New, unexpected bunny owner

[Nykki]

Hi everyone!

   I recently (about 2 weeks ago) was given a rabbit in a Pet Supplies “Plus” parking lot.  I have several animals already and was not intending on getting another but I couldn’t leave the bunny in the condition he was.  Long story short, the previous owner recently divorced and could not take pets to his apartment and his ex wife and children no longer wanted the rabbit.  He was giving the rabbit and all supplies away in the parking lot of the store, so I took him.

   I had a rabbit when I was a child and she didn’t live much longer than a few years.  And since taking this rabbit in, I have found a huge variety of information so I was hoping to get some answers here.  The rabbit is a 2 or 3 year old un-neutered male.  By comparing him to pictures on the internet I believe he is a English Spotted and/or mix so hes around medium size??  The previous owner gave me a cage (about 3ft x 2ft), pine bedding, and food with nuts and kibble.  I switched the bedding to carefresh with Yesterday’s News in his litter box and Oxbow brand bunny pellets and hay.  I don’t believe he was ever given hay and he still doesn’t eat a whole lot.  He loves his daily salads though and chases me when I bring it to his room.  I realize he needs a bigger cage and I’m working on a storage cube cage but until then he is mostly loose in my bunny proofed bedroom.

  So my questions… I called a vet about getting him neutered and they said he was too old and it would be dangerous.  If they can live 10 years, isn’t my bunny reasonably young?  Should I call around?

His previous owner had a salt lick in his cage but it was so gross, I threw it away.  Is is true they really aren’t needed or should I replace it?

He isn’t litter box trained but when he is loose, he always returns to the cage to use the bathroom.  Anyway I could get him to use only the litter box? 

“Bunny” (he’s still un-named) stretches out on his belly with his legs back behind him or lays on his side a lot.  Is this normal??  My childhood bunny was always on her feet.  He also licks my hands, arms, face, whatever he can reach.  And he jumps on my bed when I’m laying in it and either licks me or lie on his side next to me.  Normal? 

Thank you for all your help!

Nykk i

 

[Carrot Lane Bunny]

The stretching is completely normal and think getting him neutered should be fine.Could you post a picture so that We can guess his age and breed?
PS Welcome to Binky bunny!

[BunnyLiz]

Welcome! Yep thats normal, just him getting comfy. Its awesome really, it shows that he trust you enough to let down his guard already.

[jerseygirl]

Hi Nykki – what an interesting way to get a new pet! Sounds like you’re off to a great start with him.  New litter, pellets, hay!    Oxbow Bunny Basics T type (for adult buns) would be best for him.

He sounds pretty affectionate!  Most of us here don’t get ours grooming us like he is you. 

Laying on tummy and side is normal, tells you you have a pretty relaxed bunny. 

No need to replace salt lick – really not necessary. Besides, the diet you have him on now should cover all his needs.

You can always put a liitter box in his cage and only put the carefresh/yesterday’s news in there. Pop a little of the soiled litter and droppings in there also. Then clean the rest of the floor and perhaps use some fleece for bedding if he likes it.

Age 2-3 is absolutely ok to be neutered!!!! Sounds as if the vet you saw is not overly confident with rabbits. Here’s a link to House Rabbit Society vet listings. Take a look around the site also – great info (rabbit.org)
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html

[BinkyBunny]

Welcome! First, what a great thing you did.  Sounds like you are transitioning him over to a much better diet and better care all around! How lucky he is to have you.

The next important thing I wanted to get to right away was a rabbit that is 2-3 years is not too old to neuter.  I would look for a another vet – best to find one that is rabbit savvy – if you search out one that specializes in exotics, you may have a better chance (as common as rabbits are, their vet care is specialized, and so they are considered exotic in the vet profession)

Also check out http://rabbit.org/vets/vets.html – this is a list of rabbit savvy vets. You still however need to double check that the vet they recommend is still at the number as sometimes the list can be outdated.  Also the link provides a list of questions to help you find rabbit savvy vets.  Very helpful.

Rabbits don’t need salt licks so you won’t need to replace it.

Regarding litterbox – the fact that he is returning to his cage  to use the bathroom is great for unneutered bunny! But once you get him neutered this should improve even more. Is he doing pile poops and pees outside of his litterbox or just random poos throughout?   The random poos are territorial and though that will also lessen once he’s neutered, it is normal for a bunny in a new place to mark his territory (his cage or pen).  It’s his way of feeling secure as he is letting you all know he’s settling into “home”.   And in time – within a couple of weeks or so, that should lessen once he feels safe and secure. (but not being neutered, he may still mark more than unneutered bunnies – especially since you have other animals)

The lounge, flop and/or superman poses with feet stretched out or the flop on the side is totally normal. (some people panic the first time they see that as they think something is wrong with their bunny) Check out our gallery full of these – click on the “Lounge and Flops” section

Regarding him licking you and lounging on his side next to you – I have one thing to say about that – AWWWE!!!!!   (he loves you)

You are doing such a wonderful job!  I can’t wait to see photos of this lucky bunny.

Keep us updated and of course we are here to help with anything we can.

[Adalaide]

He sounds like a very happy and lovable bunny. Lets see pics! Let us know when you name him too.

[RabbitPam]

He sounds like a wonderful little guy who knows you rescued him and loves your for it.
I agree with the others’ advice above. It was great of you to take him in. We really need pix though……

[Nykki]

Wow, thanks everyone!  I really appreciate all the replies.

I would post pictures if someone could tell me how.

As far as the his bathroom habits, he poops all over his cage and he pees in two corners.  He actually kicks his Carefresh into a high pile in one corner and uses that to pee and the other corner is the litter box.  Luckily for me he has only had one accident outside the cage since I’ve gotten him. 

I will definitely look into another vet.  It would be great to get him neutered and hopefully improve his litter box habits.

Thanks again,

Nykki

[Nykki]

Did it work?  If so, this is my un-named male bunny.  I’m open to name suggestions!

[KytKattin]

Oh my goodness, I just love his color. He almost looks like he has rex fur, but it may just be my computer. I think Jerseygirl is going to flip when she sees him! He sounds like a complete love, and certainly 2 or 3 is not too old to be neutered. Thank you so much for taking him in!!!

[BinkyBunny]

Oh he is beautiful!!!!

Is his pen or cage big enough to put two litterboxes in there for now? If not, then just keep cleaning up the pee in the corner as soon as you can find it. Also, I recommend that when you clean his litterbox, mix back in some of the old urine soaked litter with the fresh litter. Also, if you don’t already, add fresh hay in the box or near the box. Also if “bunny” has a special healthy treat he likes – like mint, rosemary, etc, you can that in the box to help encourage getting into the box more often. Once a bunny is in, they will usually sniff around, smell urine, and then urinate.

[PEPPA GEORGIE]

Oh he is gorgeous and sooo affectionate, i want my bunnies to become like that and am lying on the floor lots, and giving treats by hand etc but they still lie together rather than with me. xx

[jerseygirl]

Aww! 

I think Jerseygirl is going to flip when she sees him!

Lol. He does have identical tonings to my doe! He’s lovely, and I agree, it appears he has rex fur. For an neutered bunny, his litter habits don’t sound half bad. Sounds as if he’s chosen another corner. Does he pee there then just sleep in his litter box? I think you’ll have success just putting the litter/bedding in litter box an not on the cage floor. Fingers crossed!
 

Hadn’t the former owners named him?  I was thinking you could name him something to do with how you got him – like the name of the store you were going to…but since that was Pet Supplies Plus – maybe not! 

[RabbitPam]

Oh, he’s gorgeous!
Bunnies will choose where they like to pee, so if you can get a litter pan under that pile of Carefresh he’s creating, he should use it in that spot. He may only need the one pan in that location if it’s his preference.

jersey, Rumball may be jealous of a Jersey twin boy…

[Beka27]

Welcome here! Thank you so much for rescuing him and trying your best to get him on a healthier diet/living conditions. You are doing great so far! He looks like a mini rex to me. I have a charcoal and white spotted mini rex (she’s in my avatar). Does he have impossibly soft, dense, short fur? Are his whiskers either non-existent or short and curly? Mini rexes are about 3-4 pounds. Standard rexes are about 6-8 pounds.

At his age is can definitely be neutered. If the vet has reservations, I would take that as inexperience and look for another vet in your area. HRS is a great place to look for competent vets. There are also questions you can ask to check for “rabbit-savviness”…

[flippersmom]

All I have to add is – I’m soooooooo jealous!!!! I can’t get my bunnies to groom me and then’ve been with me awhile now!!! How lucky to get such a good bunny in a parking lot!!!!!!!!!

As for names – there’s a cute thread in the lounge on nicknames we all have for our buns! Check it out, it might help get the creative juices flowing!!!!!!!

[Nykki]

Yes, his fur is short, thick, and incredibly soft.  He’s probably around 4 or 5 lbs.  I’d try to weigh him but he isn’t very fond of being held so other than trimming his nails, i don’t pick him up.  When he pees, he uses both the back corners (one of which contains the litter box) and lays in the middle. 

Here is another picture of him enjoying one of his favorite foods, parsley.  See the hanging skin underneathe his chin?  What is that?  I’ve seen pictures of other bunnies with it also.

Thanks again, you guys are great!  

Nykki

 

 

[KytKattin]

Do you know for sure that he is a male? I just ask because that hanging skin is a dewlap and tends to be much more common in females. He could of course just be on the chunky side too. Still super cute!!!

Jerseygirl; I think that I’m just a huge fan of that coloring. Such a pretty caramel color. It may be my favorite rabbit color next to chocolate spots and otter blue.

[ScooterandAnnette]

Yeah I’m also thinking that’s a dewlap and Bunny is a she. And the look and description of the fur definitely sound rex-y to me. Ours are always described as having fur that feels like velvet.
– Annette

[Hedi]

My Hoopie is a Mini Rex and he typically doesnt have a dewlap unless he pulls at the fur to clean it and then it looks like he has one. Does that dewlap typically stick out like in the photo? But I know boy bunnies can have a dewlap if they are overweight.

I love Mini Rexes! We have two and they are so soft!

[Beka27]

WHAT A CUTIE! Can you gently flip him over and look for testicles? The little bit of fur is a dewlap, most common in uspayed females, but males can have small ones too. I wonder if mini rex dewlaps in males are more evident because of the shorter fur? Hmmm… I’m not sure. What made you think he was a male, or has he been to a rabbit vet already?

[TARM]

I love the red speckles! You are very lucky to have inherited such a good tempered bunny.

[KatnipCrzy]

what a beautiful bunny!  It always takes me a couple of days to decide upon a name for my pets.  I usually come up with a few names that I am considering- get my husbands opinion- and after his rule outs, and my gut feeling after getting to know the pet- that is how I decide.  If I just can’t picture “calling” or talking to an animal by a certain name- I move onto other choices.  Of course they all end up with nicknames anyway.

Julie

[sibley]

Oh he’s so beautiful! And really sweet yeah? I’m jealous =) errr I mean =( Seriously! If you decide you’ve got too much on your plate you should give him to me!
A lot of boy rexes I’ve seen do have dewlaps… probably in part because they gain weight easily?

[Nykki]

The guy that gave him to me said he was a boy and when I clipped his nails right after I brought him home, I took a quick peek. He looked male to me but today I looked at a couple websites that have pictures of both male and female just to double check. After another look, I am 98% sure he is a male. He does have a lot of extra skin, not only under his chin but also around his front legs. He doesn’t feel overweight but then again, I really have no idea. What do you guys think?

Sibley: as “un-rabbit savvy” as I am, I love this little guy!!

[skunklionshow]

I too recently ended up w/ a rabbit after a trip to the pet supplies store.  He came w/ a name:  Cocoa Puff.  It’s very strange calling a boy bunny cocoa…but DH feels he should keep his name.  Glad to hear he’s a lover not a fighter.  His potty habits sound very good.  I think you got a great deal!  I don’t think my cocoa has been given many veggies in his life, so he’s been chomping them all up!

[jerseygirl]

He definately appears to be a rex breed. The standard rexes are double his weight, the mini’s are a little under his weight – so he may be a mix breed still. i.e. mini rex cross something else. Personally I don’t think he looks overweight. A member here(Crayon) put her Bunny, a mini rex, on a diet and he started to get a small fold like that under his chin. So perhaps yours was bigger and has lost some weight?

What are your other pets names? How did you come to name them?

[Nykki]

He was shedding quite a bit when I first brought him home and I had a hard time finding a brush that worked well on his fur. Any ideas on a good brush?

And my other pets are Petey (a nearly 4 year old female pit bull), Grace/Gracie (a 6 year old cat), and Lizard (around 5 years old, Bearded Dragon). My dog was already named when I adopted her at 7 months but I named Gracie. We may just keep it “Bunny” because my 17 month old son says it all the time. He also calls him “no” So maybe Snowy?

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