Adopting "disabled" bun, advice for a new owner

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 12sd replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 3 months ago by tanlover14.

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- 01/02/2013 at 9:56 PM
  Suivezmoi
  Participant
  67 posts
  Hey guys, I’m new to the forum and rabbits in general and I was hoping to get some advice. I’ve been visiting this awesome rescue, and have fallen in love with a specific little guy. The lady that worked there said he was pretty much unadoptable, and would probably spend the rest of his life in a shelter. He’s a Californian,and is about 2 yrs old. The main “issue” is that he is blind in one eye. I went to a vet visit with the shelter, but I can’t remember the specifics of how he was blinded (some kind of abcess). The vet says he looks pretty good in that eye (other than being blind) and his other eye looks normal. My main question is if there is anything special I need to do for him? I was hoping someone on here had experience with blindness in buns and could tell me a little more.
  
  He seems fine being approached on the blind side; the vet says he can discern light but nothing else. He is a super laid back guy, and had no issues with me picking him up during my visits to the rescue and was content to cuddle on the couch with me. I haven’t picked him up yet since I’ve been traveling for the holidays but should be getting him within the week. Thanks for any help you guys can give.
- 01/02/2013 at 9:57 PM
  Suivezmoi
  Participant
  67 posts
  Also, sorry for all the grammatical errors, typing all of this on my phone is rough.
- 01/03/2013 at 12:02 AM
  Roberta
  Participant
  4355 posts
  Hi and Welcome,
  I know several of the members here have blind buns and though some adjustments need to be made they live very happy lives and several have also responded to clicker training.
- 01/03/2013 at 4:49 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I think that’s wonderful that you want to adopt this little fellow. That would be very sad if he had to spend his life in the shelter. I don’t have any experience with blind bunnies, but another forum leader, Kokanee&Kahlua had a blind bunny. I will let her know about this thread and I’m sure she will have some advice for you.
  
  I do have experience with a Californian bunny and I can tell you that he was super sweet and loveable.
  
  I really don’t think being blind, especially in one eye, is that big a deal. Rabbits are very similar to horses and I have a friend who has a horse who is blind in one eye from an accident as a baby and he can do everything a normal-visioned horse can do.
- 01/03/2013 at 10:04 AM
  Malp_15
  Participant
  601 posts
  That’s so wonderful that you are thinking about adopting him! I too, don’t see why it would be a big deal having a blind rabbit. There would need to be some minor adjustments, but nothing too big. Like maybe you wouldn’t want to have him in a multi-level pen, etc.
  
  I’ve only dealt with cats, dogs, and horses who were blind and they all functioned very well. The one horse I worked with was completely blind and you could ride her in traffic, etc. and she was taught verbal commands to step over stuff on trails, and into trailers etc. She even put her nose on your shoulder when you were leading her so she knew where to go.
  
  I guess the only concern, is if the abscess/infection may come back, or spread to the other eye. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be adoptable, but something to think about, to be sure you have the ability to deal with that. But the shelter should be able to give you a full history/outlook, and if not they can get it from the treating vet.
- 01/03/2013 at 10:09 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I agree with Malp, it’s not a huge deal and he will adapt. It’s possible as well that there may be some future problems with health if this is due to an abscess or infection but don’t let that stop you from giving this wonderful rabbit a good home. I love the Californians as a breed and have had few of them and they are wonderful rabbits.
  
  I hope you adopt him – keep us updated.
- 01/03/2013 at 12:51 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3312 posts
  There is a rabbit at the Sanctuary where I volunteer who is blind in one eye (after being hit by a car) and he is just fine. You would never know that he only has sight in one eye.
  
  I think it would be wonderful if you adopted this rabbit.
- 01/03/2013 at 12:52 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Here are few links regarding blind bunny care that may be helpful:
  
  http://www.examiner.com/article/pro…use-rabbit
  
  http://voices.yahoo.com/how-care-bl…32037.html
  
  http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/reso…af-cat.htm (This one was geared for cats, but it still has some good tips that work for a bunny)
- 01/04/2013 at 7:28 PM
  Bunslave54
  Participant
  6 posts
  In my opinion being blind in one eye doesn’t affect a rabbit much at all. I had a new zealand white (white because of the abinoism they bad sight to begin with) and then she lost most of the rest of her sight in one eye due to pasteurella, and it didn’t affect or slow her down at all. To anyone else she didnt seen sick or disabled at all. So I would not be too concerned about that.
- 01/05/2013 at 10:33 AM
  Suivezmoi
  Participant
  67 posts
  Well that’s good to know. He is such a sweet guy; I couldn’t let him languish in a shelter just because he needs a bit of extra care. The lady there said it’s hard enough to get Californians and New Zealands adopted because they’re mostly white with red eyes, and people want something more “interesting”. With him being blind in one eye, no one even took a second look at him.
  
  I spent a few hours with him whenever I went to the shelter and he would just sit in my lap and close his eyes while I stroked his head, and then run to the front of the cage every time I walked by. I guess I’m lucky he never got adopted since it seems like it was meant to be .
- 01/05/2013 at 11:14 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  He’s beautiful – I think Californians are a very interesting looking breed – beautiful dark points and I love the red/rose/pink eyes – they are very unique.
- 01/05/2013 at 11:21 AM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  I had a blind deaf bunny-Chuck. Honestly other than of course making sure no stairs or drop offs were in his area he was fine. When I posted videos of him on here, most people asked if I was ‘sure’ he was blind I definitely think that blind in one eye is not going to be an issue, or even obviously noticeable. You’ll just want to make sure he can’t get hurt in his environment and don’t allow access to stairs or drops (this would include ‘ups’-if he’s able to climb high on something he may attempt coming down so an up would be a down in that case!)
- 01/05/2013 at 11:26 AM
  tanlover14
  Participant
  3617 posts
  I have never had an experience with a blind bunny — but I just wanted to pop in on your thread and say I think it’s absolutely wonderful what you’re doing for this bun. Sadly, without you, he probably never would have been adopted and I think it’s really remarkable that you’re doing something like this!
  
  Pictures are a MUST when you bring the boy home though! I love Californian coloring and markings!
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