3 week old bunny only has 1 ear

casperlarue

My rabbit Rosie had a litter of babies 3 weeks ago, 3 black and 4 ginger. She has been very good with them and they are little fat bundles of fluff.

They are starting to venture out of the hutch into the run and they're eating rabbit kibble, greens, grass and hay.

DH and I usually run around like wally's trying to catch them all to put them back in the hutch at night....last night there was a lot of scrabbling and comotion and Rosie was sitting in the middle of the lawn thumping her back legs. We got all the bunnies into the hutch but it was going dark and we just left them.

This morning I went to feed the babies and I noticed one of the ginger ones has lost an ear! Right down to its skull.... there is a small graze about 1/2" long but it doesn't look very deep. We think the comotion was a cat trying to get to them.

Will my bunny be ok with one ear? He seems to be eating and drinking ok. Should I pop him to the vet to be sure?

Incapuppy

casperlarue wrote: »

Should I pop him to the vet to be sure?

I can't believe you are even having to ask this tbh

chris_n_tj

Poor little bunny, yeap a quick trip to the Vet will sort it out for you. I hope all ends up ok.
Chris n tJ

SnowyOwl_2

Yes of course, go to the vet's pdq! The little bunny is at risk of serious infection and it can't wait. Phone them and explain the situation - if they are of a different opinion they will tell you, but it does sound like she needs professional care sooner rather than later.

ali-t

If your child came in from playing with an ear missing would you come on an internet forum asking whether to go to hospital? Hopefully you have been to the vet by now and I hope everything is ok for the baby bunny.

samboette

Hope you took the poor little mite to the vet!! Infections can come on quick in baby animals of any kind!!

It is possible a cat frightened your rabbit which might or might not have caused the rabbit's injuries, but it's quite possible the mother did it. Sometimes when frightened they can turn on their young or if you've been over handling them whilst still a young age they might have your scent on them, again causing the mother to attack her young.

Before handling young rabbits always pick up a handful of bedding/sawdust and rub it into your hands, transferring mother & babies scent onto yourself rather than the other way around.

This is from someone who's Dad bred and showed rabbits for 50+ years.

sassy_one

I wish I never read this thread now

I can't believe you would ask if you should take the poor bunny to the vets, OF COURSE take her to the vets.

If you ear was bitten off would you go to hospital or just put a plaster over it, and hope for the best??

Poor bunny, I hope he/she wasn't hurt too badly and not in to much pain.

Brings tears to my eyes this thread - wish I never read it now :(:(:(:(:(:(

BLT_2

casperlarue wrote: »

My rabbit Rosie had a litter of babies 3 weeks ago, 3 black and 4 ginger. She has been very good with them and they are little fat bundles of fluff.

They are starting to venture out of the hutch into the run and they're eating rabbit kibble, greens, grass and hay.

DH and I usually run around like wally's trying to catch them all to put them back in the hutch at night....last night there was a lot of scrabbling and comotion and Rosie was sitting in the middle of the lawn thumping her back legs. We got all the bunnies into the hutch but it was going dark and we just left them.

This morning I went to feed the babies and I noticed one of the ginger ones has lost an ear! Right down to its skull.... there is a small graze about 1/2" long but it doesn't look very deep. We think the comotion was a cat trying to get to them.

Will my bunny be ok with one ear? He seems to be eating and drinking ok. Should I pop him to the vet to be sure?

Either that or don't get a joint for this weekend and have rabbit instead

sarabe

I hope the little bun is okay.

It is quite likely though that her Mum did it.

foreign_correspondent

sarabe wrote: »

I hope the little bun is okay.

It is quite likely though that her Mum did it.

Rabbits often eat their own newborn offspring, sometimes because they feel there is a threat of predation - I remember having to deal with a litter of half eaten (and half alive) kits years ago, in my first job after leaving school... it was not pleasant.

If the mum is eating them, it may be advisable not to breed from her again.

casperlarue

Update....Uno ( as we have named him!) has been to the vets and been given a clean bill of health. The wound has scabbed over nicely and he shouldn't have any problems only having 1 ear.

The vet thought it unlikely that Rosie did it as they are pretty much independent from her, only feeding once a day from her. From the look of her the thought of 7 babies scrabbling under to get some milk is enough to keep her in the garden!

Sorry if anyone was upset, he is absolutley fine and busy trying to get into my veg patch!