My name is Katie, and I adopted Pepper Bunny (Precious Bunny) in May of 2021. I've moved several times since then, from Chicago to Ithaca and back to Richmond, and Pepper has been by my side through it all, thumping his disapproval.

Pepper is an especially energetic, silly, and loving bunny. Bunnies are notorious for chewing, but Pepper is an angel among us and only chews on sticks or hay treats -- no cords! Pepper's favorite things are freeze-dried strawberries and snuggling on the couch.

Rabbits are considered exotic pets, and finding adequate vet care has been challenging for us. On December 24, I was told by his regular vet that Pepper needed some routine bloodwork, which showed a mild infection and a parasite. His vet prescribed an antibiotic and an anti-parasitic medication, and within a couple days Pepper began to refuse food and became lethargic.

When I called his vet's office to report the side effects, I was told not to worry. I sought a second opinion on December 30 at an exotic vet in Fairfax, VA, where I learned the bloodwork we'd just had done was actually all within the normal range. They administered fluids and pain medication, and instructed me to follow up if he didn't improve.

By New Year's Day, Pepper hadn't improved, so I took him back to an emergency vet in Fairfax. This veterinarian confirmed his prior bloodwork was all normal, and told me that because his infection and parasite were asymptomatic (in fact, many rabbits carry this parasite and go their whole lives without treatment), we needed to stop his medication immediately. Apparently, the medication is what was making him so ill.

On January 2, Pepper was still lethargic and showing inappetance. I took him to a new specialty vet in Richmond that a friend of a friend helped me find, and he improved under their care to the point where he seems to be on the mend and will be able to avoid hospitalization.

All vet bills are expensive, and exotic vets are especially so. I'm hoping Pepper won't need further treatment because I have spent $2700 so far on his care, which has greatly strained my finances. If Pepper ends up needing hospitalization, I'm not sure what I'll do. But we're keeping the faith.

If you are able to contribute to the cost of Pepper's emergency care, it is deeply appreciated. He is an extremely special rabbit and has converted known rabbit haters into bunny enthusiasts.

Thank you for helping Pepper!