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.