Possible First foster Help!

[kralspace]

Hi all,

I’ve been owned by 2 house bunnies since March now and love them to death. I went by the Waco Humane Shelter at lunch because I saw they had some bunnies brought in. I had been reading about how some of your guys work with the shelter to help make the bunnies more adoptable and all and was just wanting to take a look.

They had a group of 9 junvenile bunnies dumped on them, that are in great shape, seem fairly social and are absolutely beautiful.

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8910308

The girl that took me back was asking if I had rabbits and I showed her the photos I carry of Pringles and Daisy and she took me to another room where they had this tiny black bunny, not a baby, but young, she said was seized in an abuse/neglect case. She said he was skin and bones, the toenails were curled around, and his/her teeth were so long that the bottom ones had grown into the top gum and the same with the top cutting the lower gums. She said once they cut his teeth and nails so he could walk, he started eating and put on weight, but he’d been there a long time already and the arrival of the new ones….well you know.

I guess what I’m asking, if I decide to take him, what do I need to worry about in relation to my 2 buns. I would keep them in separate rooms and take him/her for a check up, but are there any blood tests, etc. I should ask for to protect mine? I keep reading about ecunnings (sp) and other stuff.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated,

Kathy

[kralspace]

sorry about the double post, spastic finger today

[osprey]

Hi Kralspace,

I have done some fostering, both overnights for vet visits and short term (several months at a stretch) fostering too.  I am always super careful about Coccidia if I am handling a bun that is not known to be OK.  If you or the shelter will spring for it, a fecal test for Coccidia is a good idea (some shelters do this as a matter of course when taking in a new bunny, others do not)

Is E. cunniculi contagious?  I do not know, anyone else?  Most diseases are spread by direct contact or through fecal matter, so just washing your hands after handling the new bun and making sure that litterboxes/linens/etc. are clean should be fine.

 

[MooBunnay]

Hello!

Thats SO nice of you to foster!! Its SO important in neglect cases that the bunny is able to trust humans again, so your fostering will help so much to make the bunny more adoptable. As Osprey said – I would recommend just making sure that you wash your hands in between handling the shelter bunny and handling your bunnies, just until you can observe the bunny for awhile and make sure there are no health issues. I just shudder at the idea of an “abuse” case – that poor bunny. I can’t even go to pounds or anything yet – I cry for hours after so my BF forbid it! My fosters now just come to me one at a time….and I make sure only to meet the bunnies that I can hel for now – I guess one day I’ll build up a stronger tolerance…

Fosters can be scared in the very beginning so don’t be surprised if the bunny doesn’t move around too much, just make sure there is plenty of food and water around, and the bunny will probably do a lot of eating and drinking at night when no one is around.

Keep us updated on his progress! He’ll do so well having someone to care for him.

[osprey]

Another thing that I forgot to mention:  your buns may act differently for a while until they get used to another bunny in the house.  Our boy DJ *hates* other boys, and he marks like crazy and has pee accidents when we have other males in the house.  Eventually they get used to the other bunnies being around.  Another important reason to wash hands after handling the new bun, your buns may attack you if you smell like another bunny.  DJ did this to me once too, bit me pretty hard.

It is wonderful that you are doing this for this poor abused bunny.  In rescue we see all kinds of crazy stuff, it is always beneficial for the bunnies to go to a stable, loving home for a while so that they can learn that not all of us two foots are cruel and mean.  Kudos to you, please post pictures!

 

[kralspace]

thanks for all the help and suggestions, it gives me a place to start and a little confidence. As soon as the thought of fostering crossed my mind, the twin fear that I could become a ‘hoarder’ hit me too. I have 3 cats. 2 belonged to my daughter, she brought home the first one, a siamese, who preferred playing rough with my son to cuddling with her. So one day she came home from the shelter with a true cuddle cat, a real sweetheart, who unfortunately sheds so bad a cloud of fur follows her around (even with daily brushing).

when she got married, she took cuddle cat, but hubby didn’t like it and she called to say she was taking it back to the shelter. I couldn’t stand the thought of the poor cat going through that again and went over and picked her up. By now, the siamese is 10 years old, has a very independent, aloof attitude and my now 15yr old son wants his own cat. We adopted a sweetheart of a tiny cat from the shelter and she and my son are inseparable buddies. I love all the cats, they are as varied in their temperments as people and watching and dealing with them is always interesting.

My son wanted the bunny, and after having Pringles for a while and realizing how totally fascinating they are, I picked out the second one. Between the 2 humans, 3 cats and 2 bunnies, we have plenty of room in the house. The more I learn about bunnies, the more I feel driven to help the ones I can, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop or give them up. How do you guys that foster deal with that? Once I’ve taken an animal into my life, I’ve never given one up, except for death. I had my horse for 32 years, so I know what it’s like to be ‘in for the long haul.”

Just rambling, excited about the thought of helping the bun, and worried about what might happen…sigh there should be no hesitation.

[Hedi]

If you take the Foster Bun in make sure not to mess with the schedule/routine you already have with your own buns. If they think the new bun is more special and you are spending more time with he/she then your own buns may act out more than normal.

I brought home a bun post spay for four days. I kept her in the kitchen and my own buns are upstairs. My buns routine did not change. When my buns were put up for the night I woud let the foster bun run and play in the dining room. Your buns WILL know there is a new bun in the house, but you have to diminish the affect on your buns as much as possible.

My buns were fine with that bun being in our home because their schedule did not change. They could smell her and saw her on occasion through the blockade to the kitchen but since it didnt directly affect them they didnt seem to mind. None of my three even acted out over it.

*Side note: I volunteer 3x/wk with our local Humane Society. Ours focuses on cats and dogs and then buns are third in line as far as time out and such. If you have the time or $ you can talk to the HS and see if you can donate toys for the buns, or small things (TP tubes)for just them. For some reason people dont think buns play with toys. Our rabbits rarely had toys at the shelter until I started working there. Toys really help to bring out their personalities and makes them much more social for potential adopters.

[kralspace]

wise words, all

thanks so much

[Gravehearted]

everyone has shared some excellent advice! I applaud you for opening your heart to fostering and I really hope it will work out well.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Congrats on choosing to foster! Um, did anyone answer the question about E. Cuniculi? Just in case, yes, it is contagious and the spores from it are usually shed in the urine and remain viable for 30 days. Many rabbits do test positive but show no symptoms or do only when under stress and especially if you are brining in an unknown, definately have the test done.

[BinkyBunny]

Everyone has given great advice and I ditto Scarlet’s comment (GOOD!!)   Good idea to have a bunny tested because I have been told that the spores can actually survive up to TWO years.  One thing to note though is even though bunny may test postive, they may end up being just a carrier or the positive reading may mean  that the bunny was  just exposed to e.cuniculi. Does not mean they actually have it, but there is no way for you to know that if they are symptom free. And since 1 in 4 rabbits are estimated to have it, it’s an important point to take precautions.

Also, many bunnies’  teeth will still be fine and grind down with just the chewing motion, so the fact that this bunny has had such overgrown teeth may mean they are misaligned, and it may be an ongoing problem. Just be sure to check the teeth often.

Other than those two big downers – SORRY, I think it’s wonderful what you’re doing. We’re just wanting you to keep your own bunnies healthy and safe.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Thank you Binkybunny! Two years???!!! Oh my word. So, do you know if a bleach solution will do the trick with killing it on any surfaces and how strong that solution would have to be?

[BinkyBunny]

A bleach solution (10%) left on for two minutes is supposed to kill it. However, with carpets, I know that is not practical. So as far as I know we’re out of luck there. However, I am putting that on my “ask an expert” list. After I compile a bunch of questions, I then go and get the answers all at once. I’ll keep you updated if I get an answer about how to get e.cuniculi spores out of carpet. (if it’s even possible)

[Scarlet_Rose]

Oo, I know I posted this elsewhere, but want to make sure, do you know if those steam “sanitizer” thingies would work too? You know, those canisters that super heat water and you depress a lever and the steam comes out and you clean with them? One of them is called a “Shark Steam Blaster.”

[kralspace]

I have the black bunny at home now and he/shes a darling, I will post a photo later and maybe you guys can help me name him. A little while ago, with the help one of my cats who can open that door, Pringles found the cage! They were lounging together on opposite sides of the cage, Pringles obviously happy, BBunny very interested.

Not sure of the sex of BlackBunny, but according to Pringle’s grin (to be spayed next Tuesday) as she ran around and around the cage, it was “I GOTTA HAVE SOME OF THAT!”. slut bunny, oh the shame! Definitely keeping that cage locked and out of reach.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Oh LOL! How cute and funny!!! Oh my Bonsai is a cute black bunny and I just LOVE him to pieces! Ooo, I have a name, how about Soot or Smudge? Definately let us know the sex and of course pictures!!!

[Author]

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