Mrs.Clooney
Young Bun
Before I explain can I please stress the need for sensible and informed responses as I appreciate that some peeps won't like what they hear... Which is why I am asking for sound advice.
Getting bunnies is not an impulse thing for me as I have been thinking about it long and hard including several years ago when I first posted on this forum. I popped into Pets At Home to get some supplies and they had loads of rabbits for sale including baby bunnies. I cuddled a few but was particularly taken with 2 males because of their relaxed and inquisitive natures. They were very friendly, alert and enquiring and quite happy to be squished for cuddles but I noticed very small lightly greenish blue tinged wet patch around the white nose of the one. When I pointed this out to the assistant, she checked the black baby which was also slightly moist in the same spot and she said that they probably had 'sniffles'. Being a bit uninformed and as I was interested to give these two a home (I know, I know but I look at it as rescuing because somebody will buy them) the assistant and I agreed that they both needed to be seen by a vet and I stressed that I was not willing to take on potentially sickly bunnies.
This store does not have a resident vet so they were immediately quarantined and I was told they would be taken to the vets the next day. I contacted the store yesterday to be told they were left at the vets (I imagine they have an arrangement with their vet practice) as there were several emergencies and they would be examined when time permitted. Fair enough.
Since all of this has transpired, I have been doing LOADS of research and found that 'sniffles' could be 'snuffles' and that once in the system, it remains there only to rear it's ugly head through out their lives. It may not be 'snuffles' as it could be other things and we won't know until they are examined. As it is a Sunday today, we probably won't know until tomorrow and I would not be able to take them home until they are fully treated anyway.
Anyway, feeling somewhat unsettled about these two, yesterday afternoon I contacted a breeder who is advertising some babies which look stunning in the photos and are ready for new homes in a weeks time. I chatted on the phone at length to her yesterday and she sounded very helpful and it sounds like she has an amazing set up for her rabbits at home including the runaround system. We are going to visit her this afternoon as she still has 3 babies to be reserved and we can meet mum and dad as well.
Dilemma is, that although I have not put any money down for the babies at PAH, I have a niggling feeling about them. I have no results yet and after speaking to two veterinary nurses, one at our vet practice who is experienced at keeping Bunnies and G pigs, they agree that the small wet noses may be nothing significant or the early stages of Pasturella/snuffles. Could just be being kept in a pen with other rabbits in an air conditioned shop. Don't know yet. They both advised me however, to insist on a full vet report if I were to take the shop bunnies on.
So, just getting this off my chest. I am the sort of person that does my research before taking on a project or committing to something so to speak. I am under no financial obligation to purchase the two PAH bunnies although they have been reserved for me, however I now fear for their future wether or not I do get them and yet have a feeling I am going to fall in love with the baby bunnies I get to squish this afternoon. I will report back on here.
So there it is...???
Getting bunnies is not an impulse thing for me as I have been thinking about it long and hard including several years ago when I first posted on this forum. I popped into Pets At Home to get some supplies and they had loads of rabbits for sale including baby bunnies. I cuddled a few but was particularly taken with 2 males because of their relaxed and inquisitive natures. They were very friendly, alert and enquiring and quite happy to be squished for cuddles but I noticed very small lightly greenish blue tinged wet patch around the white nose of the one. When I pointed this out to the assistant, she checked the black baby which was also slightly moist in the same spot and she said that they probably had 'sniffles'. Being a bit uninformed and as I was interested to give these two a home (I know, I know but I look at it as rescuing because somebody will buy them) the assistant and I agreed that they both needed to be seen by a vet and I stressed that I was not willing to take on potentially sickly bunnies.
This store does not have a resident vet so they were immediately quarantined and I was told they would be taken to the vets the next day. I contacted the store yesterday to be told they were left at the vets (I imagine they have an arrangement with their vet practice) as there were several emergencies and they would be examined when time permitted. Fair enough.
Since all of this has transpired, I have been doing LOADS of research and found that 'sniffles' could be 'snuffles' and that once in the system, it remains there only to rear it's ugly head through out their lives. It may not be 'snuffles' as it could be other things and we won't know until they are examined. As it is a Sunday today, we probably won't know until tomorrow and I would not be able to take them home until they are fully treated anyway.
Anyway, feeling somewhat unsettled about these two, yesterday afternoon I contacted a breeder who is advertising some babies which look stunning in the photos and are ready for new homes in a weeks time. I chatted on the phone at length to her yesterday and she sounded very helpful and it sounds like she has an amazing set up for her rabbits at home including the runaround system. We are going to visit her this afternoon as she still has 3 babies to be reserved and we can meet mum and dad as well.
Dilemma is, that although I have not put any money down for the babies at PAH, I have a niggling feeling about them. I have no results yet and after speaking to two veterinary nurses, one at our vet practice who is experienced at keeping Bunnies and G pigs, they agree that the small wet noses may be nothing significant or the early stages of Pasturella/snuffles. Could just be being kept in a pen with other rabbits in an air conditioned shop. Don't know yet. They both advised me however, to insist on a full vet report if I were to take the shop bunnies on.
So, just getting this off my chest. I am the sort of person that does my research before taking on a project or committing to something so to speak. I am under no financial obligation to purchase the two PAH bunnies although they have been reserved for me, however I now fear for their future wether or not I do get them and yet have a feeling I am going to fall in love with the baby bunnies I get to squish this afternoon. I will report back on here.
So there it is...???
