Help with neglected bun

Think I'm just destined to have rabbits, just as I'm arranging a home for Mia I've been given a neglected bun...

They were being kept unsuitable circumstances, and one of them died before I managed to persuade the owner to part with them

I have now been told I can pick the other one up at the weekend, which I intend to do. Whether I will keep her long term is another matter...

She is about 6, and seems in pretty good health apart from being quite obese, but she has a very dirty bum.. I suspect she wasn't being fed proper rabbit food, but the last couple of days I've been able to sneak her some hay which she has wolfed down.

I intend to wash her rear end with baby shampoo (I'm guessing that's the mildest) and clip most of the fur away. I also intend to put her on a diet, and from what I've read on here it seems best if I give her Science Selective, which is what my other bun gets anyway. I will also put her out in a secure run in the hope she may exercise.

I will take her for a vet checkup anyway as I'm guessing she may have mites which I don't want Mia to have a chance of catching, so I guess they will be able to tell if there is anything obviously wrong with her.

Do you think the weightloss and a change of diet may sort her dirty bum or is there something else? I'm just worrying about her being a target for flystrike, and of course it can't be nice for her to be so dirty, the rest of her coat is spotless and she looks so miserable.

Is there anything like a probiotic for rabbits? I know there is stuff I've used for my horses in the past...

If she is 6yrs old she may well have a touch of Artheritus which may well be stopping her from cleaning herself, but with you putting her on a better diet and getting her to lose weight she may well be able to clean herself. Their are probiotics for rabbits you can get Bio Lapis which you put in their water or Avipro where you can sprinkle on food or also put in their water.

probiotic

Hi

there is a great probiotic at (believe it or not) P A H! Called Pro-C or something you can dissolve it in the water and bunnies love it. Jane, fantastic rescue lady in Warwick put me onto it and it worked a treated with previous buns of mine who were stressed.

HTH

Nicole

I would also get the vet to check her teeth as that can also cause sticky bums.

I would imagine a good diet and loosing some weight should make a big improvement

Do make sure you change the food slowly even when cutting out bad stuff. It might be bad for her but it's what her tummy is used to.

Good luck with her

Tam

Hehe yeah it's like with horses.. I'm putting a few SS pellets in now so she is getting used to them.. she is loving the hay even if she does throw it all over the place before she eats it... it's the only time I see any activity out of her atm..

It's a shame, she seems such a quiet sweet bun... tho I guess that could change when she's a bit more active and slimline lol...

I may attempt to bond her to Mia when she settles, as I think she is missing her previous friend who was also a female. I could possibly keep Mia then as she would have plenty of company without me having to handle them too much.

I get there to pick her up, get all loaded up, about to bun in the box..

.. and he's changed his mind :evil: .. well made an excuse.

I was so angry I had to drive away.

what :shock: That is so bad, why cant people see that they are not fit to look after animals :x