Bunny Questions!

[Rottieluver45]

Okay I have a few questions that I hope you bunny lovers will be able help with.

1.Some of thelmer`s poop is runny,is that suppose to happen?


2.what kind of tricks or stuff like that can i teach him,while he`s a baby? How?


3.What kind of veggies do rabbits like?


4.What is the best kind of litter? I`m using Carefresh right now.



5.About how big will he get?


6.What kind of food is best for him?


That`s all,4 now!
Thanks

[FloppsyLadySally54]

It's great that you are looking to start teaching him tricks right away. Unfortunately my mom is sayng "GET OFF!!" so I cannot answer, them, but I'll be back to answer them tomorrow!!

[Karen]

Originally posted by Rottieluver45
Okay I have a few questions that I hope you bunny lovers will be able help with.

1.Some of thelmer`s poop is runny,is that suppose to happen?

No, if it keeps up, I would make a vet check-up.

2.what kind of tricks or stuff like that can i teach him,while he`s a baby? How?

He will teach you what he likes to do. Every bunny is different! Miss Hoppy likes things that makes noises - bells, rattly-balls for cats, we bought her dowels to chew, and she just made noise with them instead.

3.What kind of veggies do rabbits like?

Go to rabbit.org - they have a list of things bunnies can have, and just as important, things they shouldn't have!

Parsley, parsley, parsley, dandilion greens and parsley!

4.What is the best kind of litter? I`m using Carefresh right now.

That's one of the best!

5.About how big will he get?

Depends on his specific breed, and how big his parents were.

6.What kind of food is best for him?

Again, see the http://rabbit.org . Miss Hoppy ate pellets at the store, but did not once we brought her home. It's been fresh veggies and hay, yummy sticks and chew treats ever since, with the most precious 3 raisins every night. (You have to limit fruit - bunnies don't digest sugar well, that's why she gets three, based on her weight.)

Hi Rottieluver !

May I can tell ye what I know ; I have a bunny too , Billie !

1)runny poop : this can be because you gave him to much salad or other fresh veggies ! Of course , if it is not getting better after a day , you MUST go to a vet , because a rannit dries out quickly !

2)tricks : we learned Billie to run over our legs , starting from a table (where we put a foot on)and on to our lab ! Funny !!!

3)veggies : a leaf of salad , parsley , leaf of dandelion ,and carrots
Not to much per day , as your bunny might get runny
poop if it gets to much of this !

4)litter : what you use is fine

5)how big ? depends on what breed you have and on how big
the parents are ! We thought ours would be a dwarf (that
is what they told us in the shop !) , but one of Billie's
parents must have been a "normal" bun ...!

6) food : veggies , corn (on the cob !!) , special mix for buns ,
bread , ...

So , that's it ! Hope you are helped with this !

[PJ's Mom]

Thanks for answering Rottie's questions, everyone. I went to the store this morning and forgot to buy snacks for our newest addition.

Thelmer's poop seems to have hardened up a bit...it had us a little concerned.

I'm sure Rottie will keep you all posted on Thelmer's antics.

[Rottieluver45]

Hey,PJ`s mom(my mom) I just saw your signature! That is VERY true! Bailey LOVES the bunny!


Thank you for answering! His poop has hardened! We just came back from the store and got carrots and Parsley! Hope he likes it!

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by PJ's Mom
Thelmer's poop seems to have hardened up a bit...it had us a little concerned.

Did the mushy-poops look like grape clusters? If so, they're normal! Bunnies do a "grape like" poo (technically called "cecotropes" and usually 'processed' in the early morning hours). They need to eat this cos it contains lots of nutrients needed to survive! Here's a good article on the topic of poo...

Rabbit GI Physiology and Nutrition

I also want to mention a couple of other things no one has mentioned (tho I might've overlooked it):

1) Papaya tablets and/or pineapple juice (approx. once a wk) is a very good thing for your bun. As you probably know, bunnies can't vomit therefore hairballs can be life threatening. Papaya/pineapple contain really good enzymes that help break down the hairballs and other stuff that might "clog" the system.

2) I can't stress the importance of finding a GOOD bunny vet. Look for one before you need him/her--the HRS (house rabbit society) has a list of bunny specialists. If they don't have one in your area, check the yellow pages for one that specializes in exotics. I don't take Sophie to the vet that sees our dog/cats.** He is an AWESOME vet but doesn't keep up-to-date in bunny health.

(**I do take Soph to him for nail trimmings but not for serious medical issues.)

Thelmer sure is a cutie--wait a few months and he'll hit the "terrible twos!" lol You'll surely have some stories then Just remember to be patient, he WILL grow out of it... lol (There were times when Soph had me in tears cos I was sooo mad at her. ) And of course, this is probably preaching to the choir, but I want to remind you that neuterin' him will make a HUGE difference in litterbox habits and personality (will make him more mellow). Good luck to everyone!!

(Psstt.... from one cocker lover to another... can we have some uppie-dated pics of PJ?! )

[Rottieluver45]

Thanks for the good advice Zippy-Kat! I think we have som recent pics of PJ! Do we? Ohhh well,We`ll find them!

[Daisylover]

According to my vet the number one food ALL rabbits should eat is timothy hay. It's high fiber will also harden up those runny poops. However since you have a baby you can use alfalfa based hay until the bunny is about 1 yr old.

It sounds like Thelmer has gut stasis, which can kill a bunny if left untreated. Let me join the previous advice and be sure you get a bunny specialist vet. Thelmer may need a dose of Reglen, which the vet can also give you some extra to take home in case it takes a couple of doses to clean things up.

Good luck!

[PJ's Mom]

I have one more question.

Why does a bunny bite, and how do you get him to stop biting? I was petting him, and he whipped around and bit me HARD! He broke the skin, but didn't draw blood.

Thanks.

[Daisylover]

Well, the bad news is that according to bunny experts it's very difficult to discipline a bunny. They simply do not respond like a cat or a dog. Biting is a way they tell each other to back off. Biting is also, of course, a means of defense if they feel threatened or annoyed.

Smacking a bunny is a very bad move as they have delicate muscles and bines and could easily be injured.

There are 2 things you can do which may work..... One way, is to screech or yell Oww!!!! That way the bunny knows he has hurt you. This has worked for me and what I do if I get bit.

The other way is harder because it's a shot of water in the face from a squirt bottle....and not many of us have those readily at our finger tips when something like this happens . And either form of discipline must be done Immediately, not later. They do not have a long attention span and would not associate a squirt 2 or 3 minutes later with the bite, which is why I holler at the offender.

Bunnies don't, as a rule, just haul off and bite someone without a reason..... Perhaps just beforehand he was giving you small signals that you overlooked that he wanted to get down or move away from being petted??????? This is also a juvenile behavior and that as the bunny gets older and your bond with him is stronger and he is feeling more safe and secure, the biting really should not happen unless he is distressed is some manner.

So I've talked too much and given you probably more info than you need. Try the hollering if he hauls off and bites anyone again. Good luck. Let me know if it works or if you have any other questions..... I'm fresh from teaching a Bunny Basics class last night and I've got all kinds of info and opinions!!!!!!

[Rottieluver45]

WOW!! Thanks for the info! He hasn`t biten anyone again,yet! But if he does I`ll try the hollering one!

My mom is now afraid of him!

[Daisylover]

I just had another thought on how to handle Thelmer if he bites or tries to bite/nip again.... This also works if you have a bunny who is aggressive or gets a little out of control.....

When one of my bunnies misbehaves and I'm close to him/her I will place my hand GENTLY on his head/ears/forehead and press the head to the floor and hold the head GENTLY down for about 5 seconds. In bunny language this means "I (Cathy) AM THE BOSS BUNNY, and you need to acknowledge it".

This actually works with Chocolate when she - every once in a while - gets a little too agressive with Miss Emma over their greens. And it has worked well. In fact usually for a week or so afterwards all I have to do is say her name loudly when she starts acting up and she immediately stops her bad behavior. Bunnies don't have a long memory so if she behaves for a while and then starts acting up again I have to start all over. There has been a couple of times when I've seen her start to chase Miss Emma and then she stops herself before I can holler her name.....and it's made me feel guilty!!!! Go figure!!!

Tell your mom not to give up on Thelmer. I think part of the problem is that he is still a baby and I'm guessing easily frightened. Also baby bunnies have a lot more energy (and less of an attention span, by the way) than adults. I think that bite was the exception and not the norm.

Good luck! Keep us informed of your progress with him.

[CathyBogart]

When I bred bunnies I got the occasional nip. I found that the water worked well, as well as a GENTLE thump on the nose with two fingers. You aren't trying to make the bunny feel it, just get his attention. Those are the only methods I have tried with any success, but then again I don't remember trying anything else. I'll be trying a few of the other suggestions on a 'nibbler' bunny at my work.