Worried New Mommy

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

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

This topic has 10sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 10 months ago by LoveChaCha.

Viewing 10 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 05/28/2010 at 6:23 AM
  lizp
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hello! I’m new to this forum/owning a rabbit. She’s a standard rex that’s anywhere from 3-5 months old because the lovely pet store had no clue. I’ve had her since the beginning of April and it’s been an adventure. I’ve been thinking about owning a rabbit for years and did a lot of research before buying Lucy, even if she was an “Easter bunny”. I’m worried that I may have read too much though because now I’m constantly worried that something is wrong with her.
  
  Right away when I got Lucy, we noticed she was itchy. She didn’t have fleas or mites from what we could see (I and my two roommates deal with animals all the time and know the signs) and I’ve been checking her ears almost daily since then for signs of ear mites and there haven’t been. Is it possible that she’s just itchy? I have been checking the top of her head for signs of ringworm too and there was a scab there the other day that I started treating with Neosporin (normal kind) once a day and after 2 days it cleared up and fell off and the area doesn’t show any new signs of scabbing now that it’s clear again. I had a dog that would get hot spots because of the protein in his food. Obviously, the rabbit doesn’t eat lamb or chicken, but could an allergy be causing her to feel so itchy?
  
  This morning, I noticed that her nostrils seemed red but there was no discharge, clear or otherwise, from her nose and her eyes just had a little dry morning crusties (never runny or goopy). Yesterday we went “exploring” on the window sill which had a very dusty corner she got into (didn’t know until it was too late). I’m thinking it may have irritated her nose. Her paws haven’t been wet and neither is her tail. She is eating normally (it’s her favorite thing to do other than play… maybe more than playing) and she’s definitely active. She’s also going to the bathroom regularly (both urine and poo).
  
  Are these normal things that occur while owning a rabbit? I’ve been trying really hard not to freak out but I really want to be the best rabbit mommy possible. I just don’t want to go to the vet for an overreaction and be charged up the wazoo for something that may be normal.
- 05/28/2010 at 6:40 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Welcome!
  
  I’m not catching on anything that seems abnormal from your post. Redness around the nose can be from an irritant in the air, particularly hay particles. Itchy ears isn’t necessarily abnormal, unless it’s excessive.
  
  Has she been to a rabbit savvy vet for a general check-up/baseline exam? All new rabbits need to be seen by an exotics vet, but especially if she’s from a pet store, she should really be checked out! They will check her “teeth to tail” and do a fecal test. Also, they can give you info about spaying. That time is approaching very soon.
  
  What is her diet and housing like? How is littertraining going?
- 05/28/2010 at 6:51 AM
  lizp
  Participant
  4 posts
  Thanks for the response. We’re definitely going to head to the vet soon for a baseline exam, the closest rabbit-savvy vet is far away so I didn’t want to stress her too much after getting her used to a new environment, but it’s definitely time. Her diet is Sunaturals rabbit food (http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3076399) and Timothy hay with dried carrots. I’m thinking she may be ready for raw vegetables though (I know she likes them already, sneaky sneaky bunny). Her cage is large (36.5″ long and probably about 15″ tall) and it I took the metal grate out of the bottom so it just sits in the metal tray (which is covered by Carefresh that I change every few days or so, scooping out wet bedding every day). She has a litter box that she uses, but she also pees in the corner next to the box as well (we call it the pee corner). She doesn’t urinate outside of the cage unless it’s on my bed (which makes me think she might be a he). I’m DEFINITELY getting Lucy fixed once she is old enough though to (hopefully) help with digging and the peeing in the bed.
- 05/28/2010 at 10:22 AM
  KatnipCrzy
  Participant
  2981 posts
  That sounds like a pretty small cage- does she get a lot of time out- our could you add a run to it for her? Most pet store cages as too small for bunnies.
  
  Female and Male rabbits will pee on beds and couches- anywhere where your scent it seems to be a common target for young bunnies. I went thru this with Cotton a lot until she was spayed and settled down.
  
  I would recommend not lining her cage with Carefresh- it is confusing to the bunny to have a litterbox and a cage floor that mimics a litterbox. My bunnies have litterboxes and their pens are lined with fleece blankets or fleece yardage purchased from a fabric store. Towels did not work well since they snagged a lot- but fleece works well for my bunnies since even if they nibble on it – it only looks “moth-eaten” and they do not ingest the fleece. I have had house bunnies for about 2 1/2 years now and have not had to throw away a fleece blanket yet. And the older they got the less likely they were to nibble them- now digging and pushing around is another story.
- 05/28/2010 at 10:29 AM
  osprey
  Participant
  2065 posts
  Hi Lizp, and congratulations on your new bunny!
  
  One of mine is a rex, and she scratches her ears more than the others and she also sneezes a lot. She has been checked out, there is nothing wrong with her, maybe it is something with the rex breeds. With the nose thing, watch for discharge and/or wet front paws as a signal that she may have a problem. Our rex has a very pointy face and I think she gets her nose into places it doesn’t belong, and then ends up sneezing from what she finds!
  
  I took a quick look at the pellets you are feeding her, and those pellets have a couple of problems. First, they are alfalfa based, which is fine for her now since she is a baby, but may be too high in calories and protein as she gets older. Also, those pellets come with dried fruit and carrots in them. You should try to avoid feeding these things as they are very high in calories and can make your bunny gain weight (particularly in rexes) and might even make her sick because of the sugars.
  
  From the PetsMart website, here a few pellets which will be healthier for your bunny:
  
  Zupreem http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind…Id=2753453
  
  Oxbow http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind…Id=3135803
  
  I feed my 3 and my foster bunnies the Oxbow product, but I am also fortuante to have a really good rabbit supply place close by.
  
  Good luck with your new little one!
- 05/28/2010 at 10:54 AM
  lizp
  Participant
  4 posts
  Thank you so so so much for all the advice. That’s really good to know! I fed my sun conure Zupreem bird food and I liked the quality well enough, but I think I’ll try the Oxbow like you use. When I change her diet, should it be gradual?
  
  What cages would you guys recommend? I planned on buying a bigger cage once we were settled a bit more and she was bigger (when I first got her, she was so itty bitty we thought she might have been a mini rex) and I was looking at 2 level cages, but a lot of them had wire bottoms and it made me nervous because she is a bigger bunny and I didn’t want her getting sores (can’t remember what the actual condition is called). Also, a lot of cages I saw were on stands and because she is litter trained (or at least cage trained) I’m not sure that would be a good idea. If I built steps or a ramp, would she likely use it or just give up and find a new pee spot because it’s too much of a hassle?
  
  Once again thank you everyone! You’ve all really helped a lot.
- 05/28/2010 at 11:01 AM
  lizp
  Participant
  4 posts
  Oh! As far as peeing on the bed goes, she only seems to do it when I’m not paying direct attention to her. Is this possibly an attention-seeking behavior, or just her waiting until my back is turned so she can be tricksy? If we’ve been playing for a while and then I go to sit on the bed, she’ll hop up and I’ll pet her and she’ll lie down and relax and usually can be on the bed for a long time like thar, but as soon as I get that phone call or someone needs me in the other room real quick, she’ll leave her mark. I really wish she could go on the bed all the time too because that’s where the best window and she loves watching the neighborhood cats through it. I’m thinking about investing in a shower curtain to throw over the bed.
- 05/28/2010 at 11:09 AM
  osprey
  Participant
  2065 posts
  I am a fan of X-Pen setups myself, they are very versatile and easy to reconfigure, and easy to clean too. Do you have space in a corner for a 4×4 Xpen set up? If you look in the Bunny Info Great Habitats section, you can see some photos of my bunny DJ posing in a simple to arrange XPen setup. There are other exampls there too of creative ideas for bunny habitats.
  
  As to switching pellets, to gradually change what she is getting, start by feeding a few days with 75% old, 25% new, then 50/50, etc. until she is only getting the new one.
- 05/28/2010 at 11:15 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Most bunny people eventually forego the traditional pet store cage and either get a dog exercise pen (my personal favorite!) or construct their own condo using wire shelving grids. Check out the cool habitat section, you’ll find so many neat ideas of things you can do to expand and personalize your bun’s space!
  
  Rex breeds are very prone to becoming overweight, so you’ll want to get her off the alfalfa within the next few months. Also, rex breeds are prone to sore hocks (the sores on their heels you were referring to). Housing on wire or being overweight can both contribute to this condition, and once they have it, it’s very difficult to remedy it completely. So you did good by avoiding a wire-bottom cage!!!
- 05/28/2010 at 9:09 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Oh! As far as peeing on the bed goes, she only seems to do it when I’m not paying direct attention to her. Is this possibly an attention-seeking behavior
  
  Very possible! I had to giggle at your comment. I swear I’ve walked out the room for a second and one of mine has done this. I can leave them out for hours when I’m not home and they’ve never done it then.
  
  As for the scratching, it’s good your checking for mites and fleas though it’s not always possible to see mites. I remember my father while visiting commented about fleas when he saw my rabbits scratching. But scratching is part of the normal grooming process and they seem to groom alot while younger.
- 05/29/2010 at 2:30 AM
  LoveChaCha
  Participant
  6634 posts
  Welcome
  
  My Netherland Dwarf has a XL dog kennel. Dog Kennels are quite awesome and convinent. I keep the door open at all times for her – I clipped the X-pen onto the cage and extend it out while I am not at home (she gets to free roam in the living room when I am home to supervise her). Also, you can add wooden levels into the kennel.
  
  I would get a small cat litter box and fill it with Carefresh and add a bunch of hay (I do this). Since she isn’t litter trained, watch where she pees and poops. Put the box in that corner, and if she does her business elsewhere in the cage, put the poops into the litter box. Mine got the hint after a while and is very good at it. Oh, and bunnies LOVE to use the bathroom and eat hay at the same time lol. Or even lounge in it
  
  I would not be concerned about your bunny scratching herself as though she is itchy. My bun does it a lot. Bunnies are very clean animals, they are constantly cleaning themselves.
  
  Don’t forget a brush as well Bunnies will shed during certain times.
Author

Messages