New Bunny worries.

Deon · Aug 11, 2005

Hi,

We have just got a new Dwarf Lop called Splodge (due to his colouring). However, we have a few worries which the two books that we got from the Petshop can't seem to answer. Splodge is 12 weeks old and seems to be very anti-social. He seems very withdrawn as he will turn his back on anyone who comes near his cage. He just flops about the cage lying in his basket, litter box and food bowl. He has toys in the cage but he doesn't show much interest in them. We are trying to litter train him so he doesn't have the run of the house yet. We do put him in a run outside on the grass but he acts the same after a short period of time. We are concerned and would like to know if he is bored or depressed!!!
Another worry is that he sneezes a lot but we find no discharge from his nose or on his paws, and he is producing a lot of soft shiny poo which he doesn't seem to be eating but he is constantly eating his food and hay.
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks and regards,

Deon and worried family. :?:

cazza269 · Aug 11, 2005

what kind of food are you feeding him? the normal rabbit food mix isnt the best for bunny tunnies, I had the same prob as you with Cobt, I am now giving him Science Selective Rabbit food, had a higher fibre content, and now no more siny poos, he is eating them as he should do

also make sure he isnt getting to much rabbit food, no more than the recommended amount on the pack

hope that helps a bit

as for behaviour he is very young and it does take them a while to settle in, Coby is still getting used to us and we have ahd him for months now

neeshkabeesh · Aug 11, 2005

Do you keep him inside the house? He may be sneezing because he is allergic to something like an air freshener, candles, perfumes, cleaning substances etc.

Deon · Aug 11, 2005

New Bunny Worries.

Thank you both very much for the advice, I feel much better now. The food we are giving him is the Junior and Dwarf Pellets from Pets At Home which we were told that was what they were feeding him at the shop. We give him the amount that it says on the packet. He has a bit of apple every other day but won't touch carrot. We only noticed his shiny poo when he stayed in the run for an hour yesterday.

As for the sneezing, yes he is a house rabbit and we have now removed most of the items that you suggested might be causing his sneezes.

As I type this he is looking at me from his cage, laying down with his head down and his back legs stretched out behind him, but he seems to be breathing rapidly. It can't be heatstroke as he hasn't been out today and being as he's the baby of the house he has the coolest room, much to the kid's grumbling!!

Any suggestions??

Thanks,

Deon :?

bunnylove · Aug 11, 2005

have you thought about taking him to the vets it is possible he has snuffles a rabbit cold but unlike humans once they get it it will flare up every now and again and often heeds antibiotic treatment (baytril)

Eve x

Tamsin · Aug 11, 2005

Hiya,

The stretched out position you describe is usually the sign of a relaxed rabbit

Try providing him with a ceramic tile to lie on or a bottle of frozen water. With a fur coat it's very easy to get warm even in a room that is not hot to humans.

Rabbits tend to be most active in the mornings and evening so he may lie around during the main part of the day. Letting him out in the evenings you may see him more active.

What sort of toys does he have? Rabbits can be abit like children... they get bored of toys easily and they like the boxes better :lol: Does he like his food? Encorporating it into toys is a good way to get their interest e.g. toilet rolls stuffed with hay or hiding the pellets in a little box or under a flower pot.

Best wishes,
Tamsin

taylor v 109 · Aug 12, 2005

Check the protine level on the pellets u are using in case its high as this may cause soft poos. He may not have had carrot before some rabbits refuse to eat things that they arnt used to. As for the snezzing i would get him checked and tested for pasterrela if it turns out to be this the pets at home should be told and complained about. If he has it then his parents had it for him to be showing signs of it , and they should stop getting rabbits from the breeder suppling them. Why oh why did u go to pets at home

its the worst place to buy an animal. val

janice · Aug 12, 2005

I agree with everything everyone has said, get your local vet to check him out for snuffles, unfortuntaly as you will soon discover from threads on here that some of the large national pet store are not the best places to get animals from. When you put bun in the run can you sit out in the run with him, take a book and some fresh treats and sit and read your book, let him come and investigate you on his terms and let him eat the treats out of your hand or very near you. It may take a while for him to trust you.

Janice

Deon · Aug 15, 2005

Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who answered our our original e-mail last week, New Bunny Worries, it was great to get so much advice. Splodge has had a trip to the vets and had a complete MOT along with his Myxie jab. He's in good health and we look forwrd to many years of happiness with him.
Thanks again to everyone. This is a wonderful website.
Best regards,
Deon. :lol:

Moomin · Aug 15, 2005

It is a good forum isn't it! Stick around, there are a lot of peeps on here who know sooooo much... not necessarily including myself on that, but it's great to have somewhere to share your worries, and cute photos.

Jo

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Deon

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