batmobile
Mama Doe
Hi everyone.
I am new to this forum, though I have used it before for advice. I am having a bit of a panic and need all you rabbit people, experts and rescuers to ease my fears and possibly advise where possible.
Please be gentle and don't shout.
A friend of mine who is active in dog rescues got a knock on the door from a man who basically had heard she takes in waifs and strays. He'd seen a bunny hopping along the road. so together they caught said bunny. After visiting all the locals in the neighbourhood and leafleting, no one came forward (unlikely considering the area etc). So I said I would have the bunny as my friend cannot afford the hutch and has guinea pigs already and no space etc. I bought a hutch etc and spent a fortune on the bunny. I have another bunny and wanted them separate as they would need to bond and so on.
So, Pets at Home (nearest store, sorry and has one member of staff I really trust) sexed the bunny. My friend reckoned boy basing her determination on guinea pig bits, PAH were convinced (the lady I know well actually) it's a girl. Bunny has a definite dewlap and is very young (something about the face still says baby though she is not small, about 0.5kg actually have not weighed her as letting her settle a bit).
Her (if that is the case) poo is very very small but firm (is that normal in young bunnies, that it's smaller than mature ones?) she is very bright eyed and inquisitive, though she does lie down a lot (could be owing to stress with moving around etc). PAH also said her teeth are misaligned and her claws are a little long. Right, so, she is gorgeous but i am so worried as I don't know the history, am worried she could be pregnant (who knows) and most of all worried about her teeth as I am thinking this is a lot to take on. I always intended on getting a pair of rescue buns like my last two, but was waiting for my current bunny who is 10 and a half to go to the Bridge first as he has now got antisocial and probably doesn't want the hassle of bonding with a new pal since his brother died (he has seen new bunny and sniffed a bit and then carried on eating).
I guess I am asking: how serious and difficult to manage is a tooth problem? How can I tell if (heaven forbid) I have taken in a pregnant bunny and does her lying stretched out in a 'relaxed' position a lot indicate illness? I am going to the vet's on thursday but am worried that I have taken in a 'dud'. It's not so much not liking the poor thing but I have already lost sleep about the problems she may have, having no history. She lets herself be handled (as much as a relatively calm rabbit, bit of kicking and struggling when about to release her) and cleans herself. The food I left in has mostly gone, including a large carrot and some dry bunny mix. Would a young female rabbit have a dewlap already? I didn't want to leave her with a rescue as I have enough experience with rabbits to manage and they are over full but now I am worrying about what I might have let myself in for, not having 'chosen' her. That is not meant nastily, I guess I am so worried I'll get her to the vet's and they'll find she is really ill. (Or pregnant!) the things we do for the love of animals, eh?
Thanks.
Jo x
I am new to this forum, though I have used it before for advice. I am having a bit of a panic and need all you rabbit people, experts and rescuers to ease my fears and possibly advise where possible.
Please be gentle and don't shout.
A friend of mine who is active in dog rescues got a knock on the door from a man who basically had heard she takes in waifs and strays. He'd seen a bunny hopping along the road. so together they caught said bunny. After visiting all the locals in the neighbourhood and leafleting, no one came forward (unlikely considering the area etc). So I said I would have the bunny as my friend cannot afford the hutch and has guinea pigs already and no space etc. I bought a hutch etc and spent a fortune on the bunny. I have another bunny and wanted them separate as they would need to bond and so on.
So, Pets at Home (nearest store, sorry and has one member of staff I really trust) sexed the bunny. My friend reckoned boy basing her determination on guinea pig bits, PAH were convinced (the lady I know well actually) it's a girl. Bunny has a definite dewlap and is very young (something about the face still says baby though she is not small, about 0.5kg actually have not weighed her as letting her settle a bit).
Her (if that is the case) poo is very very small but firm (is that normal in young bunnies, that it's smaller than mature ones?) she is very bright eyed and inquisitive, though she does lie down a lot (could be owing to stress with moving around etc). PAH also said her teeth are misaligned and her claws are a little long. Right, so, she is gorgeous but i am so worried as I don't know the history, am worried she could be pregnant (who knows) and most of all worried about her teeth as I am thinking this is a lot to take on. I always intended on getting a pair of rescue buns like my last two, but was waiting for my current bunny who is 10 and a half to go to the Bridge first as he has now got antisocial and probably doesn't want the hassle of bonding with a new pal since his brother died (he has seen new bunny and sniffed a bit and then carried on eating).
I guess I am asking: how serious and difficult to manage is a tooth problem? How can I tell if (heaven forbid) I have taken in a pregnant bunny and does her lying stretched out in a 'relaxed' position a lot indicate illness? I am going to the vet's on thursday but am worried that I have taken in a 'dud'. It's not so much not liking the poor thing but I have already lost sleep about the problems she may have, having no history. She lets herself be handled (as much as a relatively calm rabbit, bit of kicking and struggling when about to release her) and cleans herself. The food I left in has mostly gone, including a large carrot and some dry bunny mix. Would a young female rabbit have a dewlap already? I didn't want to leave her with a rescue as I have enough experience with rabbits to manage and they are over full but now I am worrying about what I might have let myself in for, not having 'chosen' her. That is not meant nastily, I guess I am so worried I'll get her to the vet's and they'll find she is really ill. (Or pregnant!) the things we do for the love of animals, eh?
Thanks.
Jo x
