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Blind bunny

murrimint

murrimint

Warren Scout
Hi all.
I adopted cookie from the rspca as a wifey bun for my recently bereaved pud. The two have bonded really well and follow each other everywhere . However it has come to be obvious that cookie is blind, as white rabbits often are. They live in a converted 12x5 dog kennel but I like to let them out everyday for a run around the garden and just to check on them. However cookie is constantly banging into things, often quite hard and I'm worried she is gonna injure herself. I've bubble wrapped posts and chair legs ( next door must think im crazy )but nothing I can do about walls or doors.
Is there anyone with any advice or shall I just have to keep them in their house always just for her own safety.
Thanks for reading.
Dawn
 
As long as everything stays in the same place she will eventually adjust to her new environment and her other senses will compensate. However it is wise to go careful in the short term to avoid injury. I used puppy panels to increase space so mine could adjust gradually.
 
murrimint said:
Hi all.
I adopted cookie from the rspca as a wifey bun for my recently bereaved pud. The two have bonded really well and follow each other everywhere . However it has come to be obvious that cookie is blind, as white rabbits often are. They live in a converted 12x5 dog kennel but I like to let them out everyday for a run around the garden and just to check on them. However cookie is constantly banging into things, often quite hard and I'm worried she is gonna injure herself. I've bubble wrapped posts and chair legs ( next door must think im crazy )but nothing I can do about walls or doors.
Is there anyone with any advice or shall I just have to keep them in their house always just for her own safety.
Thanks for reading.
Dawn
Click to expand...

I would let her out, if that's what she is used to. She may look like she's banging into things, but in reality they use their whiskers to judge distances. They can look rather like a ball in a pinball machine, going this way and that, but it will enhance her quality of life to be let out into territory she knows.

What a good thing she came to you and has Pud for company!

I don't think white rabbits are 'often blind', though their eyesight can certainly be a bit worse than other breeds. She may be able to sense light and shade, and you may want the R.S.P.C.A. to do a check on her eyes and let you know what they think about them.

Good luck with Cookie. She sounds like a sweetie :love:
 
Could you just rest against the wall or door strips of foam, just to put down when they are running around
 
Thank you everyone. It's probably more nerve racking for me because every time she runs I panic. It's true her quality of life is important so I'll just have to dig deep and try not to quiver every time
she's out. I think because I've only had her a short time she's not yet used to the garden and so is still finding her way around I'll cover the door edges with
foam and try my best to keep her safe. Fingers crossed she adapts to her new home 😊
 
murrimint said:
Thank you everyone. It's probably more nerve racking for me because every time she runs I panic. It's true her quality of life is important so I'll just have to dig deep and try not to quiver every time
she's out. I think because I've only had her a short time she's not yet used to the garden and so is still finding her way around I'll cover the door edges with
foam and try my best to keep her safe. Fingers crossed she adapts to her new home 😊
Click to expand...

To be fair, I think most things are more nerve wracking with bunnies for us than for them :shock:

I think you're doing brilliantly and in time you will relax a bit more around these things. It just takes a bit of time and experience :D
 
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