Should I get a "Special" Bun?

This is not a query for now, its one for later in the year when I finsh my course, as currently I'm not at home 3 days of the week, so until I'm home full time its not fair to get a animal that needs lots of care.

Anyway....

I'd quite like a a small rabbit, I love the little netherland dwarfs we have at my college, everyone else is afraid of them because of their red eyes, but I think they're cute

What I wanted to ask is this (as the "official" legislative answers we are taught at college, are not always right) as I wanted to ask the people who have real experience.

What size indoor cage would you need for a small rabbit?
How would a rabbit react to a pet cat? (Our cat doesn't touch furries, or try to stalk them, but he does like to sit and watch them, or try to play with them, he once popcorned with Ozzy! would this bother a rabbit?)

Finally, If I do get a bun, Should I get a "special" bun?
I run a rescue for reptiles that have special needs, and am no stranger to caring for rabbits and piggies, have done all my life and now do so at college, but I've never OWNED one, they've all been family pets or college animals.

I would love to home a bun that was, just a little more "special" than the average, but as rescuers and re-homers, would you re-home a special bun to me, if it was to be MY first bun in a sense?

Thanks everyone in advance

(Oh and feel free to ask about my "special" reptiles )

:wave: Welcome to the forum

Its very good that your doing your research well in advance

Lots of people with indoor rabbits use dog crates as a base, or use pens to section of an area or just give them there own room :lol: I think the indoor cages actually aimed at rabbits are ok as litter trays and not much else

My rabbits are all ok with my cat, although I wouldn't leave them alone because I would be frightened the rabbits might hurt my cat if they got a little too playful I even trust my cat 100% with my rats, but just wouldn't chance it leaving either unsupervised with her because it only takes one second for something to happen

Im not a rescue but if you have the experience caring for special needs buns I don't see why it would be a problem, would depend on the rescue and the buns problems though I would say special need buns need an awful lot of time and vet bills are likely to be high but you probably already know this

There are loads of rabbits that are overlooked in rescues because of their looks or due to problems they may have, I think rabbits with dental problems are amongst these

sillyrabbit said:

:wave: Welcome to the forum

Its very good that your doing your research well in advance

Lots of people with indoor rabbits use dog crates as a base, or use pens to section of an area or just give them there own room :lol: I think the indoor cages actually aimed at rabbits are ok as litter trays and not much else

My rabbits are all ok with my cat, although I wouldn't leave them alone because I would be frightened the rabbits might hurt my cat if they got a little too playful I even trust my cat 100% with my rats, but just wouldn't chance it leaving either unsupervised with her because it only takes one second for something to happen

Im not a rescue but if you have the experience caring for special needs buns I don't see why it would be a problem, would depend on the rescue and the buns problems though I would say special need buns need an awful lot of time and vet bills are likely to be high but you probably already know this

There are loads of rabbits that are overlooked in rescues because of their looks or due to problems they may have, I think rabbits with dental problems are amongst these

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Thank You for that x

I've been looking through the rescuer's sites on here and can't believe how many deaf bunnies there are looking for homes

What difference does it make if a bunny can't hear you? People can be so petty and perfectionist when it comes to picking their animals.

I have 12 reptiless, 8 of which are special needs.
Most get on well without much extra help, you just have to take small things into consideration.
E.G, I have a girl with a missing foot, she gets on very well but has quite bad grip, so I can't put anything too high in that she could fall off.
That simple little adjustment that someone couldn't be botheredto make..... so she ended up with me

Vets fees are not a problem, bunnies I can get on the PDSA, but unfortunatley they don't condone reptile keeping so te rescue reptile fees are paid out of my own pocket, luckily I get a discount at my local vets and unless it was something serious, I wouldn't need to visit the vets too often, I'm not veterinary qualified but am trained in mammalian diagnostics and animal first aid x

Would you say the blind and deaf bunnies, that rescues seem to be swamped with, need lots of extra care? or is it just making simple adjustments?

Not sure because ive never had a deaf or blind bunny Someone will be able to help though :lol:

Is that an insurance company? Its just I believe its very hard to insure a bunny with problems and they won't be covered for illness/injury they have had in the past so you may find that you will have to fund a rabbit yourself depending on whats wrong with them :wave: x

sillyrabbit said:

Not sure because ive never had a deaf or blind bunny Someone will be able to help though :lol:

Is that an insurance company? Its just I believe its very hard to insure a bunny with problems and they won't be covered for illness/injury they have had in the past so you may find that you will have to fund a rabbit yourself depending on whats wrong with them :wave: x

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Even if the PDSA won't let me register the bunny, I get discounted vets fees and insurance x

Sorry im not sure what the PDSA even is :lol: Im not in the UK so don't have the same vet chains and stuff as you guys :lol:

sillyrabbit said:

Sorry im not sure what the PDSA even is :lol: Im not in the UK so don't have the same vet chains and stuff as you guys :lol:

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The PDSA is the People's Dispensary For Sick Animals, its a charity of vets up and down the country that give *free treatment to animals for people who otherwise couldn't afford it, such as those on benefits, retired people, people from a low income household and full time students.

(I qualify for three lol)

* they do ask for a donation though x

Hel - Molly's Auntie said:

The PDSA is the People's Dispensary For Sick Animals, its a charity of vets up and down the country that give *free treatment to animals for people who otherwise couldn't afford it, such as those on benefits, retired people, people from a low income household and full time students.

(I qualify for three lol)

* they do ask for a donation though x

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Ahhh I get it, sorry I thought it was like an insurance company :shock: :lol: Dunno what I was thinking that for I must have heard it and got it confused with something else x

sillyrabbit said:

Ahhh I get it, sorry I thought it was like an insurance company :shock: :lol: Dunno what I was thinking that for I must have heard it and got it confused with something else x

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Haha thats ok, does sound like a business/company though doesn't it.

Will have deffo decided, If I do get a bunny, I either want a "special", a problem bun or an older bun to have a comfy retirement with me x

Hel - Molly's Auntie said:

Haha thats ok, does sound like a business/company though doesn't it.

Will have deffo decided, If I do get a bunny, I either want a "special", a problem bun or an older bun to have a comfy retirement with me x

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Whereabouts are you? there is loads of bunnies needing a good home in Rabbit rehome.

I oldie animals they are the best :lol: x

sillyrabbit said:

I oldie animals they are the best :lol: x

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One of my geckos is anywhere between 7 and 12, but we think she's about 9.

should get another 3 years at least out of the old girl x

Personally I'm not terribly comfortable with the idea of taking on a bun that you know you can't afford veterinary fees for, I don't think that's really fair to make an assumption that you can rely on the charities who are no doubt struggling to keep up with the demand from those who already have animals needing veterinary treatment!

Having said that, there are a number of 'hard to home' buns that aren't particularly special needs. Some buns are hard to rehome just because of their colour - a lot of people don't like red eyed white rabbits because they look scary apparently, also a lot of people don't like agouti (wild colour) rabbits because they are deemed to not be as pretty as other colours.

I wouldn't say that a deaf rabbit is hugely special needs, it really depends why it's deaf. It could be related to a parasitic infection called e.cuniculi, which can keep flaring up and cause other ongoing problems. However the only 'special needs' as such for a bunny that is simply deaf but otherwise healthy are that you need to be extra aware of predators, dangers and general safety and security, as they won't be able to hear a cat/dog/fox/etc creeping up on them or trying to break into their pen, or something falling on top of them etc, and also you need to be careful that you don't make them jump by creeping up on them. Use vibrations and try and get them to see you coming before you touch them. Personally I would not suggest keeping a blind rabbit alone, they rely very heavily on sight as they are prey animals and I would feel happier to know that a blind rabbit had a companion it could rely on and feel comforted by.

It sounds as if you are doing your research before making a decision, which is great

Santa said:

Personally I'm not terribly comfortable with the idea of taking on a bun that you know you can't afford veterinary fees for, I don't think that's really fair to make an assumption that you can rely on the charities who are no doubt struggling to keep up with the demand from those who already have animals needing veterinary treatment!

Having said that, there are a number of 'hard to home' buns that aren't particularly special needs. Some buns are hard to rehome just because of their colour - a lot of people don't like red eyed white rabbits because they look scary apparently, also a lot of people don't like agouti (wild colour) rabbits because they are deemed to not be as pretty as other colours.

I wouldn't say that a deaf rabbit is hugely special needs, it really depends why it's deaf. It could be related to a parasitic infection called e.cuniculi, which can keep flaring up and cause other ongoing problems. However the only 'special needs' as such for a bunny that is simply deaf but otherwise healthy are that you need to be extra aware of predators, dangers and general safety and security, as they won't be able to hear a cat/dog/fox/etc creeping up on them or trying to break into their pen, or something falling on top of them etc, and also you need to be careful that you don't make them jump by creeping up on them. Use vibrations and try and get them to see you coming before you touch them. Personally I would not suggest keeping a blind rabbit alone, they rely very heavily on sight as they are prey animals and I would feel happier to know that a blind rabbit had a companion it could rely on and feel comforted by.

It sounds as if you are doing your research before making a decision, which is great

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Vet fees would be no problem, I can see the PDSA, but if not I can go to my local vets, as they normally discount my fees as I'm a rescue, and down as a contact for them x

And thanks x:wave:

Hi :wave:

Just have 2 points which caught my eye

1) you say you are thinking of taking on a problem bun - i'm not sure that would be entirely a great idea for your first bun...

2) you say you wouldn't need to use the vets that often - bunnies are very delicate little things and i've needed the vets quite often! Just something to bear in mind.

p_prod_uk said:

Hi :wave:

Just have 2 points which caught my eye

1) you say you are thinking of taking on a problem bun - i'm not sure that would be entirely a great idea for your first bun...

2) you say you wouldn't need to use the vets that often - bunnies are very delicate little things and i've needed the vets quite often! Just something to bear in mind.

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It's a first bun in a sense, we've had LOADS and I mean LOADS over the years, but all were FAMILY pets, this is my "first" bun in the sense that it just belongs to me.

and I'm studying Animal Management and Care, which I will hopefully be continuing to Uni this year


I'm trained in first aid, but vets are no problem if needed, they're both a 5 minute walk from my house, and there's a specialist and emergency vets in huddersfield and Wakefield, both only one or a couple of buses away.Already have their details and a contact number xxx :wave:

One thing I would say about getting a special needs bunny and then using the PDSA is you have no say over the vets you see....as in you cannot search to find a practice with good rabbit knowledge, which is so important in special needs bunnies as many vets have limited training on even basic aspects of rabbit medicine.

Our PDSA center has a reputation for being inadequate with rabbits.

Also consider, if you needed a specialist referral for example, you would have to pay for this....I was quoted £800 minimum today for one of my special needs bunnies. :shock:

Sooz said:

One thing I would say about getting a special needs bunny and then using the PDSA is you have no say over the vets you see....as in you cannot search to find a practice with good rabbit knowledge, which is so important in special needs bunnies as many vets have limited training on even basic aspects of rabbit medicine.

Our PDSA center has a reputation for being inadequate with rabbits.

Also consider, if you needed a specialist referral for example, you would have to pay for this....I was quoted £800 minimum today for one of my special needs bunnies. :shock:

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It may be worth just staying with the vets I have, they're one of the top BSAVA centres in the area x

there are a number of reasons why a bun might have difficulty finding a home, age, teeth problems, diseases such as the snuffles or EC & agression probably the most common.

Have you thought about contacting a local rescue & offering to foster? That will get you back in the swing of owning a bunny, will mean that you shouldn't have to pay any vets bills & some rescues also offer feed/bedding. They might not offer you one of the hard to home bunnies to begin with to see how things go but you may find your perfect bunny through it.

indoor cage wise most are too small for anything other than a nethie unless you allow them to free range most of the time. If they need to be shut up for any length of time you will need an attached run or if only shut up over night the hutch should be at least 6ft (one story) or 5ft (double story)

I wonder if a vivarium could be adapted for a rabbit LOL

Fostering is a good idea. definitly something I'd be interested in, will look into it

Thanks