smiledreamlove
Active Member
Hi everyone,
Two-three years back we took on two Netherland x Rex rescue bunnies, albeit we didn't know a great deal, just fed them a decent diet and let them live happily together outside. They were impossible to handle, very frightened of humans, as they came from a home with a child who originally got them as pets but soon realised that bunnies aren't all snuggly creatures the movies always depict them as. They were thus tortured by this little girl from what we've gathered and then completely neglected. It kind of makes sense their trust issues were quite low!
To improve my knowledge I did a fair amount of study early last year on rabbits, not only for the rescue buns, but because I took on a baby Cashmere lop x who was the product of a huge earthquake here in Christchurch, NZ. This greatly changed their habits and we slowly started to get somewhere with the rescues Cookies and Cream. Last winter was really bad and we thought they were going to die, so we brought them inside for the colder part of the season, and they both really plumped up, started to become friendly and got more exercise. They happily went back outside in spring, but sadly Cream passed on in January this year.
Here's Cookies (as of yesterday):
What I know about Cookies, is that she's an older bunny now, and has to be at least five-six years old. She's still eating well, we feed her high quality rabbit pellets (not supermarket bought), meadow hay, fresh fruit and vegetables (following a chart from this website on nutrition) and I move her about on the grass every day, so she always has something to eat.
However, her weight has dropped like Cream's did, and whilst she's happy, alert and got all her bodily functions, you can literally feel all her bones in her body. I consulted a vet about it for advice, and they believe her time on this earth is almost up, and unless she's suffering to continue giving her the best in her remaining days.
Yesterday I bought her indoors to clip her feet, and was happy to see she's put a little weight back on, she's still skin and bones and I had a wee cry as I was helpless as to what else to do for her. I can't bring her inside as my guinea pig is using the house we put them in last year. I also have a cat who broke her tail recently and is living in my room, so she's taking up a lot of space herself in a makeshift house for her. She's also the reason I can't afford to take Cookies in to a vet as her operation alone cost a whopping $400 for her tail to be removed and I'm only a student.
My main question really is, can I be doing anything else for her on my limitations? She doesn't appear to be in pain or suffering, but what kind of foods would help her with weight gain, or am I simply too late and need to just be there and helping her along until she crosses the rainbow bridge? We're hoping by winter to have my guinea pig Topaz in her own house so I can give the house back to Cookies if she's still with us then. But until it's built, that's not feasible.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance.
Two-three years back we took on two Netherland x Rex rescue bunnies, albeit we didn't know a great deal, just fed them a decent diet and let them live happily together outside. They were impossible to handle, very frightened of humans, as they came from a home with a child who originally got them as pets but soon realised that bunnies aren't all snuggly creatures the movies always depict them as. They were thus tortured by this little girl from what we've gathered and then completely neglected. It kind of makes sense their trust issues were quite low!
To improve my knowledge I did a fair amount of study early last year on rabbits, not only for the rescue buns, but because I took on a baby Cashmere lop x who was the product of a huge earthquake here in Christchurch, NZ. This greatly changed their habits and we slowly started to get somewhere with the rescues Cookies and Cream. Last winter was really bad and we thought they were going to die, so we brought them inside for the colder part of the season, and they both really plumped up, started to become friendly and got more exercise. They happily went back outside in spring, but sadly Cream passed on in January this year.
Here's Cookies (as of yesterday):
What I know about Cookies, is that she's an older bunny now, and has to be at least five-six years old. She's still eating well, we feed her high quality rabbit pellets (not supermarket bought), meadow hay, fresh fruit and vegetables (following a chart from this website on nutrition) and I move her about on the grass every day, so she always has something to eat.
However, her weight has dropped like Cream's did, and whilst she's happy, alert and got all her bodily functions, you can literally feel all her bones in her body. I consulted a vet about it for advice, and they believe her time on this earth is almost up, and unless she's suffering to continue giving her the best in her remaining days.
Yesterday I bought her indoors to clip her feet, and was happy to see she's put a little weight back on, she's still skin and bones and I had a wee cry as I was helpless as to what else to do for her. I can't bring her inside as my guinea pig is using the house we put them in last year. I also have a cat who broke her tail recently and is living in my room, so she's taking up a lot of space herself in a makeshift house for her. She's also the reason I can't afford to take Cookies in to a vet as her operation alone cost a whopping $400 for her tail to be removed and I'm only a student.
My main question really is, can I be doing anything else for her on my limitations? She doesn't appear to be in pain or suffering, but what kind of foods would help her with weight gain, or am I simply too late and need to just be there and helping her along until she crosses the rainbow bridge? We're hoping by winter to have my guinea pig Topaz in her own house so I can give the house back to Cookies if she's still with us then. But until it's built, that's not feasible.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance.
