Adopting a rabbit: Disease wary

[LittlePuffyTail]

Okay, so most of you know about the terrible drama I went through when I got Olivia and thought she had Pasteurella, which I had never even heard of before I got her. Thankfully, the situation turned out alright but because of that awful scare, I am now very, very scared to ever bring a new rabbit in my home. What do you do to make certain the new bunny is not sick? I know it’s always a good idea to quarantine but a bunny might have Pasteurella and show no signs of any illness during said quarantine. How do you guys adopt/buy new bunnies and not be terrified of your present buns catching something? I would never, ever forgive myself if I infected my buns with a new bunny.

The reason I am bringing this up is I’ve had my eye on a little REW lop at the spca. He’s been there for about 4 months He looks just like Bindi Loo. When I got Olivia the plan was to bond them (her and Bindi) once she was fixed. She will be getting fixed in January but I sort of have a lot of doubts on her being the best buddy for him. She is extremely territorial and very high strung where as he is relaxed and sweet. I got her because of the sad situation she was in and I wasn’t thinking of suitability (I still would have gotten her anyways). I had e-mailed the spca once to ask if there was any way I could pay and get a pasteurella test done on a bun I’m interested in but the jerks never wrote back. I hate that! And they are always crying they have way too many animals (but anyways…)

Once in a while, I will bring Stormy or Olivia over to Bindi’s cage to say hello and he gets so excited to see them. I really want to get him a buddy if Olivia doesn’t work out as a bud for him and she has to stay a solo bun. I doubt I will ever be able to bond Storm, he’s fixed and still pretty bratty and agressive.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I guess if you really wanted to be cautious you could have a vet do blood tests and culture sensitivity tests on the new bun (And maybe on your own buns too as they could carry something and give it to the new bun). I think when I introduced my new buns I really had no idea of the risk and ignorance is bliss as nothing happened but it certainly could-and that’s pretty scary. But I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, you really can’t control and prevent everything…so sometimes you just have to take a chance!!

[Sarita]

There is always a risk whether you get a rabbit from a rescue or from a pet store or from a breeder. If you are afraid of a risk then I would advise don’t get another rabbit. Sure you could do a bunch of tests but what if it turns out the rabbit has something that you feel is a problem for your other rabbits? What are you going to do with the rabbit then?

[Beka27]

i agree with Sarita, there’s always going to be a risk. i adopted Max from a “warren-like” rescue setting and i thought about the risk, but i figured if he did end up having something, we would treat as that situation arose. the joy they get from being together is worth it. in another thread, BB (i think) said something like 1 in 4 buns might carry the EC parasite, but some will never exhibit anything related to that. i’d be worried about doing a pasteurella test on this bun AT the rescue. if they do it, it comes back positive, and then you decide, “nope, i can’t take her now…” will the rescue then be required to disclose to any future people interested in her? her chances of being adopted will be decreased even further, and then what happens?

[JK]

That was my fear as well.  I would hate to bring home another rabbit with an unknown history and expose Edson to something contagious.  I asked SaveABunny about this and they said you would have to run some blood tests.  Expensive and then what happens if they have something. I spent over $800 on Edson when I first got him because he drank buckets of water and we were trying to figure out the cause. It turned out to be nothing but probably psychotic drinking as he most likely did not get much water in his past.  I did not want to go thru that again! Now that I have a puppy I can’t possibly get another rabbit so I am hoping my cat will eventually bond with the rabbit which is actually happening very slowly.

[bunnytowne]

That is a very tricky situation.  I understand your fear and worry.  If you do get the bunny and it has pastueralla it can be a carrier and no symptoms same as your 2.  Would they necessarily get sick if 1 had the virus? 

I am not familiar with this situation.  If I get a new bun and it has the virus and my 3 get it would they fall ill with it? Would it lie dormant til they get really stressed or something?   I really have no idea how this works.

Sometimes it is just a chance you take. 1 in 3 is pretty high to me.  I dont’ mean to be gloom and doom and play on your fear.   That is not my intent I would prefer to reassure and say you just take that chance.  And treat as it occurs.

But I do have questions and if someone could answer them I would feel better as far as having knowledge about this virus and how it is spread.

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