Bringing home a baby bunny + diet + rhdv2

[Inaya]

Hi!

I’m bringing home a baby bun on Friday, a purebred holland lop baby.

I asked the breeder for the pellets he eats and the hay, she is great and will supply it for me for a bit, but  she recommended switching to Timothy hay right away from alfalfa since it’ll be easy to transition. But the bun is only 9 weeks, so is it a good idea? She said it’s too much calcium for him. I’ve heard you should wait until at least 5 months. I also will be feeding orchard grass afterwards.

Also about the pellets, I’ve heard some people say to give a baby bun unlimited alfalfa, and others are saying moderated amounts. I feel like unlimited is wrong, What are your opinions how much should I give him?

And I should introduce veggies in  a few months right?

Also, I live in Ontario, Canada. I want to get my bun vaccinated for rhdv, but I’ve heard it’s unesscary due to the fact that there hasn’t been an outbreak in a few years. I want to be safe just in case, but that’s also extra money and extra stress for the bun.

I’m so sorry but I have one more question!

should I take my bun for a checkup right away?

 

Thank you so much!

 

[mia]

I would continue what bun was already eating and take your bun in to the vet asap. During the visit, ask them about their recommendation for bun’s diet. That way you are feeding what bun specifically needs based on how bun is growing.

I would go ahead and get bun vaccinated. The stress is just a day and bun has to see vet anyways.

 

[Wick & Fable]

Vaccinating for RHDV2, in my opinion, is a must. Regardless of how unlikely it is for a rabbit to get it wherever they are located, the reality is once the rabbit gets it, the rabbit will pass and there is no action to prevent. Additionally, that rabbit, for a brief time, is also then a hazard for other rabbits it may come in contact with, making a very contagious and robust virus even more risky to other rabbits. Cases of RHDV2 are only growing, and geographically, it is naturally going to continue spreading in the US (it is almost in all states now), so I would not wait.

RE: the timothy and alfalfa, as long as the rabbit has alfalfa-based pellets, it can be fine to be on a non-alfalfa hay at the same time.
RE: the idea of “unlimited” pellets, when people say unlimited, they typically don’t actually mean that. You do not want a rabbit gorging with no limitations on yummy pellets. It’s more so you want to ensure there are plenty of pellets to match this period of rapid growth and development. For both sanitation and diet reasons, you do not want to leave a huge bowl of pellets out, but often people may provide 1-2cups in the morning and offer more in the evening, as an example.
RE: veggies– yes, you need to wait a few months. A young rabbit’s GI system is not prepared to break down complex veggie structure yet.

Yes, you should take your rabbit for a check-up soon. It is important to establish a relationship at a vet and for the vet to get an idea of the rabbit’s baseline and overall health.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Inaya]

Hi! thank you both so so much this has helped a lot!

I will take him to the vet and get him vaccinated ASAP. I’m also going to monitor how he is with the alfalfa hay and if it seems like too much calcium, I can start mixing in some orchard grass, but I’ll check with my vet!

 

Thanks so much for everything!

How often should I take my bun for checkup after?

Thank you!

[mia]

Typically healthy buns just go in for yearly wellness exams. Here, the vaccine is yearly too so I just schedule both at same time. If a heath issue comes up beforehand, obviously take them in before their yearly. They usually get an smaller overall check during issue exam versus a more comprehensive exam during wellness exams.

[Author]

Messages