k9resqer
Member
Hello
Just joined the forum and figured Iâd introduce Bunny and explain how we ended up here. This is probably going to be long, so please bear with me. And I apologize for the somewhat disturbing story about the little guy.
Iâm currently volunteering for a small animal shelter in rural Indiana. Guy called about a âwildâ rabbit that he caught some kids trying to kill. According to the kids, bunny had a broken leg so they decided to do away with him by trying to break his back. Guy stepped in and took bunny away from them. He kept bunny overnight and then call the shelter on Monday.
For a âwildâ rabbit, Bunny is incredibly tame and doesnât mind being handled at all. S/he is agouti in color (pictures in the breed forum) and seems to have a fading white star on his forehead - which lead us to believe heâs wild. I joined a forum for people with disabled rabbits and the opinion seems to be split on whether heâs wild or domestic.
Had a biologist vote for domestic based on the pictures, so now Iâm wondering what breed/mix he may be. If he does seem to be wild, I will probably see about getting him to a wildlife rehabilitator. But if heâs domestic, then thereâs no reason to send him off to the rehabber.
As for his health, Bunny has a swollen back foot and seems to have limited use of his back end at the moment. He doesnât react or seem to have a problem with having his back end handled; but he doesnât move his legs if theyâre manipulated in any way. He did move the non-swollen foot a little after some tickling; same for his tail.
He does seem to be able to get around some, although Iâve yet to see him actually move. When I brought him home yesterday, he just lay where I put him. This morning he was sitting upright, although his back legs were more out in front of him rather than under him. And he had moved a few feet from where I had last seen him. His rescuer reported that Bunny spent the evening behind the couch but when he looked up at one point during the evening Bunny was in the kitchen investigating the catâs food.
For the time being, bunny is in a plastic airline style dog crate in my spare bedroom - safe from the resident animals. I put down a towel in the crate, then a foam pad, then some Care Fresh bedding. I bought regular rabbit food, alfalfa cubes and some Kale to feed him. Also a small gourd that I thought he might like to nibble on or play with. His appetite is pretty good for an injured rabbit. Heâs not a fan of the commercial rabbit food, but loves the greens, etc.
Heâs not seen a vet yet; Iâm hoping to do that soon but I admit Iâm currently unemployed so Iâm hoping my vet will work on a payment plan. Honestly, I really didnât know if he was going to survive the night, but heâs definitely a fighter with a strong will to live. My regular vet is more of a dog/cat/farm animal vet, so I may need to find an exotic vet (who might be willing to work with someone unemployed). I also have a fantastic holistic vet who does chiropractic and acupuncture on one of my dogs. So I may bring Bunny along on the dogâs next visit.
I havenât had a rabbit in over 30 years, and then it was for 4H, so Iâm re-learning all about rabbits Iâm so grateful for the internet! I think my current plan is if heâs domestic and continues to eat and thrive, Iâll put together a C&C cage for him. Heâll probably end up with most if not all of my spare bedroom as his domain; with a secured corner of the yard in the nice weather. And, of course, heâll more than likely end up with a companion to keep him company once Iâm gainfully employed.
I actually havenât sexed âhimâ yet, so he hasnât been named. With all the stress heâs experienced in the past 2 days, Iâm trying to give him a little space to decompress and relax before messing with him any more than necessary. Not to mention if he is wild Iâm sure heâs more stressed than a domestic would be.
And thatâs how I, and âBunnyâ, have ended up on this corner of the internet. Any suggestions for making him happy comfortable would be greatly appreciated!
Tina
Just joined the forum and figured Iâd introduce Bunny and explain how we ended up here. This is probably going to be long, so please bear with me. And I apologize for the somewhat disturbing story about the little guy.
Iâm currently volunteering for a small animal shelter in rural Indiana. Guy called about a âwildâ rabbit that he caught some kids trying to kill. According to the kids, bunny had a broken leg so they decided to do away with him by trying to break his back. Guy stepped in and took bunny away from them. He kept bunny overnight and then call the shelter on Monday.
For a âwildâ rabbit, Bunny is incredibly tame and doesnât mind being handled at all. S/he is agouti in color (pictures in the breed forum) and seems to have a fading white star on his forehead - which lead us to believe heâs wild. I joined a forum for people with disabled rabbits and the opinion seems to be split on whether heâs wild or domestic.
Had a biologist vote for domestic based on the pictures, so now Iâm wondering what breed/mix he may be. If he does seem to be wild, I will probably see about getting him to a wildlife rehabilitator. But if heâs domestic, then thereâs no reason to send him off to the rehabber.
As for his health, Bunny has a swollen back foot and seems to have limited use of his back end at the moment. He doesnât react or seem to have a problem with having his back end handled; but he doesnât move his legs if theyâre manipulated in any way. He did move the non-swollen foot a little after some tickling; same for his tail.
He does seem to be able to get around some, although Iâve yet to see him actually move. When I brought him home yesterday, he just lay where I put him. This morning he was sitting upright, although his back legs were more out in front of him rather than under him. And he had moved a few feet from where I had last seen him. His rescuer reported that Bunny spent the evening behind the couch but when he looked up at one point during the evening Bunny was in the kitchen investigating the catâs food.
For the time being, bunny is in a plastic airline style dog crate in my spare bedroom - safe from the resident animals. I put down a towel in the crate, then a foam pad, then some Care Fresh bedding. I bought regular rabbit food, alfalfa cubes and some Kale to feed him. Also a small gourd that I thought he might like to nibble on or play with. His appetite is pretty good for an injured rabbit. Heâs not a fan of the commercial rabbit food, but loves the greens, etc.
Heâs not seen a vet yet; Iâm hoping to do that soon but I admit Iâm currently unemployed so Iâm hoping my vet will work on a payment plan. Honestly, I really didnât know if he was going to survive the night, but heâs definitely a fighter with a strong will to live. My regular vet is more of a dog/cat/farm animal vet, so I may need to find an exotic vet (who might be willing to work with someone unemployed). I also have a fantastic holistic vet who does chiropractic and acupuncture on one of my dogs. So I may bring Bunny along on the dogâs next visit.
I havenât had a rabbit in over 30 years, and then it was for 4H, so Iâm re-learning all about rabbits Iâm so grateful for the internet! I think my current plan is if heâs domestic and continues to eat and thrive, Iâll put together a C&C cage for him. Heâll probably end up with most if not all of my spare bedroom as his domain; with a secured corner of the yard in the nice weather. And, of course, heâll more than likely end up with a companion to keep him company once Iâm gainfully employed.
I actually havenât sexed âhimâ yet, so he hasnât been named. With all the stress heâs experienced in the past 2 days, Iâm trying to give him a little space to decompress and relax before messing with him any more than necessary. Not to mention if he is wild Iâm sure heâs more stressed than a domestic would be.
And thatâs how I, and âBunnyâ, have ended up on this corner of the internet. Any suggestions for making him happy comfortable would be greatly appreciated!
Tina
