We've made a decision about Jilly...

[Aspen and Misty]

She is has been such a joy in our lives and we love her so much, we MIGHT be getting her a friend. We feel bad because Jilly spends most of her time alone and bunnies are suposed to be social creatures. We are going to look at them, they will just be from a pet store but from what the guy told me they sound SOOO cute!

Also, I thought you might like to know Jilly is now a hosue bunny. She is so well litter trained and so well behavied she is aloud to roam around my room all day, the only time she is in her cage is at night. Her and Chewy get along GREAT! Chewy was sleeping on the floor and jilly cmae up and sniffed him and he just looked at her and then went back to sleep.

Ash

[Karen]

That's great, but are there no rescue bunnies near you? Check shelters for single bunnies in need of a home AND friend!

I know you never will leave Chewy alone with Jilly without supervision, right?

[Jessica12345]

congrats! cant wait too see pics (TONS of em) of the cuties playin together!

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by Karen

I know you never will leave Chewy alone with Jilly without supervision, right?

No the only time they are together is when I need to put Chewy in his crate. Then he just walks in there and goes in, sometimes I have to fight to keep Jilly out of Chewy's crate cause she just HAS to knwo whats going on

I have been looking and asking about Bunny rescues and there are none around here, well that I know of. Our SPCA does not adopt bunnies because they don't have the things needed to properly care for a bunny so they tell the peopel to give them to the pet stores.

We went to the pet store and the bunnies were the size of Misty (our cat) and only 4 months old a little to much food ya think, lol. So we didn't get one. Although, I have a question, Will a bigger bunny pick on my preciouse Jilly bean or do they need to be the same size? One thing I didn't liek about the pet store is they grabed the poor buns by the back of the neck, like a cat, is that ok to do? I will never ever do it to Jilly. Those buns wre thrasing around tryign to get away but the gusy just threw them back in the cage so they wouldn't get scratched or bit. Poor Buns I want to adopt them so they don't haev to be there any more Hmm, I'm gonna ask this one lady at the pet store, she aopts alot of animals from a small and furry place around here, I wonder if they have bunnies?? Hmm, I'll have to see...


Ash

[Heather Wallace]

Are you having a male or a male friend. remember to get them spayed/neutered as they will live better together, also if you get a male, it takes no time for them to make babies.

[RockyRoad]

That's great that Chewy and Jilly are getting along! Sometimes I wish I had an indoor-born bunny, but Floppsy makes up for it!

That's wonderful that you're getting Jilly a playmate as well! I was thinking the same thing as Heather, make sure if you're getting one, that they are spayed/neutered. Bunnies can get along grea together, but make sure they are never left alone, at least while they are getting used to each other.(I have learned that mistake before )
As for the size/dominance thing, I wouldn't be sure. The only time I had two bunnies and they were indoor-born, one was at least three years older than the other, and they got along pretty well, but I can't say that will happen with all buns.
If you're looking for a good rescue place, why not try www.petfinder.com, if you haven't already. You can search for the type of bun you want, and in your area, and see how many buns you can find. I found plenty of rabbits in my area, but all in-door born. But anyway, hope it works for you, good luck on the new bun!

[Aspen and Misty]

Thanx! I was acctually thinking about getting her a girl friend. All my books and everything say that girls and girls will get along if introduced slowly and properly. And Jilly is young and so is her friend I'm hopeing they will get along. If we do get a bunny it will be checked by our vet to make sure it is the sex we want and is healthy before going in with Jillian. If it is a male we will then not allow them to be together unless he is nutered.

Ash

[Daisylover]

This is very good news for Jilly as bunnies are very social and love to have a friend (other than their human, of course!!! LOL!!! ). I am very glad you are being careful. You have asked good questions too. And yes, a bunny from a rescue shelter is always a very good idea.

And you are right that bunnies should NOT be picked up by the scruff of their neck. As a prey animal bunnies hate being up off the floor because they know they are helpless. An agitated bunny could kick out and try to throw himself around in a effort to get away and end up breaking it's neck or back. The proper way to pick up a bunny is not so much different that picking up a small child with one hand firmly around the butt and the other firmly around the chest and front legs.

I have never had a problem with having a small bunny with a large one, but it depends on the bunnies personalities. Remember a long, slow introduction is best, as much as it drives us all crazy wanting our bunnies to be friends RIGHT NOW!!! It's just our nature to want for our pets what we enjoy too!

You talk about getting Jilly a friend, and if it's a boy, having him neutered. I hope you are planning on doing the same for Jilly. Female buns have a very high incidence of reproductive cancers. Plus spaying will calm her down just enough from being aggressive. Many people worry that with spay/neutering that their animal will be less playful and energetic but that's just not true. A big plus is also that her urine will be less "odorous," for lack of a better word, and that she'll be more accepting of you as well as with another bunny. As I said above the introductions should be taken slowly so it may take a while to get them to be friends. Check out the House Rabbit Soc webpage on bonding multiple rabbits www.rabbit.org. Sorry to be preachy, as a bunny educator it's hard to get off my soap box!

Good luck with finding a new friend for Jilly and keep us informed. We bunny lovers can't get too much news about bunnies!! Heh-heh-heh!

[aly]

Oh my goodness, look at this baby I saw on petfinder. She is already altered and housetrained! Her stupid owner is moving and not taking her

She's in Wilkes Barre, PA. I don't know if thats close to you or not.



http://www.petfinder.com/pet.cgi?act...review=1&row=0

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by aly


She's in Wilkes Barre, PA. I don't know if thats close to you or not.



http://www.petfinder.com/pet.cgi?act...review=1&row=0

Is it close?? now what kind of question is that?? yes, its close, almost an hour and a half away. We will have to check it out and she sounds perfect for us!

Ash

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by Daisylover
Sorry to be preachy, as a bunny educator it's hard to get off my soap box!

Never! I love learning new things. The information you haev given was great. My vet said that he will only spay Jilly if she gets agressive otehr whys its to risky and he doens't like to do it.

Ash

[Daisylover]

Uh.....it doesn't sound to me like your vet has been trained to take care of rabbits. Vets who care for rabbits have to go on and take advanced classes in Exotics....Rabbits are considered exotics because their digestive systems are significantly diff. from cats/dogs and very much like horses and deer... they have "good" bacteria in their gut to help digest food and the gut has to move all of the time. There are also drugs specifically developed to treat bunnies for a variety of disorders that a cat/dog vet might not know about.

I would urge you to get back on the House Rab Soc webpage, they have a listing of rabbit-specialist vets and questions you should ask a vet before you choose one.

I'm fussy I guess because I have heard and seen horror stories out at our sanctuary of untrained vets trying to treat a rabbit and use the same meds they would for a dog or a cat. (On wanted to give Tang!!! to a bunny with a cold, I almost had a heart attack...said the bun needed vit C....what a crock plus all that sugar would have given the bunny diahrea!!!!) Many bunnies usually end up dead or significantly worse even when an untrained vet has the bun's best interest at heart. Bunnies, for example, absolutely CANNOT have penicillin or Amoxicyllin, it will kill the "good" flora in their gut, without which will then kill the bunny. Bunnies are very suspectible to catching a cold which has to be treated with bunny-safe drugs. In addition bunnies also have problems with anesthetics. For Jilly's sake you really need to have having a rabbit specialist vet, and have him or her identified BEFORE Jilly gets sick. As bunnies start to get older many need a proper vet who can diagnose bunny problems. Your present vet is to be congratulated on NOT being willing to spay Jilly. I suspect he is well aware of how tricky the anesthesia is to administer. I know this sounds like a good reason Not to have Jilly spayed but I promise you she'll be a healthier bunny and most likely live longer if she does have her little operation. Please think about what I've said.

Gotta get off my soapbox now and go home....Yeah, it's the weekend!!

[Aspen and Misty]

Thank you. My vet is not very noleged in anythign but Cats and Dogs. If you have a bird he is the best vet you could go to then. he is an awesome bird vet and acctually specializes in them. So I will go the web site and see what I cna find


Ash

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by Aspen and Misty
Thank you. My vet is not very noleged in anythign but Cats and Dogs. If you have a bird he is the best vet you could go to then. he is an awesome bird vet and acctually specializes in them. So I will go the web site and see what I cna find


Ash

I don't think avian vets are supposed to know much about rabbits! Do you know of any bunny vet in your area?

[primabella]

yaay! that bunny at petfinder is adorable! good luck and hope to see pics soon!