Diet For A VERY Young Bunny? Also, Wild Bunny? Cage Size?

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

Hello,

I very recently rescued a baby bunny that the cat brought in (Not sure which gender, so I just use him, also the cats no longer go outside) He is very very small, and can easily fit in the palm of my hand with room to spare, so I’m wondering what his diet should be like? Below is what I’m giving him right now, though he doesn’t seem to eat much of the veggies. The other thing I’m worried about, is he looks like a wild cottontail bunny, however he is very tame, and acts nothing like a wild bunny, he loves to come up to the side of the cage for nose kisses (I press my nose to the cage, and he does the same) He’s great with being picked up and held, and also loves to be pet! Is there anything I should do about this, or can I just keep him as if he was a normal domestic rabbit? He also has a leg issue, so even if I took him to a wild life center, he would likely just be put to sleep, which I don’t believe is right if I could just keep him and give him a long happy life. Also, how would I handle vet visits if he really is a wild cottontail bunny? 

So far I have just been talking to the vet over the phone to deal with his medical issues (He had a cat bite from his other home, and at one point GI Stasis) And also relying on my extensive knowledge of guinea pig care to treat him. Though I do know they are not the same animals, they do have some things in common, like some of the meds they take, the food they eat, ect. I have four guinea pigs at the moment, and have owned them for a long time, I am also a huge believer in giving them to best care you can, so the have a HUGE cage and such. I also rescue and rehome guinea pigs that are in need of homes, though I’ve very picky about who adopts them. 

Anyway, I’m very new to bunnies, so you will most likely see about a thousand post from me, I want to make sure I am doing everything right for him, as I have already fallen in love.   Anyway, here is my menu for him at the moment, tell me if there is anything I need to change.

Unlimited Timothy hay

About a handful of grass each day (Almost unlimited)

About 1/8 a cup of timothy based KMS pellets that I use for my guinea pigs (The section on what pellets to feed them seems very vague, is KMS okay?)

About an 1/8 a cup alfalfa based KMS pellets per day (Also if he doesn’t finish the pellets, I don’t refill them the next day)

About one leaf of red or green leaf lettuce per day

About one stem of parsley per day

And weekly some carrot with top, and some fruit

Does this seem ok? I based it off of my guinea pigs’ diet, but found some of the things I feed them I can’t feed a bunny. (Corn husk, silk, corn on the cob, green beans, yellow peppers, watermelon, ect)

Also, since I wasn’t prepared to get a bunny, I had no cage for him, however since I rescue and rehome guinea pigs, I often get the way way way too small cages that people kept their guinea pigs in, so I just picked the biggest one I had that also have a top over it, and bars he can’t get out of, is it ok for now until I can bunny proof my whole house and let him have the run of it most of the time? Also is the stuff I have in it ok? I just picked I few toys and such that I also got from owners, and put him on towel bedding so I could see if his droppings were good. You can also see a little bit of him in one of the pictures hiding next to the tissue box hay holder.

Thanks! And sorry for so many questions. 

[Sarita]

If he’s a wild baby bunny and eating on his own, I think what you are feeding him is fine. Definitely the fresh grass is normal for a wild rabbit so you are fine there.

I had a friend who had a wild rabbit who was injured and she lived for about 7 years – she could not have survived in the wild either which is the only reason my friend kept her. Her vet was fine treating Dizzy. So it really does depend on the vet – I believe her vet also realized Dizzy could not be released and survive. She fed Dizzy the same things she fed her domestic rabbits.

If it’s a wild rabbit who is well and can be released then you definitely do not want to imprint yourself on him. If he can be released the ethical thing to do is to release (actually have a wildlife rehabber relese them – they have a protocol for this).

Dizzy definitely had a different physique and a different personality than her domestics as well – she would have to do a bunny burrito to hold Dizzy. Definitely supply lots of hiding places for him/her.

Cat bites are very very nasty things for rabbits – lots of bad bacteria so hopefully he can recover from this with no problems. So many cottontails perish from cat bites.

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

Thanks so much for the help! I can tell he is eating fine, since there are lots of droppings in his cage, they are odd though, different from guinea pigs, they are very small and flat like those small round flat sprinkles you put on cupcakes. I was kinda scared to post this, thinking people wouldn’t think I was doing the right thing by keeping a wild bunny. I don’t think he will be able to be released, because of his leg, and the fact that he has already bonded with humans, though at first I had very little contact with him.

I thought that he wouldn’t make it through this because of the cat bite, but when I got him and found the cat bite, it was a good thing I had some Baytril left over from when my piggy Phoenix was sick, I quickly gave him a dose of it, some probiotics, and cleaned out the wound, and he just finished his 5 days of the Baytril treatment, and seems to be doing much much better! From what I’ve read, if he was going to die from the cat bite, he would have already, or would at least be showing signs of being very sick by now, but I only see a little bit of shock.

He seems to be good with handling and such right now, when I pick him up, he tries to jump away, but after I’ve got him, he seems semi relaxed in my arms, and will lay his ears back and close his eyes somewhat when I pet him. So cute!

How do I handle finding a good bunny vet that will take him? I don’t think it would be good to just call them up and say “Could you take my wild bunny?” Because I know all they would say is just to take him to the wildlife rehab place which would just put him down. Plus I have very few vets to chose from around here, and I’m not sure how many of them would be ok with treating a wild bunny I own, since it’s illegal for me to do so.

[Sarita]

I would ask the vet that see’s your guinea pigs since you already have a relationship with him/her.

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

I’ve only had to deal with taking my pigs to the vet once when Phoenix was sick, and that was a while ago when I didn’t have a good vet, so I just took her to a vet that took guinea pigs (Big mistake) Now I have a better exotics vet, however I’ve never had to use them so far in the years I’ve owned guinea pigs, so I don’t really know them. However I’ll call them and see what they say about it.

[Sarita]

Well you can always explain the situation to them and see what they say.

My friend had a relationship with her vet with her domestics and it was quite obvious to the vet that Dizzy could not be released so I think she was fine treating Dizzy.

[Sarita]

She obviously did not alter Dizzy so altering is not a concern as you won’t really need to do this since you would never put them with another rabbit. Dizzy liked to be hidden – she was most comfortable hiding rather than being out in the open like a domestic. Your expectations will have to be much different as far as behavior for a wild rabbit.

What do you think is wrong with his/her leg?

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

So I wouldn’t have to alter him? I’ve heard about there being a much bigger problem with litter training, temperament, and also cancer. I’m thinking it may be a muscle thing. I checked it, and moved it around, and he had no pain reflex, it also didn’t seem to move any way it shouldn’t. He also holds it against his body tucked under him when walking, it’s his front right paw. He also seems to walk, jump, eat, ect fine with it. It may have something to do with the cat bite which is right behind that leg, though it’s mostly healed by this point. I looked his symptoms up online, and from what it looked like, the best thing to do is just let him be, since he doesn’t seem to be in any pain, and is going about everything else fine, I didn’t see much that a vet could do for him.

[Sarita]

I wouldn’t only because you would need a very experienced vet and you aren’t planning on bonding him anyway. My friend didn’t spay Dizzy – the vet had alot of experience with domestic rabbits but I think was not sure how a wild rabbit would handle anesthesia.

[Sarita]

I don’t think you are going to find much information on diseases and such for a wild rabbit…all the stuff for caring for a rabbit is a domestic rabbit.

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

Alright, well thank you a bunch for the help! Hopefully all goes well with the rest of his healing.

[Sarita]

Does he have a little white spot in the middle of his forehead? That will most likely tell you if he is a cottontail.

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

Oh ok, yes he does.

[LBJ10]

Perhaps there was damage to the nerve there when the cat bit him?

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

It’s possible, would a vet be able to do anything for that? I’d like to avoid it though just because of the cost, and it stressing him out, but of course if it’s needed I will go.

[LBJ10]

I don’t think there is much they can do for nerve damage. If it is really bad, like a limb is completely useless, then I think they will just amputate it.

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

So does it sound like it would just be better to leave it be, since he’s also walking, eating, drinking, not in pain, ect, plus the fact that it would stress him, and my wallet? Or should I take him to the vet to get it amputated?

[LBJ10]

Hmm, I don’t know. If he truly doesn’t seem to be in pain, then it would probably be okay to leave it be. Does he use it at all? Like to scoot around?

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

No, he only seems to use his other leg mostly, and keeps the leg up. Though sometimes he seems as if he is using it slightly, though I just noticed that this morning, it may be my imagination.

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

I also have another few questions for everyone, can I get him/her fixed, and at what age? I’d like him to not spray the whole house, and I’d also like to litter train him so that I can let him roam around the house all day. Though I don’t want to put him in any danger, if this is safe for him, what age can I get it done at? I’ve also heard they can have a lot more behavioral issues, and I’d like him to be as friendly as possible, right now he seems quite tame when I’m petting him, though he does not like being held. I’m guessing right now he is about 4 weeks or so.

[Sarita]

If it’s a wild rabbit I doubt you can find a vet to neuter him. Like I mentioned before, I don’t know how a wild rabbit takes to anesthesia.

It’s likely he won’t spray – I’m not familiar with wild rabbit behavior concerning this.

I think you need to remember if this is a WILD rabbit that the behavior is not the same as a DOMESTIC rabbit. They are not going to be a friendly cuddly rabbit, in fact most domestic rabbits are not this way.

[Beka27]

If this is a wild rabbit I would take him to a wildlife rehab center.

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

Oh I’m not expecting him to be all cuddly and lovey dovey, I’ve just heard that if they are not neutered or spayed, they get really aggressive, and will bite and lunge at you and such.

I would take him to a wildlife rehab center, however with his leg how it is, they would just put him down on the spot, so it’s either keep him and give him a long happy life, or have him put down. I don’t think the latter is a good choice, because in my opinion it’s ending life with no reason.

[luvmyhunybuny]

Not all rehabbers will put him down. As a matter of fact, the wildlife rehabilitation organization I volunteer for has a bunny who was blinded by a snake and they did not put him down. He lives rather comfortably in one of the volunteers home. I would have his leg checked out. It very well may be something that can be fixed.

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

The closets one to me (More than an hour away) Puts down any animals that are not fit to be released, trust me I looked up all my options before deciding to keep him, I’m just trying to do what’s best for him.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Try calling the wildlife rehab-they don’t have to take him to advise you. My dad rescued a wild baby rabbit when he was a kid in greece, and it remained a wild rabbit for it’s life, even though he cared for it and handled it a lot when it was young.

I think if you are set up to have a rabbit and want one, you should do your best to get this guy back into the wild like he was meant to be, and look at adopting. It’s hard to fathom putting a little guy like him back in the wild, but that’s where they belong. The wildlife rehab place and/or a vet can advise you on what you should do for his injuries and how best to get him back outdoors.

Thanks for taking the little guy in for his convalescence! Very sweet of you!

[Lovely Baby Bunny]

I wouldn’t want to call the wildlife center, since all they would say is just to bring him in, since what I am doing is technically illegal in my state, however it doesn’t so much apply here. However I have called the vet, and she also thinks it’s nerve damage and says it would be best to just watch him with it and let it heal since it looks like it’s getting a little bit better, and there seems to be no pain.

However, sadly by the time his leg heals, if that is it even fully heals, he would have gotten used to life indoors, and wouldn’t know how to survive in the wild, like releasing a domestic bunny into the wild. So my choices right now are limited to this: Either take him to a wildlife center where they would put him down because he can’t be released, or keep him myself and give him a long happy life. In my mind the latter is the better. He has a great life right now and is really enjoying it!

He will even eat straight out of my hand while I’m holding him, he will lay back his ears and slightly close his eyes when I pet him, and responds when I call “Here pika pika” Or “Here Pikachu” He also has been getting lots of floor time in the bathroom, since that’s the only room he can be in right now until he gets a little bigger, since right now he could slip under the couch never to be seen again. xD Then he will be able to roam around the house all day, only going in the cage when I can’t watch him.

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