Looking after a blind rabbit

[yorkshiredeb]

Hi, I have just bought myself my second house bunny after my other one died (over a year ago now). I got her on Saturday but I have been very concerned that she seems a little ‘laid back’. She does bat an eyelid at my Jack russell dog or the kids and crawls on all fours like a cat rather than hopping. If her cage is open or the lid off altogether she doesn’t even attempt to get out. I started to think that she couldn’t see. If you wave your hands in front of her face she doesn’t even flinch. I took her to the vets today and it turns out that my suspisions were right and she is blind.

The vet said to just see how she goes because she doesn’t know how it will affect her. Does anyone else have a blind rabbit? She seems fine and quite happy. She is eating well She’s massive and only 14 weeks old (she is a french lop).

I’m just concerned about exercise because obviously she will get very big. I wondered how I can make her life more enjoyable.

Many thanks Debbie

[Sarita]

You might consider getting her a friend to bond with. Usually rabbits with disabilities do better with a friend to “help” them.

[kralspace]

Welcome yorkshiredeb!

I’m sorry to hear about your bunny, but I feel blind animals actually get along better than blind people do and can have great lives. I recently lost a guinea pig who was blind and deaf and she was much more relaxed and fun than the normal piggy. She couldn’t see hands coming for her or hear loud noises so she was very mellow about being scooped up and cuddled. She stayed close to her friend sometimes, but wasn’t hesitant at all about roaming off on her own and playing with toys.

I know it helps them if you keep their surroundings constant so they get their bearings. I think we do have some members with blind buns so I know you’ll get lots of help and support here. She’ll probably like toys that make a noise or have a nice smell she can track and I bet she’ll be finding your wires before too long too!

You’re a great bunny slave!

Kathy

[BunnyLiz]

Annabell, my rat, is blind. She stays close to Lady, my other rat, and Lady looks after her, guides her and will sometimes bring her food. Lady will tug her tail a little to get her to turn around and follow if she is going the wrong way or about to get close to the edge of a shelf. I just dont move anything, and if i must i move it a tiny bit everyday till its where i want it. I have lots of food bowls and water bottles so its convenient for her. I keep hiding and sleeping spots on every level too, because every now and again Lady will leave her and she is on her own and wondering around. Good Luck and Welcome!

[yorkshiredeb]

Thanks a lot to every one. She is a lovely bunny who seems a lot less scared than my old bunny. She is very chilled out. I just want to make sure she’s happy!!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome here!

I have a blind and deaf bunny He too doesn’t leave an area on his own, he’s free range but doesn’t seem to care!

Some things I’ve found that work for mine will likely work or work better for your bunny So I’ll share those.

I tap the floor and blow gently on his face before I touch him. This has completely eliminated his initial flinch to being touched.

If I hold him I always put him down in the exact same two spots so he can quickly orient himself. It also helps him feel more comforable and in control I think, because if he never knows where he’s going to be put down that could be nerve-racking; But if he knows there is only two choices (governed by the time of day too) then that’s predictable and easy.

Although I have two other rabbits who like him and hang out with him, they are often off doing other things and like I said, he doesn’t go with them. He has two stuffed toys and I think he thinks they are real. He spends alot of time grooming them and on occaision has humped them too! He snuggles right up with them, and I’ve found that they really seem to keep him company.

Since he’s so laid back and can’t run around, for exercise, he gets a diggy box (see toy test seciton) but it’s only three walled so he can hop in and out easily. He loves this and he loves digging/chewing/rearranging a blanky too. This has given him lots of fun and exercise and he’s even lost a touch of weight.

Hope this helps! Maybe we brainstorm new ideas together too!

[rabbitsmba]

I agree that rabbits, and animals in general, do much better with any sort of disability than people do. They don’t seem to have a “pity” gene and adjust very fast to whatever situation they are in.

I think a friend for her would be a nice idea. I don’t know if you are in a position to get another bunny, but I think it would be lovely for her to have a sighted friend.

I visited a sanctuary once and the lady there told be a lovely story about a blind bunny and his sighted mate. She had relocated them to another room to give them more space and set up a big pen for them. As soon as she put them inside the pen, she noticed that Blind Bunny was slowly hopping around exploring. Sighted Bunny came up to him and seemingly ushered him up against the wall of the pen. Blind bunny continued to tentatively explore and once again, sighted bunny pushed him up against the side of the pen. She watched this go on for about 10 minutes until both bunnies had circled the entire perimeter of the pen. Once back to the spot where they began, sighted bunny stretched out for a nap. Then it dawned on her – sighted bunny was showing blind bunny the perimeter of the new space and after that, blind bunny always knew where to go and where things were. Animals are amazing.

[Beka27]

welcome here! do you have any pics you’d like to share of your new friend?

[MooBunnay]

Hi!

I have a blind bunny too – her name is Grace. I find that when it comes to exercise, I just have to make her cage as big as possible because she won’t feel comfortable running around unless she knows her surroundings very well. Once she learns her cage however, she runs around and does binkies just like any other bunny! Don’t rearrange her stuff too much though because Grace tends to get confused if we do that.

We have had some trouble bonding Grace, the reason is that because she is blind, when a bunny gets near her, it usually startles her and her reaction is to lunge and to bite. We think this is due to her being mis-handled in her “previous” life, so we don’t really have the option of bonding her unless she becomes more comfortable around other rabbits. But she doesn’t seem to mind being single, she’s quite happy with her cage and spending time with my husband and I

[yorkshiredeb]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the replies. She seems to be doing really well. she doesn’t come out of her cage much and when she does she sticks to anywhere that she can feel something i.e. the edge of the room. Bless her she’s lovely!! She doesn’t bang into anything so far because she walks rather than hops, she seems to be going slowly so she know where she’s going! I do have some pics.

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[KatnipCrzy]

Oh my gosh, she is so adorable- she looks like a cuddly stuffed animal! 

One thing I thought I should mention- is that if you did get her from a breeder- it is important to tell the breeder that your bunny is blind and whether the vet thinks it is genetic or accident (basically the cause).   In case this is genetic the breeder should make future decisions of breeding the parents/genetic line again based on this.  Even if you are not angry, have no intention of giving the bunny back or trading (which I do not see why you would want to- she is soo cute!)- please inform the breeder.  (I think sometimes if people are not upset or angry- they do not tell the breeder- and it is so very important that they at least know whether they decide to make any breeding decisions based upon that or not).

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

OMG she’s lovely!! That’s how my Chuck moves around too, it’s really a walk, with the back legs being stretched out behind and moving left-right-left-right. She’s very cute!

[Beka27]

AAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

she is adorable!!!!!!!!!! if you ever change your mind i will fly to the UK and pick that baby doll up!!!

eeeeek!

she is huge. can i make a suggestion that you get her spayed as soon as you can? once those hormones kick in, it can make them very territorial and i would worry that her being blind could make it worse (not being aware of her surroundings.) i’d hate to see your beautiful children get nipped just b/c she is confused.

[Sarita]

She’s gorgeous!

[Sage Cat]

What a cutie!
You have gotten some great advice.
I would think it would help to talk to her a lot.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Beautiful bunny! She looks like my mini-lop Bindi!

[BinkyBunny]

I’m bet in time, once she get’s more comfortable in her surroundings and feels where everything is (whiskers are key for that!) then you’ll see a bit more activity.

[BunMumTiff]

she is just so darling. I would love her to pieces too

[bunnytowne]

How pretty.  What a bunny. Gorgeous.  She seems relaxed in the pics here.  And your child how sweet. I wish you the best with this wonderful blind bunny.

Yeah about the breeder it would be a good idea to let them know.   A good breeder doesn’t want to pass on bad traits.

[kralspace]

that’s a beautiful bunny, yorkshiredeb, it sounds like he’s really settled into his life with you.

Here’s 2 pics of my little girl I recently lost. If she hadn’t been named Snowflake I would have called her Marilyn because of the way she loved to throw that hair around. the second shot is her short summer cut. (I’m not much of a groomer)

After a bath, blow dry and combing she’d strut, rumble, squeal and popcorn all over the condo tossing that long hair. I agree that little blind creatures can really enjoy their life.

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[Kokaneeandkahlua]

AWww ^^ She was so a Marilyn!! Sorry she’s gone Kralspace *hugs*

[jerseygirl]

 Kralspace, I’m sorry you lost her, she looked  like an amazing bunny with that coat, and a LOT of work. Binky Free Snowflake!

[kralspace]

thanks, she was a guinea pig, a little lethal who was born with all the typical defects, blindness, no eye at all, deaf, heart condition, deformed teeth,etc and at 3 years she lived way beyond what they usually do. With a bit of dental maintanance and extra care to her living quarters like yorkshire deb does for her bunny, Snowflake was quite a happy little piggy and I really miss hearing that stem kettle whistle in the morning.

I have a normal dutch that does the ‘walking’ thing too. He seldom hops like the rest of them. Yours is a beautiful baby (so are your kids, lol)

[jerseygirl]

Posted By kralspace on 11/06/2008 7:44 AM
thanks, she was a guinea pig,

My apologies Kralspace!  When I look at the pic, I wonder how I made that mistake!  I thought she was a fascinating looking bunny!  Perhaps it was the size that threw me, although it’s probably the coat that makes her appear bigger.  All the same, she still looked amazing!

[BinkyBunny]

Jerseygirl – with all the fuzzy faced breeds like lionheads, you just never know anymore!

Kralspace – Gorgeous Guinea! I am sorry for your loss.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yes Jersey-everyone thinks Kahlua is a guineapig and when she was young they REFUSED to belive she was a rabbit With theh long fur it’s hard to tell

[kralspace]

Some of the lionheads look like cute little werewolves!

[skunklionshow]

I had a blind/deaf brain damaged kitten for some time.  I used many of the suggestions for humans that I knew…

Individuals that are blind tend to have spatial perseption issuess…duh of course they would….chewing gum for kids is a good way to deal w/ some spatial concerns.  My thought is that spatial persception is more than just hopping or moving about, it may affect how they eat and obtain their food/water.

I also used a lot of tappy and singing as communication for my kitten.  When one sense is altered other senses can be impacted, either by being overly sensitive or underly sensitive.  Some times they are even skewed, i.e. people that sneeze from bright light.  So stimulating other senses, especially when animals can’t communicate w/ words, can be a good thing.

I’m like jerseygirl…took me a minute, but I thought she was a unique looking bunny too!

[BinkyBunny]

skunklionshow – Something went right over my head – how does chewing gum help kids deal with spatial concerns? Very interesting.

[skunklionshow]

bb:  I believe it’s b/c the gum is in a confined space and the chewing allows them to explore this space in a controlled manner.  I know we’ve done similar for kids w/ autism that have spatial concerns.  Other sensory explorations that I have learned is the use of blankets or even weighted vests to help w/ sensory and feeling more sound spatially.  I had a kid that used head banging as more a sensory, we resolved the head banging by having him wear a heavy cap that seemed to fulfill that need of pressure on his head….kinda strange.

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