Bunsitting a bunny with a possible health problem??

[Kiley Rose]

So this past Easter, I did the whole “Chocolate rabbits instead of real” etc. and what does my aunt do? Buy an Easter bunny she knows absolutely nothing about.

I’m guessing she’s a New Zealand…absolutely the sweetest with me. My aunt has her living on her screened in porch, so she gets tons of room to run, but it’s also been really hot and raining a lot lately leaving everything pretty damp. To eat daily, she gets a huge portion of bad food (the mixed kind with all the little things in it), a bowl of greens with way too many baby carrots,banana pieces and broccoli, and my aunt refuses to use anything but clumping kitty litter.

So I already know how I’m going to convince her to switch to wood stove pellets, but I doubt the food advice will stick with her…she’s a bit air-y in the head.

But I have noticed a yellow buildup in the rabbit’s ears…it looks kind of like ear wax but has little crusty bits (think small critter wood bedding pieces…). What could this be and what should I do for the poor baby? I’ve picked her up everyday and I think I smell an odor coming from it, but it could also be due to just living outside.

I would guess the rabbit is between 4 and 5 months old, unspayed (and my aunt won’t spay her when it’s time…she doesn’t really want the rabbit anymore so she’s not going to voluntarily extend it’s life), and growing soo big everyday! And I seriously doubt she would take her to the vet.

She just frustrates me! I have given her sooo many articles and things about good rabbit care..

[Beka27]

I’m not sure what it is, but the rabbit should be seen by a vet just for a general check-up anyways. If she doesn’t want her, would she give you the rabbit so you could do right by her? (She’s very pretty! I love her eyes and long eyelashes!)

[Sarita]

Well, why does your aunt not want her any longer. It’s very cruel to not get vet care and want to extend an animals life. Maybe she needs to look for a better home for this poor little rabbit. The ear might require vet care.

[kralspace]

I’m sorry about your situation, it’s a beautiful bunny.

I have no advice to offer, but I had to say those are some awesome in-the-ear photos.

[Kiley Rose]

I have already thought about taking her in, and my aunt has offered her to me also…I just don’t have the money and I’m running low on space in my bedroom. I was thinking though, if they would pay for the vet and spay I might be able to take her. I would have to convince my own family to let me take her, and I also might be moving out in the next few months…so there’s another whole issue of waiting for her to heal from her spay and trying to bond her to Nixie before I move (possibly to California) and finding a place that will allow two rabbits that is still in my price range. The move isn’t really set in stone yet though…
I’m going to CA next tue for 8 days, I’ll see how that goes and if it’s possible for me to take her I probably will.

I just wish I knew something to help her a little now…she doesn’t seem like she’s in any kind of pain. She’s very active and always following me when I’m doing her daily cleaning/feeding. She also loves the face massages like my little Nix!

Do you think I should bring Nix over there and try them out together even though she isn’t spayed? I’m worried about having another female-female bond not work out if I do take her though. :/

[KatnipCrzy]

I would not introduce Nixie to the unspayed female- it is not likely to go well and will create a bad experience for them.  Plus the ear could be either mites or infection- and you don’t want something passed on to Nixie. 

If you decide you want her- go the route of quarantining, vet treatment, spaying, then starting bonding.

[Kiley Rose]

Yeah, I thought about that a little after I posted…
I’m def going to have a long talk with my aunt when she gets home.

[mocha200]

so why do you take care of her? does your aunt not take care of her? do you live close?

[Kiley Rose]

I live about 15 min away from her…her and my uncle went out of town for the week but they will be back late tomorrow night. I just took care of her 4 yappy dogs, fish, and poor little bunny.

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