No sense of smell

[Deleted User]

Does my bunny not have a sense of smell? Why I ask this question you may inquire? Mainly because I sprayed a basket with terrible smelling perfumes and my bunny still wouldn’t stay away! Also, I had some really nice smelling timothy hay and he just ate it! Usually(based on moies I’ve seen) bunnies will sniff their food before they eat it, mine doesn’t!!!!!!!! Please, Please, Please respond ASAP! I can’t afford to go to the vet right now so I’m desperet!I am seriously crying right now and I don’t know what to do if I have a disabled bunny!

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[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Don’t cry!! Seriuosly not having a sense of smell wouldn’t be terrible at all! She’s in your care and really doesn’t need to be able to smell (To be aware of predators, to find food…) So don’t even worry!! *Big hugs*

So here’s how you could test her a little bit.

*IF you can get up to her while she’s asleep put a fragrant herb or treat she likes by her nose (Raisin, oregano, papaya tablet, strawberry) If she twitches her nose and wakes to eat it, she can smell.

* You could also put a fragrant treat in her food bowl, burried, or under a towel or under hay. If she goes right for it, she can smell.

[Beka27]

as far as the basket with perfume… i think that with some buns the temptation to chew an object is stronger than your desire to not have it chewed. the bun might have smelled and tasted the perfume, but didn’t care b/c he was so intent on chewing the basket. if that’s the case, i’d move the basket rather than spray perfume b/c it’s not good for the bun to be ingesting it like that.

i’m confused about your timothy hay question… you said you’re concerned b/c the bunny did not smell the hay before eating it? i have never observed my buns smelling any food before eating it. in fact, it’s very likely that the bun smelled the hay before you even brought it in the room, they have a much better sense of smell than we do.

like K&K said, no (or limited) sense of smell is not a big deal at all when buns are kept as house pets. they might be less interested in food b/c they cannot smell it as regularly, but feeding every day at the same tiem will help them keep up with the schedule. a bigger deal is if the bun is deaf or blind, but even that does not mean they cannot live a long, happy life. so don’t worry! ;o)

[Sarita]

I’ve never observed my rabbits smelling their food before they eat it either.

I think as long as he’s eating you should be fine.

[Sage Cat]

There is a bun at my local shelter who was a stray rescued after a fight with a dog – the poor little guy – well, he does not have much of a nose.
He most definitely has no sense of smell. Yet, he gets along just fine!

N smell sure would be a bummer – but won,t effect his quality of life.

[bunnytowne]

My smeller doesn’t work too good either.  Especially when allergies are bad and I have the windows open like now. There are times when I wish my smeller wouldn’t work like that day on the bus with the horridly smelly woman whom the bus driver stopped the bus for  and made her get off.

For bunnies though it really shouldn’t matter. Your bun seems to be eating good so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

[Deleted User]

tank you guys so much! I just figured out that he doesn’t have a sense of smell doing tests with all sorts of food and he can’t smell. Oh well. Thanks for all your support!!!!!!

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