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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Hi! New but short-lived :( bunny owner with questions!

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    • Lapin1
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        New member here with lots of questions but I will try to be brief! My son asked for a rabbit for his birthday in May (I’m sure lots of stories start this way LOL), and after we did our research we decided to adopt one off our local Craigslist. We had a couple of weeks where we were thinking OMG what have we done, but we worked our way through our issues and ended up being thrilled with our new family member and couldn’t believe we had never thought to get a rabbit for a pet before! One of the issues we had to accept was the fact that he had very bad malocclusion and had to go have his front teeth trimmed once a month. Other than that, the vet we saw thought he was in great health, although we left the office knowing that we would be facing an uphill battle. He was 7 months old when we got him.

        A week ago, right before he was going to be neutered and have his teeth trimmed (including his back molars filed down as they were misaligned as well), he suddenly started having issues urinating and went downhill fast, refusing to eat or drink and even leave his cage. Since we knew we had to get on top of things quickly, we rushed him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with an abscess near the jaw that appeared to be impeding his airflow, as his O2 level was horrible. The vet felt like the infection had become systemic and that his body had started to shut down as a result. Without going into further detail, he didn’t make it, and we are all devastated.

        The reality of just how much care rabbits need was a little overwhelming compared to just reading about it, so we are going to take our time before we adopt another. I’m hesitant to put my children through this again if it’s fairly common for rabbits to suddenly take ill or die without warning, but to be honest I’m feeling selfish and want to go out and get another one (or two) sooner than later. We were really expecting to have him for at least a few years based on what we had read.

        So, I’m coming here to get some opinions. First of all, we know that it was really the malocclusion that ultimately got him, so just how common is it really? I’m sure there are degrees…do all rabbits have it to some extent?

        My second question is about how long rabbits really do live. I know the resources all say be prepared to have your pet rabbit for up to 10 years, but with all of the health issues they face, is this really all that common? When we get another bunny, can we reasonably expect to have him or her for more than a couple of years?

        Thanks if you’ve made it this far! I’m looking forward to learning lots before we get our next bunny and also sharing some pictures and a tribute of our Snowflake on the Rainbow Bridge page very soon

         


      • Kokaneeandkahlua
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          Welcome!! I’m so sorry to hear your bunny passed, and so quickly You really did everything right – which is wonderful

          I wouldn’t say malocclusion is common, but it’s not uncommon either. Rabbits are quite fragile-and can get many health issues; however there are definitely people on here who have not faced any health issues. It’s a gamble just like our health is I guess!

          Do you have any rabbit shelters, or pet shelters that have rabbits? The wonderful thing about adopting a bunny from a shelter is they are usually fixed so no need to go through that, and they’ve been seen by a vet so you have a bit more confidence in their health before you bring them home.


        • LBJ10
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            So sorry for your loss.
            I just wanted to say that you shouldn’t let a bad experience deter you from giving another bunny a go. Sometimes it is just “bad luck” and a bunny has problems that are just beyond our control. I’m sure it wasn’t anything that you did, so I hope you aren’t blaming yourself.

            Honestly, you will read about a lot of bunnies on the forum experiencing problems or health issues. That’s because people tend to only post or ask questions when something is wrong. There are plenty of bunnies that live long and relatively healthy lives. Sometimes they get sick, it happens. And vet care can be more expensive because they are treated as “exotics”. That being said, bunnies are not always as fragile as people make them out to be. They can be surprisingly resilient and live through all kinds of things.

            It sounds like Snowflake was dealt a bad hand in life, but you obviously loved him and that made all the difference in his short life. Malocclusion is something you hear about, but it doesn’t affect all rabbits. Of those that do, some will have minor problems and others will have more severe problems. It is influenced heavily by genetics, but diet can play a role as well. Dwarf breeds (Nethies, Holland lops, etc) tend to be more prone to these problems because of their smooshed faces.

            It is true that bunnies can be a lot of work. You should also expect your bunny to be around for more than just a few years. If you get a girl though, do be sure to get her spayed. Unspayed females have a significantly shorter life expectancy because their risk of reproductive cancer sky rockets after they are 3-4 years old.

            Welcome to BB BTW! We look forward to seeing you around and, when the time comes, helping you with your new furry friend.


          • Deleted User
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            22064 posts Send Private Message

              Well said KK and LBJ! The only thing I want to add is that my boy (who should not still be with us) considering everything he has eaten and gotten into (good grief! Lol!) is going good and strong – it’s so true, some bunnies have issues and some just don’t. And you don’t know till something happens – I am so terribly sorry for your loss. Don’t give up on bunny ownership – the joy (regardless of how naughty my boy is) has given me joy that I never knew existed.
              Be selfish and go for it! Cheers Lapin1.


            • litheandgraphic
              Participant
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                I 100% agree with everything that’s been said, most especially going directly to a shelter who knows about the rabbits in their care. By doing this, you can find a rabbit who is in very good health from people who know whether or not the bun has any pre-existing conditions. That being said, it often is just luck of the draw.

                THAT being said, I do encourage you to try again, when you’re ready. I’m so sorry for your loss.

                Welcome to BB, hope to see you around!


              • robyn and 'tipps'
                Participant
                90 posts Send Private Message

                  So sorry for your loss. Hope you take the step and find a new little friend and the best of luck should you do so.


                • Megabunny
                  Participant
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                    I think kids bounce back pretty fast. Go for it and get one…or two. A bonded pair is so precious to watch!


                  • LittlePuffyTail
                    Moderator
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                      I’m sorry for your loss.

                      Bunnies can certainly be fragile but I wouldn’t let that deter you from getting another bunny. I’ve had bunnies pass away suddenly and 1 that had cancer at 9 years old. I have two 7 year old bunnies, one whom is very high maintenance health wise, but the joy I get from my bunnies is worth all the difficulties.

                      Sounds like your are definite a very loving home and any bunny (including Snowflake, despite it being short) would be lucky to be part of your family.


                    • MoxieMeadows
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                        I am extremely sorry for your loss.
                        I am pretty much agreeing with all that was said above, but I just wanted to kinda put it out there myself.
                        I’m not totally familiar with Malocclusion in rabbits, I haven’t heard too much about it, so I would think it isn’t THAT common. I definately wouldn’t call it rare though either. To maintain good dental health in the future, make sure that plenty of hay and toys/chews are provided for the bun so that the teeth stay filed down.
                        A fixed rabbit that has a proper diet and proper medical care can live a long time. Close to ten years at least.
                        Any animal can be a lot of work.
                        Hope I helped.


                      • Megan M
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                          I’m new to this forum, but absolutely had to comment on your post. I’m so so sorry for your loss. We’re facing some unfortunate health issues with our little bun at the moment. We’ve only had her 2 and a half months and I can’t imagine her not being around.

                          I don’t know how common Malocclusion is, but our bun has had her teeth removed. When we adopted her they couldn’t give us any information on the reasons why, but they said it was most likely Malocclusion. She has the most ridiculous little tooth at the very front of her top jaw. It reminds me of the ones that chicks develop to hatch out of eggs! She can’t use it for anything and we have to cut her food up a bit, but she’s incredibly happy. In some ways its a blessing as we’ve had nothing chewed so far! So I wouldn’t go as far as recommending it, but it definitely seems to be an option.

                          Good luck with healing, and all the best for when you get yourself a new little friend. You did everything right, and you’ll make a wonderful bunny parent

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                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Hi! New but short-lived :( bunny owner with questions!