Our New Bunny

Hello Everyone,

Firstly let me say, what an excellent site and I am so glad to find you here.

My reason for seeking you out and registering to ask those who are far more skilled than ourselves about our little bunny problem. I bought my wife 2 bunnies from Pets At Home a couple of weeks back and all has been well with them settling in. The one thing we noticed was one of them had a wee sore eye which has got worse over the last two days, puss coming from the eye duct and it looking a little inflamed.

We went up to Pets at home today and spoke with the staff to see what we can do, he went and spoke with the vets inside the store and told us to take her to them and they would cover any bill that was in place due to being sold her with the problem. So we are not long back and they have said its the tear duct, she got some gunk out and said it needs flushed before starting a course of anti-biotic. So she is booked in tomorrow morning for this and in the mean time she gave us eye drops and gave wee bunny two injections.

The thing that is bothering me is she said in worse case scenarios, they may need flushed throughout her life. I really really do not want to put the poor wee thing through this, I am actually not that keen on her getting this done from the kick off but reluctantly for my wife I understand. Do you have any further advice on what I can do after she has this done to make sure she lives a comfortable non-invasive life without such actions?

I am really hoping this helps her and can not bare the thought of her going through any pain etc.....Its typical that out the two she is the one I have grown really attached too

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated...we are novices and have no experience in keeping rabbits at all. They are indoor pets too!!

Thank you in advance everyone!

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One of mine has regular tear duct flushes she has them because of her teeth so I would find a rabbit savvy vet in your area and take them there in case it is related. It's nothing to worry about though, takes no time at all. Poppy has had countless flushes, sometimes they sneeze the remainder stuff the vet uses out so don't worry about that. I wouldn't say it has interrupted or ruined her lifestyle at all.

If you are using wood shavings I would stop as that may agitate the eye, they are generally not good for rabbits anyway as they can cause respiratory issues. Towels, blankets and hay are better. So for their litter tray just line it with newspaper and fill it with hay.

Did p@h tell you about spaying/neutering and have they been sexed correctly? P@h aren't amazing with things like that.

Your post has made me feel a bit better Phew!!!!

We are using the wood shavings, should we stop and use something else in their cage and what would suit the best for them? I had said to my wife that I notice her cleaner herself and she had her paws covered in shavings which in my mind must make it worse. So maybe just Hay?

We got a staff member who was a rabbit owner when we bough them, she went into great depth and she checked the sex of them while with her, she said they are both female so should be no problem at all. Admittedly the guy I first spoke to this morning about getting something for the eye was hopeless, he stood shaking his head. Thank goodness the manager was on hand!!

Massive thanks, you have eased my mind somewhat already!!

Ryanon said:

Your post has made me feel a bit better Phew!!!!

We are using the wood shavings, should we stop and use something else in their cage and what would suit the best for them? I had said to my wife that I notice her cleaner herself and she had her paws covered in shavings which in my mind must make it worse. So maybe just Hay?

We got a staff member who was a rabbit owner when we bough them, she went into great depth and she checked the sex of them while with her, she said they are both female so should be no problem at all. Admittedly the guy I first spoke to this morning about getting something for the eye was hopeless, he stood shaking his head. Thank goodness the manager was on hand!!

Massive thanks, you have eased my mind somewhat already!!

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You can just use hay, that absolutely fine they will be very happy with that! A buns diet should be 90% hay so I would start going say on the pellets if you are giving them a lot they only really need a few, I give my pair a handful between them an evening also things like carrot and banana are full of sugar so go very easy on those

They may both be girls but once those hormones start kicking in you may find they start fighting! And rabbits can cause a lot of damage to each other so keep an eye on them when they are old enough (around 6 months, depends on the vet) I would look into spaying not only will it ensure they don't fight, it eradicates the risk of uterine cancer which becomes very common (80%+) in female rabbits after the age of 5. If they do fight you will have to separate, spay and try to rebond. If they don't rebond then you would end up with 2 singletons so spaying will sort that problem out before it happens which it will, females can be very territorial once those hormones arrive!

The cost of spaying is nothing compared to the cost of the damage if they start attacking each other. It also keeps them healthy and they won't be ruled by their hormones which can be stressful for them

Hi & welcome to RU. Just wanted to agree with everything Aly&Poppy has already said, and also to say that one of my rabbits has also had to have tear duct flushes. At first he needed them quite regularly (talking months, not weeks) but over time he has needed them less and less and maybe has less than one per year on average now. He copes just fine with it. It can be related to teeth and tooth roots so it may need keeping an eye on (no pun intended) and as Aly&Poppy has said hay is the best thing to help with tooth wear. Its good she has a friend as her friend will hopefully lick her eyes for her and help keep them clean and gunk-free. But agree about neutering - it really is essential for them.

Hay in their litter tray or base as bedding (as well as lots more for eating) is fine, you can also use paper-based stuff for the litter trays also like megazorb or carefresh.

I really wouldn't worry too much about it as Pets at Home are really not that knowledgeable about rabbits. It is actually a good thing with a bad eye infection to have it flushed out, as you could end up in a viscious circle of it never clearing up because of a bit of infection remaining in the tear duct, and I see that as a sign of a good thorough vet, that they are looking to make sure this is dealt with properly. I think at worst it is just a bit uncomfortable, as when my house bunny had his done, because he was so well-handled and such a laid back bunny, my vet did it with me just holding him, and he didn't really object at all. When Roger had his done he did have for a little while after a bit of green water that dripped out of his nose, but I was told about that and it is perfectly normal, just incase your vet forgets to tell you. Good luck and you will have so much fun and love from your bunnies.

Awww excellent stuff, I really do appreciate all this information. I have now removed all the shavings from their cage and replaced it with lovely fresh hay, only one small corner is left with some wood based litter and a scoop of the stuff they used as the toilet before. I do not have a litter tray for them yet, I actually taught them to use one corner but my wife is going to get them one. The cage looks so much better with the Hay in a comfort way and they are both sleeping out on it just now! The wee ones eye is looking a little better and I suspect floppy has been cleaning it for her, I saw her grooming her and the gunk is no longer on her eye.

Her eye is open too and just a little red around it!

What is the youngest for getting them neutered? I was thinking of spacing it out and get one done at a time so looking to plan it all just now. I really want them to be great together and in no way want them fighting or split up if possible. They snuggle up together and floppy is always cleaning Imagen (the wee one) so it would be a shame.

Sorry about all the questions, I just find the information by the experts here much better to arm myself in making sure they are looked after to the best we can and trust it better than asking the new vets. I am a suspicious sod when money is to be made by someone giving the advice, I prefer to ask those with experience LMAO :lol:

RogerRabbit999 said:

I really wouldn't worry too much about it as Pets at Home are really not that knowledgeable about rabbits. It is actually a good thing with a bad eye infection to have it flushed out, as you could end up in a viscious circle of it never clearing up because of a bit of infection remaining in the tear duct, and I see that as a sign of a good thorough vet, that they are looking to make sure this is dealt with properly. I think at worst it is just a bit uncomfortable, as when my house bunny had his done, because he was so well-handled and such a laid back bunny, my vet did it with me just holding him, and he didn't really object at all. When Roger had his done he did have for a little while after a bit of green water that dripped out of his nose, but I was told about that and it is perfectly normal, just incase your vet forgets to tell you. Good luck and you will have so much fun and love from your bunnies.

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Just saw this after posting, thank you so much for the additional information, my mind has been put at ease even more. I got the bunnies for my wife and the wee one from when we got her home continues to come to me and kiss away at my ears....I've ended up really attached, so the stress this morning with the whole vet thing was unconformable. I look forward to her getting better...although she is doing pretty good, she is eating her pellets well, drinking and still having her mad turns running around the cage and throwing her toys about lol. Thank you

Brilliant:thumb: storage boxes work better as litter trays (32L is a good size storage box!) becaus ethe usual cat sized ones don't usually hold the pee in! As in, rabbits pick their tail up when they wee so it goes over the edge, with storage boxes it's not the case:thumb:

I'm not sure on the youngest tbh, but it's usually 6 months. It depends on what your vet says aftercare for spays is important as its a big operation, so metacam is important you can't get rabbit metacam but using the cat and dog is fine, Poppy is on it regularly as are a lot of buns on here

If you could I would try and have them spayed together, keeping them together at the vets during a spay is important as if you take one and leave the other at home, the spayed one will come home and smell totally different which will probably be followed by a fight! So keeping them together is best if the vet says no, insist that they are kept together, and if they still say no, find another vet. A rabbit savvy vet will know how important it is to maintain the bond

I can see from the previous threads excellent advice about neutering, which as far as females are concerned, can literally be life-saving to prevent uterine cancer, which most female bunnies will develop if not neutered. Are you aware of the vaccinations that are required? and also, I learnt the hard (expensive) way, but I really would consider also taking out insurance on your bunnies for their veterinary care. When I had my first ever bunny, I had always had my dogs and horses insured, but didn't think rabbits would ever be that expensive, lol how niave was I!! After having had to fund £1100 worth of treatment myself for my house bunny, I got him insured straight away and would never be without it. If you contact the Rabbit Welfare Association, they will be able to point you in the right direction of a rabbit savvy vet, who will be invaluable to you. Please do not assume that all small animal vets are good with rabbits as well, as that could not be further from the truth. Some are, but even then the main of their surgical set up and equipment will be more geared up to dogs, and they do not invest so much into bunnies because they probably do not see them so much. I have only lost buns during surgical procedures when dealing with as I call them GP vets, which to my mind they are 'jack of all trades (animals), master of none' and believe me, rabbits are very delicate, specialist creatures, and you need a bunny expert if you want yours to live a long, healthy life. Some people may disagree with me, but I speak as I find, and it is through my own personal experiences, some that have been devastating, and caused unnecessary suffering to my buns, meant that they have been completely misdiagnosed, and by the time I found a true bunny vet, it was then too late, and I lost that particular bun. I would definately do away with the shavings, as with your bunnies being indoors, which was a brilliant decision to make by the way, not only is there the risk of the eye and respiratory problems, but you will also probably find them very messy and be forever hoovering them up.

You really should have them spayed together. It would make far more sense for them to both go in on the same day and be together and get it over and done with, and then nurse them both together afterwards. It would be very stressful for them to be separated, and then with the added stress of going to the vets, you would then start to increase your risks with regards to the anaesthetic. Also, it is better for them to both be quieter and recovering together, than one recovering and the other bounding about wanting to play. You might want to think about driving your bunnies about a bit as well, which is what I have always done. Lots of people say about how stressful car journeys are for rabbits, and how awful it is if they become unwell and then need to go in the car to the vets. I have always taken my bunnies for a drive once a week or every couple of weeks, because then they get used to it and so if they do need to go to the vets you then won't have that additional stress for them to contend with. All my bunnies love their trips out as it is something new and interesting for them, and they start off really alert and looking at everything, and then fall asleep and snore their heads off on the way back, so they are obviously not worried about it at all.

RogerRabbit999 said:

You really should have them spayed together. It would make far more sense for them to both go in on the same day and be together and get it over and done with, and then nurse them both together afterwards. It would be very stressful for them to be separated, and then with the added stress of going to the vets, you would then start to increase your risks with regards to the anaesthetic. Also, it is better for them to both be quieter and recovering together, than one recovering and the other bounding about wanting to play. You might want to think about driving your bunnies about a bit as well, which is what I have always done. Lots of people say about how stressful car journeys are for rabbits, and how awful it is if they become unwell and then need to go in the car to the vets. I have always then taken my bunnies for a drive once a week or every couple of weeks, because then they get used to it and so if they do need to go to the vets you then won't have that additional stress for them to contend with. All my bunnies love their trips out as it is something new and interesting for them, and they start off really alert and looking at everything, and then fall asleep and snore their heads off on the way back, so they are obviously not worried about it at all.

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While that may work for your rabbits it doesn't for every rabbit. If I did that with Smudge he'd go into GI stasis. Just going in the carrier to be taken downstairs to play outside stresses him out!

Well I'm very glad all my bunnies over the years have been happy to travel, as I don't think I could have coped with the stress of not only a poorly bun, but a bun who wasn't used to travelling as well, and all that added stress. I would certainly still recommend that people do try to get their bunnies used to travelling.

More top class advice!!! Spoke with my wife and she wants then done together at the vets too, so I reckon another 12/14 weeks and we can get them in. Will speak to the vets tomorrow morning when dropping her off for the flushing. Been sitting and watching them, floppy is 100% cleaning that eye for her, she goes and gets a drink of water then goes over and cleans the eye and then back to th e water again....so good to watch. They actually look so much more comfortable on the hay too.

You are so right on the shavings and hoovering!! we have them in the living room in a massive cage which is cleaned out every morning but its drags through the rug and laminate flooring. That then the kids trampling over and you can imagine the mess....I am forever sweeping when I pop through from the office here. I am not sure about the vaccination but we do have a large information pack from the vets that Carrie is reading through just now and I plan in scouring the net here to get up to speed on Insurance and things.

I know floppy is not keen on travelling, when she first settled in here she would not go near us and was scared, she has opened up more now and will come to us, I think it was the car journey that freaked her out. Imagen seems not bothered at all, she was perfect in the vets too, she is the friendliest little thing I have ever saw and constantly wants out for cuddles!! Even after coming back from getting those injections and et al from the vets she settled right back in grazing away without a care. Two completely different personalities that you can see clearly with them.

Massive thanks everyone, you have really assisted me greatly and I will spread the word about the site and forum boards here.

The vaccs they need is for myxomatosis and vhd. There is a combined vaccine out now so they only need one vaccine a year.
Id get them jabbed as soon as you can, myxi is a horrible disease. I've had 3 buns die from it in the past.
Its so sweet that they're so happy together, I love watching my buns groom each other.

natsusakura said:

The vaccs they need is for myxomatosis and vhd. There is a combined vaccine out now so they only need one vaccine a year.
Id get them jabbed as soon as you can, myxi is a horrible disease. I've had 3 buns die from it in the past.
Its so sweet that they're so happy together, I love watching my buns groom each other.

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Thanks, I will get that seen too ASAP also, do you think it will be safe enough to wait till after the festive period to get it done or better making arrangements fast?

I never thought much about bunnies in the past, till I go them for my wife, real spur of the moment thing and now I wonder why I had never looked into it in the past. They truly are magnificent!!! I constantly go through to see them, epsecially when I know they are out playing :lol::lol:

RogerRabbit999 said:

Well I'm very glad all my bunnies over the years have been happy to travel, as I don't think I could have coped with the stress of not only a poorly bun, but a bun who wasn't used to travelling as well, and all that added stress. I would certainly still recommend that people do try to get their bunnies used to travelling.

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He's been this way since he was young. I think due to being in the pet store for weeks despite the store having a corridor between the bunnies and the public. Nothing I do changes it apart from leaving him be. He trusts me just about but no-one else. My vet lets me keep some medication for stasis at home so that I can treat him here and take him in only if it doesn't relieve it. So now I only have to take him once a year unless the others need to go as that stresses him too, being without his bonded partner(s). I've tried taking Nutmeg without him and he refused food that evening.

Ryanon said:

Thanks, I will get that seen too ASAP also, do you think it will be safe enough to wait till after the festive period to get it done or better making arrangements fast?

I never thought much about bunnies in the past, till I go them for my wife, real spur of the moment thing and now I wonder why I had never looked into it in the past. They truly are magnificent!!! I constantly go through to see them, epsecially when I know they are out playing :lol::lol:

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Personally I'd get them done ASAP. Myxi is less prevalent this time of year but better to be safe You might also like to start a thread asking for vet recommendations as many only get minimal rabbit training

Id get it done as soon as you can. Its just not worth the risk in my opinion.
ru has been a great place , helping me learn so much its good you found it.

Elena said:

He's been this way since he was young. I think due to being in the pet store for weeks despite the store having a corridor between the bunnies and the public. Nothing I do changes it apart from leaving him be. He trusts me just about but no-one else. My vet lets me keep some medication for stasis at home so that I can treat him here and take him in only if it doesn't relieve it. So now I only have to take him once a year unless the others need to go as that stresses him too, being without his bonded partner(s). I've tried taking Nutmeg without him and he refused food that evening.

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That is so sad but thank goodness he has found you, and he looks such a little cutie, as do all your bunnies. I must put some pics up of my motley crew lol