Scout61699
New Kit
Hello,
We're having an almost urgent issue with our new Rabbit Coco. We got him last week from a family who had him for about 8 months, they trained him well with his litter box and other than an bit of an attitude he's a really well mannered bunny. The issue we're having is they don't appear to have carrier trained him. Not sure how often or how they ever took him places, but we got him a soft carrier with mesh doors, we've left it in his space since last week and he's gotten used to it. He hops all around it and sometimes nibbles on the zippers. he doesn't mind going inside if I coax him with spinach, but as soon as I close the door he flips his lid!
The issue is we have to take him to the vet today and this is all we have to take him in. he also isn't comfortable with us picking him up yet. I can't pick him up at all, my SO can pick him up without him struggling, (sometimes) but after a minute he starts fidgeting like he wants down and he starts nipping her arms or clothing if she keeps holding him. When he's in the carrier, food or no food, with the door closed he is very upset, he continues to lunge at the door and scratch at it and hop around wildly looking for a way out. the end opposite the door has a zipper that opens but isn't a door, even if I put my hand in to pet him he doesn't calm, and if I let him stick his head out he just keeps trying to get out.
Are there any tricks to keep him calm in the carrier? I didn't try wrapping him in his blanket yet, would that work better to wrap him up first and then put him in? I've read a little that they're calmer if they can't see and are wrapped up. at the end of the day he has to go to the vet, we want him to have a checkup as soon as possible just to make sure he's a healthy with his teeth and weight and everything, I'm sure he'll get over the stress eventually when it's over but im a little worried about him hurting himself in there trying to get out? scratching isn't so bad it's a soft carrier, but he seems to jump at the door, is there a chance he'll try so hard he could hurt himself?
Any advice appreciated!
We're having an almost urgent issue with our new Rabbit Coco. We got him last week from a family who had him for about 8 months, they trained him well with his litter box and other than an bit of an attitude he's a really well mannered bunny. The issue we're having is they don't appear to have carrier trained him. Not sure how often or how they ever took him places, but we got him a soft carrier with mesh doors, we've left it in his space since last week and he's gotten used to it. He hops all around it and sometimes nibbles on the zippers. he doesn't mind going inside if I coax him with spinach, but as soon as I close the door he flips his lid!
The issue is we have to take him to the vet today and this is all we have to take him in. he also isn't comfortable with us picking him up yet. I can't pick him up at all, my SO can pick him up without him struggling, (sometimes) but after a minute he starts fidgeting like he wants down and he starts nipping her arms or clothing if she keeps holding him. When he's in the carrier, food or no food, with the door closed he is very upset, he continues to lunge at the door and scratch at it and hop around wildly looking for a way out. the end opposite the door has a zipper that opens but isn't a door, even if I put my hand in to pet him he doesn't calm, and if I let him stick his head out he just keeps trying to get out.
Are there any tricks to keep him calm in the carrier? I didn't try wrapping him in his blanket yet, would that work better to wrap him up first and then put him in? I've read a little that they're calmer if they can't see and are wrapped up. at the end of the day he has to go to the vet, we want him to have a checkup as soon as possible just to make sure he's a healthy with his teeth and weight and everything, I'm sure he'll get over the stress eventually when it's over but im a little worried about him hurting himself in there trying to get out? scratching isn't so bad it's a soft carrier, but he seems to jump at the door, is there a chance he'll try so hard he could hurt himself?
Any advice appreciated!
