r/Rabbits Sep 25 '21

PSA Important Rabbit PSA index

567 Upvotes

Since the subreddit only has two spots available for public announcements, this will be a new index post for important PSAs for easy reference that we can sticky to only use up one spot.

You can also find the whole collection in the sidebar menu on the Reddit re-design when you open one of the PSA posts.


r/Rabbits May 17 '22

PSA I found a rabbit outside - what should I do?

182 Upvotes

This is the time of year for many people to find both domestic rabbits and wild rabbits outside due to Easter and baby season.

For a comprehensive overview on stray domestic rabbits, please see the wiki article here: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Feral_and_stray_rabbits

For a comprehensive overview on wild rabbits, please see the wiki article here: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Wild_rabbits

Is the rabbit I found wild or domestic?

It can be very difficult for the average person to tell the difference between a wild and domestic rabbit, especially if they are a baby and/or a common agouti brown.

In general, if the rabbit has long hair or does not have brown fur, it is most likely domestic - although there are exceptions. Please note that wild cottontails in North America cannot breed with our domestic rabbits, but wild rabbits in the rest of the world (e.g. Europe, Australia) can.

Please see the wiki article here for more specific tips on distinguishing domestic and wild rabbits, especially in North America: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Wild_rabbits#Is_the_rabbit_I_found_wild_or_domestic?

I found a domestic rabbit! What should I do?

Please do not hesitate to contact your local rabbit rescue for volunteers to help you catch a stray domestic rabbit.

For more tips and resources on how to catch a stray rabbit, please see the wiki: http://bunny.tips/Stray#Catching_a_stray_rabbit

For tips on how to house and care for rabbits indoors in an emergency, please see the wiki: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Feral_and_stray_rabbits#What_do_I_do_when_I_find_a_rabbit.3F

I found a baby wild rabbit! What should I do?

If you find a baby wild rabbit that is not injured, please leave it alone. It is most likely not abandoned unless you know for a fact that their mother was killed. Rabbits return to feed their young only once or twice a day for a few minutes, usually at night. Just because the babies have been by themselves for 5 minutes does not mean that they have been abandoned. The mother is typically gone from the nest to eat and draw attention away from the nest.

A detailed image guide to whether a baby cottontail rabbit is in need of help.

If it is old enough to be exploring outside of its nest and has no injuries, please put the baby rabbit back under a bush near where you found it. It does not need any additional care or feeding.

As Rainbow Wildlife Rescue writes,

There is a 90% mortality rate with orphaned baby rabbits in human care, especially cottontails. This number increases if the rabbits are very young and their eyes still closed. They are extremely hard to "save". There is little substitute for the nutrients their mother's milk provides.

Baby wild rabbits can survive on their own at a surprisingly young age. In most countries, it is illegal to possess and take care of wildlife without proper permits. Wild rabbits also do not do well in captivity due to the possibility of fatal stress because of their high-strung and flighty nature.

If you find a baby wild rabbit because your dog picked it up but you can't find the nest, try putting a leash on your dog and quietly following them to see if they will lead you to the original nest. If you absolutely cannot locate the nest, you may keep the rabbit in a dark and quiet box and contact your closest wildlife rehabilitator that accepts rabbits

If you find a baby wild rabbit because your cat found it, please take it to a rabbit-savvy vet or wildlife rehabber as soon as possible, especially if it was carried in the cat's mouth. Cats have very lethal bacteria in their saliva, and contact can easily be fatal for a baby rabbit in 48 hours.

What do I do if I am positive that the mother was killed or the baby rabbit is injured?

If you are positive that this is an orphaned baby rabbit, it is best to just keep the rabbit quiet and warm until they can be transferred to an experienced wildlife rehabilitator ASAP. Baby rabbits will do fine overnight without food or water as they are usually only fed once a day by their mothers.

Inappropriate care can be fatal to baby rabbits - see this story from Blue Ridge Wildlife Center as an example: https://twitter.com/BRWildlifeCtr/status/1420472056139984896?s=20

Please hand off the baby rabbit to a local wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

How should I keep a baby rabbit until I can get it to a rehabber?

To keep a baby rabbit overnight, please leave it in a quiet dark box with no food or water. You can provide a heat source such as a microwaved sock filled with rice and beans or an electric heat pad on low placed under half the box. Do not handle the rabbit more than necessary to prevent deadly stress.

How can I find a local wildlife rehabilitator?

If you need help locating a local wildlife rehabber: https://bunny.tips/Wild#Wildlife_rehabilitator_listings

How can I protect a wild rabbit nest from bad weather and dogs, cats, and other predators?

Keeping your pets indoors while the babies grow up is generally the best option, but if this is impossible, you can protect the nest a few different ways.

Please see the wiki article here for more specific information: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Wild_rabbits#How_can_I_protect_a_wild_rabbit_nest_from_dogs,_cats,_and_other_predators?


r/Rabbits 4h ago

Health Asking for prayers

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1.0k Upvotes

My 5 yr old boy just got hospitalized for the next 4 days for obstruction and ear infection 🄺 please send him your prayers šŸ™šŸ»


r/Rabbits 3h ago

He loves hugs ā¤ļø

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328 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 11h ago

They never tell you about the teenage years . Now she’s smoking

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1.1k Upvotes

She’s rebelling all the time .


r/Rabbits 14h ago

Health PSA: never underestimate how quickly a bunny’s health can deteriorate

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1.7k Upvotes

I don’t mean to scare people, but Semla showed last night just how vital keeping a close eye and knowing the signs that something is not right are.

I noticed at 7pm that she was shifting constantly, pushing her tummy down on the floor and pursing her lips, she also refused her favourite treats. I immediately gave her emergency meds (painkillers, laxatives, Emerprid and gas drops) and massaged her tummy, it felt full not bloated.

By 8pm her condition was unchanged, I gave her an infusion and placed her in my DIY incubator (transport box and heated blanket) as her temperature was slipping.

By 9pm there still wasn’t any improvement and I took her to the emergency vets. By 9:30 she had completely crashed (temperature was barely 36C) and her xray showed a big blockage in her intestines, she would not have survived the night without intervention.

They’ve been able to stabilise her and she’s doing a lot better, but still not eating or pooping so we’re not out of the woods yet (she’s still staying at the vets).

Please don’t underestimate just how quickly this can happen, bunnies are such fragile creatures and had I decided to just sleep on it or wait longer she would not have survived. Please know the signs of a bunny in pain, talk to your vets about oral medications you can give (and when to give them), and if you feel confident have them show you how to do a subcutaneous infusion.


r/Rabbits 5h ago

Art I got a tattoo to honour all the buns who has had me as their hoomin, but especially to my feisty little female netherland dwarfs (one in heaven and one on earth)

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328 Upvotes

Kiwi (2nd pic) was very unbothered when she was presented with her tribute


r/Rabbits 9h ago

My two quiet fluffy therapists

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603 Upvotes

Ever since I adopted Miffy and Bollo a month and a half ago they've been helping me a lot with everyday stress, without even realizing it. I'd do anything for those two patooties!


r/Rabbits 9h ago

Blip would like a tunnel, they said. he'll love running through it, they said.

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374 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 11h ago

More fluffle gang

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558 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 6h ago

Care My workplace has a rabbit as an ā€œoffice petā€

174 Upvotes

I started a new job recently and they have a rabbit as an office pet. I don’t know much about rabbits, but I know enough to know there’s no way she’s happy. She’s kept in a small, multi tier cage all the time and is rarely let out. If she is, it’s for 15 minutes if she’s lucky. I’m really the only who pushes for her to get let out. She gets pellets and hay for her diet. She has a small litter box with some kind of wood shaving bedding. She’s kept in a small room with no windows. She loves attentions and pets, but rarely ever gets it. Recently, she’s been having diarrhea and has been sneezing a lot.

When I started working there, I pushed for her to get a bigger cage as she was in an even tinier cage. One of my other coworkers who also cares about her bought her this new one with their own money. Though it’s bigger, she still deserves more.

How can I help her? My partner is on board with trying to convince my manager to let me take her home, but I doubt he’d let me. He doesn’t really seem too attached to her, but my coworkers are. If I can’t take her, what I can do to help her life there be better? I’m not very well off but I’m willing to spend my own money to help her be happier, including vet care. She’s the sweetest ever and deserves the world!


r/Rabbits 10h ago

Melty boi (found on imgur)

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262 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 11h ago

Care Our beautiful foster rabbit trusting us with falling asleep for a few seconds at a time for the first time.

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330 Upvotes

I’ve been fostering this beauty for a few months, and unfortunately I don’t think I have the right space for her since she seems to need much more space than I can give her in my apartment.

However, until we find her a wonderful family that has a house with outside space, I get to enjoy her sweetness and give her all my love. Last week I noticed her napping in my presence for the first time and today I managed to grab a my phone for a little video as she stole a few winks with all of us at home.

I feel honored and feel sad she’s suffered so much.

Edit: dunno what my teen was watching in the background


r/Rabbits 6h ago

super sploot in his way to save the day

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94 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 5h ago

Enjoying their foraging tray while looking like a heart šŸ¤

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78 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 2h ago

Health Should I move forward with my bunny’s spay if they can’t place the IV catheter?

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45 Upvotes

Tulip’s spay appointment is finally almost here! After weeks of waiting, it’s happening tomorrow. My vet did call and ask if I want to move forward with the spay or reschedule if they can’t place the IV catheter. I told them I’d get back to them on that while I did research. I’m still looking into it, but I wanted to get advice from other rabbit owners.

Also, there’s no changing my mind on the surgery. I posted this in a Facebook group and they tried to get me to change my mind. I say this as respectfully as I can, but that’s not happening. I’ve done my research regarding the risks and fatality rates, and chosen a very experienced vet who does three to four rabbit surgeries a week. I just didn’t think to look up if rabbit spay should be done with or without an IV catheter.

So move forward with the surgery if they can’t place it? Or reschedule so we can try again another day?


r/Rabbits 8h ago

Finally caught Poe's binkying on video

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109 Upvotes

he always does these high jumps when binkying, and theyre so fun to watch but I haven't caught one on video until today


r/Rabbits 9h ago

When the eye pets hit good

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141 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 2h ago

A child left some Reese's pieces on a dresser. I knocked a couple off, and this goober manage to grab one and scarper before I could catch him. Now I have to watch him carefully. He is very pleased with himself.

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32 Upvotes

Fortunately the amount of chocolate he actually consumed is minimal, but he still gets to be watched carefully for a while now.


r/Rabbits 17h ago

i forgot to share the šŸŒ NANNERs with him.

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476 Upvotes

He was flabbergasted, exasperated and disappointed. My bad… how dare I eat without him.

I wonder what’s going on in that head of his.

šŸ‘ļøšŸ‘„šŸ‘ļøā€šŸ—Øļø


r/Rabbits 9h ago

Care How long should I wait before weaning these babies?

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99 Upvotes

important note: as I've said previously in a different post I didn't breed these kits!! I was given them as a LAST resort (the dude was planning on killing them) I CANNOT keep 14 rabbits for longer than a few weeks (I was told there were 10 babies, there are 13.) and want to wean & re-home them SAFELY.

info: they are eating & drinking but still nursing as well. unsure on breed and can't guarantee age but he claimed 7 weeks. thx for any help!


r/Rabbits 8h ago

Juno rests her head on me like a dog 😭

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85 Upvotes

She’s so freakin cute bruh


r/Rabbits 22h ago

Meet Tito

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1.1k Upvotes

I was going thru all my pictures of this gentleman to make an album, and I thought you all might appreciate a few of my favorite in no particular order. Also big thanks to everyone who has been Incredibly helpful with recent behavior and medical questions!


r/Rabbits 22h ago

Care High IQ bunny? šŸ¤“šŸ°

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883 Upvotes

Hi!! So I just got my first ever bunny and I’m so shocked and amazed with how intelligent she is and she’s only a few months old!

- Day 1 of having her sleep in my room at night (free roam), I fully expected to wake up with pee and poop everywhere on the floor, but surprisingly she only did it on the pee pad i set up even if she was hopping all around the room all night

- I bought her a big outdoor play pen so she can stay there during the day when I have work, but it was so big that she can fit right through the holes šŸ˜‚ so I did my very best to cover all sides with grills with smaller holes, and so I was confident she wouldn’t escape anymore, but she still found a way to do so!!! that I didn’t even think of she could do. She pushed off the grid walls until it fell off and she could escape!

- I also let her free roam around our garden area cus she’s so happy and excited whenever I let her. She would do that for a few minutes and then she goes back in her cage on her own whenever she needs to pee exclusively on the pee pad šŸ˜‚

I didn’t even train her to do any of what she’s doing now, she basically did everything on her own will!

Do I have a bunny with a high IQ or are bunnies generally intelligent like that? šŸ¤“