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- This topic has 13sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 6 months ago by
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A week and two days ago I bought my very first pet bunny. She’s brown all over and as sweet as can be. I named her Wendy and I predict that she’s around 6-7 weeks old, since the pet store I bought her from didn’t know anything about anything unless it involved me buying something expensive.
Around Tuesday I began to notice that the left side, and only the left side of her face was getting boogery. I had to use a warm cloth to clean it off, making sure to mind her tiny nostrils. And ever since then, she’s been boogery only out of that side of her face.
She lives in a 55 gallon aquarium with a wire mesh top. I’ve recently started putting a fan on top to help with the ventilation and it’s only temporary until I can afford something wire, as the fish tank was free.
I’ve also noticed slight discharge from her eyes and sneezing every couple of days.
She has been pooping, eating, drinking and playing regularly. She’s full of energy and is always very happy to see me, like always.
I know that you all will most likely tell me to take her to a vet, but please if you have any other suggestions, I am open. My plan is to keep an eye on her over the weekend and see if she improves with the ventilation from the fan in her cage.
Thank you all so much.
-Brittany – AKA – First Timer
PS, I’ve included a picture of her from when she had been home for a couple days. No discharge or runny nose.
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First I would suggest getting her out of the aquarium. It’s just not big enough or ventilated enough for a little bunny.
What kind of wood shavings is she on in the pic? If pine or cedar, get rid of it quick. Could be causing the sneezing and such, as pine and cedar are bad for bunnies! If you want wood shavings, go for aspen instead.
And then, I do suggest a vet visit. Every bunny should have one shortly after coming home for a wellness check. You’ll want to know if she has anything like worms, E.Cuniculi, coccidia, all sorts of little bunny problems. It’s best to know early! And to make sure she is in fact a girl. Most pet stores mis-sex bunnies.
For a more permanent housing solution, you may want to invest in some NIC grids. They are the cheap wire-grid shelving units found in alot of stores like Target, Walmart, any place that sells shelving units. They are relatively cheap, and you can turn them into a bunny house in no time. Definitely better than a glass box!
Wendy will need lots of room to run and play, so make sure you let her have some out of cage time every day
If you have any other questions, about anything, diet, toys, general bunny stuff, specific health questions, whatever, feel free to ask
Welcome to BB
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Welcome! Congrats to you!. Wendy is beautiful. The fact that your bunny is in the tank could contribute to respiratory and eye irritation. Their urine is high in ammonia and it can be bad for a rabbit’s health to be in the housing she’s currently in. (even with the top not closed)
So this is something you should get her out of asap. I would check out Craigslist for an xpen (dog pen or even a dog training crate). Also, see our cool habitats section for the cube options that the other members were talking about.
I also ditto a vet check with a rabbit-savvy vet even if she does get better. It’s better to establish with a vet who treats rabbits before you ever have to deal with an emergency. Rabbits are actually considered “exotic” because they don’t react the same way as cats and dogs do to surgery, treatments, meds, etc. They have special challenges as well. Vets have to actually get extra schooling to learn more about them, and so that is what can put them into the “exotics” category. So that’s why I say it’s best to find a vet prior to really needing one and save your $$ as you pay for the vet, not the pet, and vets are expensive. Most everyone here can tell you that they have had to see a vet at LEAST once so far, so it’s something you have to prepare for. I know you said you were financially strapped so that’s the only reason I say start saving for the vet too.
Keep us updated!
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*hugs* SO sorry for the loss of Wendy
Feel free to stay with us on the forums, and don’t rush to get another bun.. you will know when the time is right
Adopt one in Wendy’s memory when you feel it is time, I’m sure she would like that. Giving another bun a good home is always a good memorial
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