View Full Version : What I need to do for my bunny?
adam_89
Aug 21, 2009, 12:59 PM
I thought I would get better help and more replies if I posted here.
What do you use for the bunnies to chew on to keep their teeth grinded down?
Or am I better off having her taken to the vet.
When can she be spayed? At what age anyway?
Oh and Alty if you come back and read this, I was told by this lady at a pet store that it was an english spot. What do you know about them?
JudyKayTee
Aug 21, 2009, 01:29 PM
How to Care for Rabbits | The Humane Society of the United States (http://humanesociety.org/pets/pet_care/rabbit_horse_and_other_pet_care/how_to_care_for_rabbits.html)
FAQ: Spaying and Neutering (http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/spay-neuter.html)
Alty
Aug 23, 2009, 10:44 AM
Sorry Adam, I didn't see this.
I already covered your question in the other thread, but to reiterate;
A rabbit can be fixed at 6 months of age.
Most pet stores have something for rabbits to gnaw on to keep their teeth ground down. Go to Walmart, you can get a combo salt lick and grinder set. Just keep an eye out, if you notice the rabbits teeth getting too long even with the grinder then it's time to talk to your vet.
English spots are known to be very friendly rabbits. Just remember one thing, just like, dogs, cats, any living thing, the "breed" usually just determines the look and size of the animal. Temperament, attitude, personality, that all differs depending on the rabbit and the owner, not the breed.
The more you handle the rabbit the more "tame" he/she will be.
adam_89
Aug 24, 2009, 05:59 AM
Thank You Alty. I have my rabbit out of the cage more than she is in it. I like holding her and I give her, her own room to jump around and play in.
I went to a pet store on Friday and got this salt lick thing and something that I am not sure what it is but it looks like a hollow log and looks like one but it isn't. She can run through it and eat the whole thing too.
Anyway, Thanks again.
JudyKayTee
Aug 24, 2009, 06:03 AM
My only thought would be when I had a pet rabbit and left it alone it discovered that electric cords are VERY tasty and proceeded to chew on them. I had to watch her like a hawk.
I don't know if all rabbits do this but she had to be watched carefully.
shazamataz
Aug 24, 2009, 06:06 AM
Very good point JudyKayTee, my old bunny used to have free run of the house and it killed all of mums tropical fish by chewing through the heater cable!
You can get special plastic covers for cable so they can't chew them, unfortunately I have never seen them in any pet stores but hopefully they are more widely available in the US.
I just block of my kitchen/dining when mine come out for a run, no cables there ;)
adam_89
Aug 24, 2009, 06:19 AM
Well the bedroom I let my bunny roam around in is empty except for a futon and a computer desk with now computer. So she is safe. When I let her roam elsewhere I keep a close eye on her.
She likes to just hop around the bed sometimes and just sit there on the bed, so far no troubles but I would like to find those covers so she won't chew through any cords.
Thanks!
adam_89
Aug 24, 2009, 06:20 AM
...
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 11:11 AM
Well the bedroom I let my bunny roam around in is empty except for a futon and a computer desk with now computer. So she is safe. when I let her roam elsewhere I keep a close eye on her.
She likes to just hop around the bed sometimes and just sit there on the bed, so far no troubles but I would like to find those covers so she won;t chew through any cords.
Thanks!
You can buy plastic cord to go around the actual wires and covers to go over the outlets. In Canada you can buy them at most hardware stores, you just have to look around.
It's important, many rabbits die every year from chewing electrical cords.
That info is in my sticky, and lots of other info. :)
Also, the House rabbit society web page is an excellent source of info on bunnies. I trust them, they really know their stuff. :)
JudyKayTee
Aug 24, 2009, 11:26 AM
Didn't mean to parrot you, Alty. Just thought it was worth mentioning.
adam_89
Aug 24, 2009, 11:51 AM
You can buy plastic cord to go around the actual wires and covers to go over the outlets. In Canada you can buy them at most hardware stores, you just have to look around.
It's important, many rabbits die every year from chewing electrical cords.
That info is in my sticky, and lots of other info. :)
Also, the House rabbit society web page is an excellent source of info on bunnies. I trust them, they really know their stuff. :)
Thanks Alty.
I kind of lived by your sticky. I printed it off my computer and read through it a couple of times and make sure I do things right. Thank You!
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 12:21 PM
Thanks Alty.
I kind of lived by your sticky. I printed it off my computer and read through it a couple of times and make sure I do things right. Thank You!
No problem.
I'm here if you have any questions, so are many others. :)
I covered a lot in the sticky, but not all, so ask away.
adam_89
Aug 24, 2009, 12:29 PM
Ok, Will do. Every time I think about the bunny, I think where is Alty when I need her.
Oh and it is a girl bunny by the way.
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 12:41 PM
Ok, Will do. Everytime I think about the bunny, I think where is Alty when I need her.
Oh and it is a girl bunny by the way.
A little girl.
You definitely need to get her spayed when she's old enough. Female rabbits have a life expectancy of 3 years unspayed, up to 12 years spayed. Yup, big difference.
adam_89
Aug 24, 2009, 12:54 PM
Oh hell yea that is a huge difference.
Poor sweety. I will definitely get her spayed in a couple months. Wait, how do I know how old she is? Can they tell me if I take her to the vet?
ZoeMarie
Aug 24, 2009, 12:56 PM
Out of curiosity, does your little bunny have a name?
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 01:01 PM
Oh hell yea that is a huge difference.
Poor sweety. I will definately get her spayed in a couple months. Wait, how do I know how old she is? can they tell me if I take her to the vet?
She needs to be at least 6 months old in order to get spayed.
With the picture you sent me I'd guess she's anywhere between 6 and 8 weeks old, maybe more.
It's okay to wait until she's a bit older then 6 months, especially because she's female. The males will start to spray and become aggressive when they reach 6 months, females not so much.
The female rabbits main problem is cancer, if they aren't spayed.
If you wait 5 months you should be fine. Remember, most vets know nothing about rabbits, you'll need to find a vet that specializes in rabbits. Ask tons of questions. Make sure you ask how many spays they've done, the level of success, etc. etc.
One way to rule out a bad rabbit vet, ask if she needs to fast before the surgery. If the vet says yes, then he/she doesn't know rabbits. The reason for fasting in other animals is the risk of vomiting after or during the surgery. Rabbits don't vomit, they don't have a gag reflex, so there's no need for them to fast before surgery.
When she gets close to the age for spaying I'll try and help you find the right vet. :)
Okay, I'm rambling. :)
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 01:02 PM
Didn't mean to parrot you, Alty. Just thought it was worth mentioning.
It is worth mentioning, and needed to be said. I'm glad you mentioned it.
Now, does Polly want a cracker? ;)
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 01:02 PM
Adam, do you mind if I post the picture you sent me of your little baby bunny?
ZoeMarie
Aug 24, 2009, 01:04 PM
Adam, do you mind if I post the picture you sent me of your little baby bunny?
Post it Alty! =) I love bunnies. They're so cute. I keep wondering about getting one.
edit: with the OK from Adam of course. Lol
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 01:06 PM
Post it Alty! =) I love bunnies. They're so cute. I keep wondering about getting one.
edit: with the OK from Adam of course. lol
I don't think he'd mind, I posted it for him on another thread.
I'm going to do it.
Adam, if you want me to remove it I will. :)
23811
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 01:07 PM
I still think she's a Rex, mainly because of her fur.
We'll see when she get's older. If she's a female Rex she should get the dewlap. :)
adam_89
Aug 24, 2009, 01:36 PM
Thanks Alty. I didn't mind at all for you posting the pic.
I named her chip. That is what I named her before I knew it was a her. So I still like the name. I will try to get a better pic next time with the help of Alty.
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 03:57 PM
Chip is cute. I like Chip.
Either way, she's a cutie.
Who told you she's female?
The pet store we got Cotton from told us he was a 4 week old female lionhead dwarf. They got the breed right.
If he was female then neutering him was a big mistake. ;)
In other words, don't trust the pet stores, they don't know jack.
JudyKayTee
Aug 24, 2009, 04:17 PM
It is worth mentioning, and needed to be said. I'm glad you mentioned it.
Now, does Polly want a cracker? ;)
No, Polly needs a stiff drink.
Anyone care to join me?
- Long day.
Alty
Aug 24, 2009, 04:21 PM
No, Polly needs a stiff drink.
Anyone care to join me?
- Long day.
Make it a double, I share your pain. :)
shazamataz
Aug 24, 2009, 09:07 PM
No problem.
I'm here if you have any questions, so are many others. :)
I covered a lot in the sticky, but not all, so ask away.
You know how often I ask you questions haha
If it's specific I shoot you off a message, if it's general I post it on here so others can read it too.
Chip is too cute! I want to steal her! :p
I'd take that stiff drink but I don't think I could handle any more after the weekend haha
adam_89
Aug 25, 2009, 05:30 AM
Chip is cute. I like Chip.
Either way, she's a cutie.
Who told you she's female?
The pet store we got Cotton from told us he was a 4 week old female lionhead dwarf. They got the breed right.
If he was female then neutering him was a big mistake. ;)
In other words, don't trust the pet stores, they don't know jack.
See, that also worried me. It was the pet store that told me and I kind of worried. I had someone else look at it and they said it was a boy. I just don't know and don't know who to go by,
shazamataz
Aug 25, 2009, 07:07 AM
Well, you will find out if it's a boy when she suddenly grows two 'lumps' between her legs! :eek:
That's how we found out my 'girl' bunny was really a boy when I was little, my first lesson in the birds and the bees :p
Rabbits are pretty hard, there are ways to tell, one way involves pushing on their 'bits' to see if a winky pops out but I'm too scared of hurting them.
Alty
Aug 25, 2009, 10:01 AM
Well, you will find out if it's a boy when she suddenly grows two 'lumps' between her legs! :eek:
That's how we found out my 'girl' bunny was really a boy when I was little, my first lesson in the birds and the bees :p
Rabbits are pretty hard, there are ways to tell, one way involves pushing on their 'bits' to see if a winky pops out but I'm too scared of hurting them.
The sad thing is Shazzy, some female rabbits appear to have a "winky" and that's why many rabbits are sent home from the pet store with the wrong determined sex. It's not easy to sex a rabbit, even if you know tons about rabbits.
I took the pet stores word for it, until Cotton tried to hump Thumper and it was very obvious that Cotton was not a girl. ;)
adam_89
Aug 25, 2009, 11:03 AM
Hmm... So I will just have to wait and see. So maybe it is a girl, and maybe it is a boy.
Alty
Aug 25, 2009, 12:39 PM
Hmm...So I will just have to wait and see. So maybe it is a girl, and maybe it is a boy.
Welcome to what being pregnant feels like. You won't know for sure for a few months. :)
adam_89
Aug 25, 2009, 12:44 PM
Welcome to what being pregnant feels like. You won't know for sure for a few months. :)
I have been there.
Well, I wasn't the one pregnant but my girlfriend was and it seemed like forever to find out.
Well, I guess it doesn't matter. I found out shortly after I found out it was a boy that it wasn't mine.
Alty
Aug 25, 2009, 12:46 PM
I have been there.
Well, I wasn't the one pregnant but my girlfriend was and it seemed like forever to find out.
Well, I guess it doesn't matter. I found out shortly after I found out it was a boy that it wasn't mine.
Whoa!
Back up!
Story time!
Go to the castle, I want to hear about this pregnant girlfriend young man. ;)
shazamataz
Aug 25, 2009, 06:58 PM
Whoa!
Back up!
Hammer time!
Go to the castle, I want to hear about this pregnant girlfriend young man. ;)
Couldn't help myself :D
Alty
Aug 30, 2009, 01:36 PM
Couldn't help myself :D
Naughty Shazzy. Bad girl. ;)