Any experienced bunny owners out there?

mrcow

Hi

I've posted this on a bunny forum elsewhere, but thought I'd post here in case anyone has any experience that may be able to help.

I’m an experienced rabbit owner having kept house rabbits for over ten years.

My current bunny is one month shy of eight years old and her health is deteriating as I suppose is to be expected. Her twin died over a year and a half ago so she now lives alone. We’ve had them since they were eight weeks old and have adored them.

Up until this year, all her jabs have been up to date, I am reluctant to take her to the vet now however as she is so frail and cranky. She’s had mange since her twin died (I guess as she’s not grooming so much), which I’ve successfully treated, but it does come back after a while and also now it seems that her problems are becoming more serious.

She’s drinking veraciously and I think perhaps it’s a sign of kidney problems. I’m desperate to not have her pulled around so am reluctant to take her to the vet about this. Her wellbeing is paramount to me, but I don’t even know if there is anything that could be done at her stage in life?

She also has phases where her legs just don’t work any more which are distressful to watch as she goes round in circles. When she’s out the garden, she’ll only want to be out there for a few minutes (if at all) and sometimes can not get around at all.

I don’t know if she’s in pain. Bunnies are good at hiding such things. She’s eating well and still goes for the vegetable patch if she’s feeling mischievous enough.

I suppose I’m just after general advice. I don’t know whether taking her to the vet is going to do any good (and could stress her out unnecessarily). Is this leg problem something that anyone else has experienced? (It’s a problem with her front leg, sometimes she can hold it normally and sometimes it splays out sideways and she won’t put weight on it).

Sorry for the essay and thanks in advance for any help at all.

Thanks xx

Liz1966

Hi. So sorry to hear your bunny's not well. I'm a novice bunny owner having two mini lops since mid-July. You sound very worried about your rabbit which can't be good for you or for the rabbit. Surely the vet would understand how delicate your rabbit is & handle him/her gently? I think you should take the rabbit to the vet if you think the vet may be able to help your pet have a better or more pain free life.

mrcow

I'm going to call the vet tomorrow and see if they can see her.

If I don't I guess I'm only going to be worrying that I could have done something else for her.

Thanks for your reply xx

helping_hubby

Hi, not an expert, but have bunnies of my own and one delicate one so I can completely understand why you don't want to stress yours out with a trip to the vet. Did the vet come to see your rabbit?

mrcow

helping_hubby wrote: »

Hi, not an expert, but have bunnies of my own and one delicate one so I can completely understand why you don't want to stress yours out with a trip to the vet. Did the vet come to see your rabbit?

No I rang today and they couldn't see her today. It's been a tough week and I've been keeping a close eye on her. She's perked up a little (but that can come and go).

OH is at the hospital on Monday so am going to see how he gets on and then call to see if I can get her in to be seen. We've got three children and things never seem simple.

tbh, I don't think that there's much that they are going to say, I think she's too old to be messed around with even if there was anything they could do.

It seems just a short time ago that she was sprinting around the house with her sister causing mayhem and leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. When we first got them, I thought they were the most adorable pets anyone could ever have had. She's been such a good pet and I feel so sorry that she's now alone (except for us of course). Sorry I'm rambling!

I'm going to see if I can get an honest opinion as to whether she may in in pain or not. If she is, well I guess at least that's something I can help with if they can give her any pain relief.

Many thanks for your post.

tiamai_d

The main way you can tell if rabbits are in pain, is when they crouch low down. They press themselves into the ground (as if very frightened).

I know where you are coming from, maybe the real reason for avoiding the vet is simply that the vet may bring up the 'put to sleep' option.

If the vet doesn't think she is in pain, and considers her periodic problems to simply be old age, he will probably send her home to live out her days under your watchful eye.

Either way, she sounds as if she has had a wonderful time with you. She is still eating and still running round, so I would not worry too much.

Hope she stays with you a long time yet.

mrcow

You're 100% right of course. That is my worry. And also I think I'm worried that someone is going to tell me that her problems are more permanent than perhaps I'd like to accept.

I never knew about the crouching thing. I'm going to keep a very close eye on her tomorrow. I was brushing her earlier (as he has no partner to groom her anymore) and her legs went again. She'll often flinch if something bothers her. But I'll keep an eye out for any crouching.

I pulled up about 15 (very small!!!) home grown carrots for her earlier today and she polished the lot off including the tops. So her appetite is still very good. Although she's also soiling herself which must be horrible if you're as fastidious as a bunny

tankgirl1

some vets are better with bunnies than others- a vet with more bunny experience is more likely to be able to help- why not have a look in the yellow pages, and see if there are any near you who specialise in exotics and small furries?

mrcow

tankgirl1 wrote: »

some vets are better with bunnies than others- a vet with more bunny experience is more likely to be able to help- why not have a look in the yellow pages, and see if there are any near you who specialise in exotics and small furries?

That's very true. And I've never found a vet I'm 100% happy with as far as bunnies are concerned. I think often that cats and dogs get very good care by most vets but bunnies, birds, reptiles and rodents often need more specialised cae which is simply not available from most vetinary practices.

tankgirl1

mrcow wrote: »

That's very true. And I've never found a vet I'm 100% happy with as far as bunnies are concerned. I think often that cats and dogs get very good care by most vets but bunnies, birds, reptiles and rodents often need more specialised cae which is simply not available from most vetinary practices.

speaking from experience (vet nurse) that's very true i'm afraid. i've worked in some places where the vets dont have a clue about bunnies, and others where there have been vets who've specialised in them, and the scale of difference in the treatment they get because of it is amazing.

i'm sure there's a list somewhere of bunny vets - i know for sure that there is such a list available to veterinary professionals - not sure if it is available to the general public though. unfortunately i'm not working at the moment, or i would look it up for you.

bole

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