When your rabbit is in distress, the last thing you want is to scramble for a vet who may not know how to handle a bunny. Rabbit anatomy and physiology are radically different from dogs and cats — and so is emergency protocol. This guide is here to help you find rabbit-savvy emergency vets across the United States, and to give you a plan before crisis hits.
⚠️ Medical information: This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Always consult a rabbit-savvy veterinarian for health concerns. See our full disclaimer.
Why Finding a Rabbit-Savvy Vet Is Hard
Rabbits are classified as exotic animals in the veterinary world. That means most general-practice vets see them rarely — if at all — and even those who do may not have deep experience with rabbit-specific emergencies like GI stasis, respiratory infection, or dental disease.
The House Rabbit Society once maintained a comprehensive vet locator, but that resource is no longer reliably maintained. Many of the links are broken, and the clinics listed years ago may have moved, retired, or changed their rabbit policies.
On top of that, true 24/7 exotic emergency hospitals are rare — only about 4% of U.S. veterinary hospitals offer round-the-clock emergency care for exotic species, and they cluster in major metro areas.
The bottom line: finding a rabbit-savvy vet before an emergency is not optional — it's essential. This page is Phase 1 of an ongoing project to build a useful, maintained directory.
Before You Find a Vet: After-Hours Emergency Protocol
If your rabbit is showing signs of emergency — not eating, not pooping, hunched in a corner, bleeding, gasping for air, or having seizures — do not wait for business hours.
Here is what to do right now:
- Call ahead. Many emergency clinics ask that you call before arriving so they can prepare.
- Keep your rabbit warm and calm. Transport in a secure carrier with a soft towel. Do not FLIP your rabbit onto its back.
- Bring medication list. If your rabbit is on any medications, bring the list or packaging.
- Call poison control if toxin exposure is suspected.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
- Pet Poison Helpline: (800) 213-6680
- Know the signs that require immediate care:
- Not eating or drinking for more than a few hours
- No fecal production (poop stopped)
- Bloating or distended abdomen
- Labored or open-mouth breathing
- Bleeding from any location
- Seizures or collapse
- Head tilt or circling (could be E. cuniculi or stroke)
- Any sign of pain (hunched body, grinding teeth, whimpering)
Rabbit-Savvy Emergency Vets by State
The following table lists clinics known to treat rabbits, with a focus on those offering emergency and after-hours care. This is not an endorsement — always call ahead to verify current hours, rabbit policies, and fees. Listings are organized by region.
West Coast
| State | Clinic Name | City | Phone | Emergency Notes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | PETS Referral Center | Berkeley | (510) 549-1200 | 24/7 exotic emergency and specialty care, fully equipped | petsreferralcenter.com |
| CA | Exotic Urgent Care | Berkeley | (510) 455-3960 | Emergency and urgent care for exotics on weekends and select weekdays (referral-based for surgery) | exoticurgentcare.com |
| CA | Murieta Pet Hospital | Rancho Murieta | (916) 354-2900 | Rabbit wellness and medical care; serving Sacramento metro area | murietapethospital.com |
| WA | Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine (CBEAM) | Bothell (Seattle metro) | (425) 892-0036 | 24/7 exotic emergency. Largest exotics-exclusive hospital in the U.S. CT, ultrasound, surgery, ICU. | theexoticvet.com |
| WA | VEG Seattle | Seattle | (206) 486-8387 | 24/7 emergency care; may see exotic pets | veg.com/seattle |
Southwest
| State | Clinic Name | City | Phone | Emergency Notes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TX | Emergency Pet Clinic of Texas | Garland (Dallas area) | (469) 578-4100 | 24/7 exotic animal emergency care | erpettx.com |
| TX | Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas | Grapevine (DFW airport area) | (817) 416-2208 | 24/7 exotic emergency care | aehnt.com |
| TX | VEG Houston | Houston | (713) 932-7387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/houston |
| TX | VEG Cedar Park | Cedar Park (Austin metro) | (512) 896-7387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/cedar-park |
| TX | VEG Katy | Katy (Houston metro) | (281) 769-2387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/katy |
Florida
| State | Clinic Name | City | Phone | Emergency Notes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL | Broward Avian and Exotic | Deerfield Beach (South FL) | (954) 968-7171 | Full exotic service including rabbits; emergency information available by phone | exoticanimalcare.com |
| FL | Medlin Exotic Animal Medical Services | Fort Myers | (239) 433-7700 | Specialized rabbit care including molar trimming, spay/neuter, and illness care; emergency cases seen | meams.vet |
| FL | VEG Jacksonville | Jacksonville | (904) 596-8387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/jacksonville |
| FL | Avian & Exotic Clinic of Palm City | Palm City (Treasure Coast) | (772) 600-8895 | 24/7 exotic and bird care, rabbits included | avianandexoticclinicofpalmcity.com |
Northeast
| State | Clinic Name | City | Phone | Emergency Notes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY | VEG Upper East Side | New York City | (212) 585-4444 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/upper-east-side |
| NY | VEG Williamsburg | Brooklyn | (718) 218-7387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/williamsburg |
| NY | The Animal Medical Center | New York City | (212) 567-8900 | 24/7 emergency; has dedicated Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine service since 1984 | amcny.org |
| PA | Avian and Exotic Philly Medical Surgical Clinic | Philadelphia | (267) 727-3738 | Personalized exotic pet care; open some holidays | avianexoticphilly.com |
| PA | PASE (Philadelphia Animal Specialty & Emergency) | Philadelphia | (267) 727-3738 | Emergency and specialty care | pase.vet |
| PA | The Exotics Evolution | Philadelphia | (267) 273-8100 | Basic wellness and advanced emergency services for exotic companion pets | exoticanimalhospitalofphiladelphia.com |
Midwest
| State | Clinic Name | City | Phone | Emergency Notes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IL | Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital | Chicago (Palos Heights area) | (708) 453-8181 | Emergency care during daytime; full exotic services | midwestexotichospital.com |
| IL | VEG Lincoln Park | Chicago | (312) 469-7387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/chicago-lincoln-park |
| IL | Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital | Chicago area | (847) 467-6605 | Specialized exotic care including rabbits; emergency information on website | exoticpetvet.com |
| OH | MedVet Hilliard | Hilliard (Columbus metro) | (614) 870-0480 | 24/7 emergency with Avian & Exotics specialty; Dr. Barbara Oglesbee is a board-certified specialist in avian practice | medvet.com/hilliard |
| OH | VEG Cincinnati | Cincinnati | (513) 642-7387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/cincinnati |
| OH | VEG Dublin | Dublin (Columbus metro) | (614) 398-7387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/dublin |
Southeast
| State | Clinic Name | City | Phone | Emergency Notes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA | VEG Brookhaven | Brookhaven (Atlanta metro) | (404) 806-0130 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/brookhaven |
| GA | SweetWater Veterinary Hospital | Palmetto (South GA) | (770) 463-8980 | Exotic specialty with Dr. Sara Collins Powell; experienced with rabbits and small mammals | sweetwatervet.com |
| GA | Georgia Veterinary Emergency and Triage Services | Athens | (706) 548-9711 | Emergency exotic pet care | emergencyvetga.com |
| NC | VEG Charlotte | Charlotte | (980) 880-6062 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/charlotte |
| NC | VEG Cary | Cary (Raleigh area) | (919) 234-7387 | 24/7 emergency care | veg.com/cary |
| NC | NC State College of Veterinary Medicine — Exotics Service | Raleigh | (919) 513-6911 | State-of-the-art exotics and small mammal care including rabbits; serves as referral center | hospital.cvm.ncsu.edu/exotics |
Questions to Ask a Prospective Vet
Before you need emergency care, call around to 2-3 clinics and ask these questions. The answers will tell you a lot about their rabbit experience.
- Do you treat rabbits? (Not just "exotics" — ask specifically about rabbits.)
- What percentage of your practice is rabbits? Aim for at least 10%.
- Do you do emergency appointments? If so, what are the hours?
- What is your after-hours protocol? Do you have an on-call vet, or should I go to a specific emergency clinic?
- Do you do rabbit spays and neuters? This tells you about their surgical comfort level with rabbits.
- Have you treated GI stasis? It's the most common rabbit emergency — any competent rabbit vet should have experience with it.
- Do you handle rabbit dental cases? Rabbits' teeth grow continuously and require specialized knowledge.
- Can I see the facility first? A good vet will allow a brief meet-and-greet, often for a small fee.
- What is your emergency fee? Emergency visits typically run $150-300 before treatment.
- Do you accept CareCredit or ScratchPay? Helpful to know before a crisis.
More Resources to Find a Rabbit-Savvy Vet
- rabbit.org/care/rabbit-vets-near-me — House Rabbit Society's vet locator (note: may not be fully up to date)
- aemv.org/find-an-exotic-vet — Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians directory
- rabbitsavior.com/directory — Rabbit Savior's vetted vet network directory
- r/Rabbits on Reddit — search or post asking for local recommendations
- Local House Rabbit Society chapters — each chapter typically maintains a local vet list
What's Next: Phase 2
This page is Phase 1 — a compiled starting point. Phase 2 will add:
- A searchable database organized by zip code and distance
- User-submitted vet reviews and experiences
- Verification process for rabbit-specific experience claims
- Expanded state coverage (currently researching: CO, MI, AZ, MN, TN, VA, WA, OR)
If you have a rabbit-savvy emergency vet to recommend, reach out — we're building this resource for the community.
A Final Reminder
Do not wait for an emergency to find a vet. Call clinics while your rabbit is healthy, ask the questions above, and establish a relationship with a rabbit-savvy practice close to home. In a true emergency, the minutes you save by already knowing who to call could save your rabbit's life.
When to Seek Professional Help
While home care can manage many situations, some circumstances require immediate professional veterinary attention. Understanding the difference between what you can handle yourself and what needs a veterinarian is one of the most important skills a rabbit owner can develop.
Contact a rabbit-savvy veterinarian immediately if:
- Your rabbit has stopped eating or drinking entirely
- You notice difficulty breathing or persistent wheezing
- There is visible injury, bleeding, or open wounds
- Your rabbit is unresponsive, severely lethargic, or unable to stand
- You suspect poisoning from a toxic plant or substance
- There has been no fecal output for more than 12 hours
Keep your veterinarian's contact information and the number of the nearest after-hours emergency rabbit clinic posted somewhere easy to find. A rabbit emergency at 10pm is a terrible time to be searching for a phone number.
Long-Term Management and Prevention
Many rabbit health and behavior issues can be prevented or minimized with consistent daily care. A stable routine, appropriate diet, clean housing, and regular veterinary checkups form the foundation of preventive care. Monitor your rabbit daily for subtle changes — a slightly reduced appetite one day might be nothing, or it might be the first sign of a developing problem.
Keep a log of your rabbit's normal behavior, droppings, eating patterns, and energy levels. When you know what normal looks like, you will notice deviations much faster. Early detection of problems almost always means simpler, cheaper treatment and better outcomes.
Building a Rabbit-Savvy Care Routine
The best rabbit care is routine-driven and consistent. Feed at the same times each day, clean the enclosure on a regular schedule, and provide fresh water daily. Handle your rabbit gently and consistently to build trust. Spay or neuter to prevent reproductive cancers and reduce problem behaviors. Keep your rabbit's environment stable — rabbits thrive on predictability.
Invest in quality hay, appropriate housing, and the best veterinary care you can afford. The upfront cost of proper setup and preventive care is far less than treating a preventable illness or emergency.
