New bunny mommy freaking out about everything

[GhostHelwig]

 As the title suggests, I am a very recent mommy to a baby bunny. Bunnicula is/was between 6-8 weeks old when I got him last week Saturday, and as much as I already love him, there have been some issues.

 

Number one is that both my sister and my mother seem deeply allergic to the Timothy hay the store told me to feed him. I know baby bunnies usually eat alfalfa hay, but the store told me because he’s a dwarf, alfalfa would make him very big, so it’s not a good idea. If that’s true, is it okay for a young bunny to eat other grass hay besides Timothy, like orchard grass?

 

Also, he’s been sneezing a lot, but there’s no discharge and he eats and plays just fine. The store told me not to worry and to just keep an eye on him (for the first two weeks, I’m supposed to call them and not a vet, so they can deal with any problems), but should I be getting a second opinion? Or could the grass – or even stress from the new home – be causing him to sneeze?

 

I’m sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure I’m raising a happy, healthy bunny.

[Chronicambitions]

Unfortunately, pet stores give some very bad advice.
You can definitely feed your bunny alfalfa hay. If your bunny truly is a dwarf rabbit, he will grow to be a dwarf rabbit. It’s like feeding a baby adult food because you want it to stay small. Doesn’t really make sense. There are other types of hay for when he gets bigger too that you can feed instead of Timothy.
I would also go ahead with a vet check. Rabbits, especially young ones, can get sick and pass away very quickly. He might have some type of respiratory infection and need antibiotics.

[GhostHelwig]

Thank you. I think I’m going to do both those things. I had a feeling he was wrong when he told me not to feed my bunny alfalfa hay. As for the vet, I’ll take him in as soon as I find an exotic pet vet in my area, just to put my fears to rest. Thank you so much for the help!

I’m going to go search vets now, because I think taking him in ASAP is best.

[Deleted User]

Please forgive my being blunt, but I’m not impressed with your store’s advice!!!

Yes you can and should feed alfalfa to a baby rabbit regardless of their size/breed. You can also feed other kinds of hay (orchard, meadow, oat) now and in the future.

I have no idea about the sneezing but one, I’d want a vet appointment even if he wasn’t showing any symptoms; and two, I really do not think you should be relying on the store for health/medical advice

If you want an excellent reliable resource with lots of good information checkout the info section on this site, and rabbit.org! They can answer lots of your questions especially about diet.

[Cookie is #1]

 Yep, your bun dfinetley needs alfalfa hay. And also the sneezing is a problem. I just wanted to say that my dad was very allergic to the Timothy hay. So I researched and found that Timothy hay is highly allergetic, and good for your rabbit hay that is less allergetic are orchard and oat grass hay. So I switched to orchard grass hay, and my dad was perfectly fine with it. So when your bun is older your could give him one of the two. 

[GhostHelwig]

 The only reason I called the store at all was they told me to when I purchased him. I’ve been researching online all today and yesterday though, and I think I just needed to hear other people tell me that they’re wrong and my research is right. So thank you to all of you.

 

I’m definitely switching to alfalfa for now (and not from them, because their Timothy hay didn’t look or feel like the resources online say good hay should). And Bunnicula has a vet appointment in three hours – not from them either, though they told me to come to their vet with problems. If the people at the store are misinformed, I’m not going to trust their suggested vet with my bunny’s health.

 

Thank you all so much for the help. I feel much better knowing I can switch out his hay, and having a vet appointment set for him. Once he’s older, I’ll switch to the one of the other hays for him. I’m glad he can eat those. And through all the research I’ve been doing I already found a seller on my island, so I’ll be ready. Heh.

[Chronicambitions]

I’m glad you found a vet so quickly.
Sending healthy vet check vibes to you and your bunny.

Let us know how it goes and if you get a chance to, post some pictures. I love seeing everyone’s bunnies.

[Deleted User]

So glad you found a vet and will be taking him so quicly! It can’t hurt and you’ll need a vet for neutering, … not to mention it doesn’t hurt to know you have one if needed.

Think you’ll find things smooth out some from here on in. You really can trust the diet (and other) recommendations on the House Rabbit Society’s webpage (www.rabbit.org), their an excellent reference to start with when you want to check something.

Congratulations on your new furry family member, I’m so glad he’s found a good caring home. Looking forward to hearing from you about his adventures as he settles in.

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

I agree pet stores do give bad advice. I have had bad experiences with pet stores. It is good even though the pet store said don’t contact a vet contact them it is best to take your rabbit to a vet to make sure he is healthy. Occasionally rabbits can sneeze but sneezing to much isn’t a good thing it can be a infection so it is best to take your rabbit to a vet to make sure isn’t something serious. Hope all works well and yes a new bunny can be scary.

[tobyluv]

I hope that Bunnicula gets a good report at the vet. The Timothy hay that is causing problems with your mother and sister could also be the culprit behind his sneezing. Some bags of hay can be very dusty. Rabbits can sneeze due to allergies, not just because of infections.

Besides trying different varieties of hay, like the ones already suggested, you may have to try different brands. Some are definitely better and less dusty than others.

[GhostHelwig]

Thank you all for the support and the good thoughts! Bunnicula had a good first appointment at the vet. He did end up needing Revolution for some skin mites (the vet said a lot of pet store bunnies get them? I had no idea), and he’s on an antibiotic in case of infection. I actually found the vet so quickly through the House Bunny Society website. I love them. I’ve been reading everything I can about bunnies for a few months now to prepare, and that site is a godsend. So helpful and informative.

Much like this forum. You guys made me feel much more confident, and taking him to the vet was absolutely the best decision. I can’t thank all of you enough.

I ended up buying him Oxbow brand Orchard grass hay, because my vet said the alfalfa wasn’t necessary. He also told me that the pet store didn’t know what they were talking about when they told me not to feed him fruit or vegetables yet, which I suspected already just from my research, so Bunnicula will be trying a bit of vegetables in the next couple of days. I want to watch him and make sure he’s adjusting to his new meds first. I’m paranoid. Heh.

And here are two pictures of my baby in his cage. I think he’s adorable. I’m in love. 

[Chronicambitions]

I’m so glad you found a good vet.

He’s so cute. I love the flop picture. Looks like he’s pretty comfortable in his new home already! I think it’s good that you’re giving him time to adjust to his medicine before feeding and veggies. Also it’s good to introduce veggies one at a time so that way it’s easy to figure out what’s wrong if he starts having tummy problems.

[Emandme]

Bunnicula is the cutest name! And so darn handsome. Awww.

I wanted to say kudos to you for doing research and suspecting the pet store was full of it. And thank goodness you took Bunnicula to your own vet. I had a situation when I got Bunneh where he turned out to be quite ill. The pet store owner told me that I should have brought him in to see his own vet instead of me taking him to mine.

I didn’t believe him for a second – because I am certain I know exactly what he would do. He wouldn’t pay 200 bucks to heal the poor animal. He’d dispose of it. For pet stores its all about the bottom line. I’m glad he went out of business later on.

Anyway, long story short, good on you for being a great bunny mama to Bunnicula.

[GhostHelwig]

Me too! Thank you. I’ve heard horror stories about bad vets for bunnies, so even though I’m still nervous about it, he seemed very knowledgeable. And he didn’t mind my asking tons of questions.

Aw, thank you! Both those pics were from his very first day here, and I was thrilled to see how easily he took to his new home. He’s been flopping around like he hasn’t a care at all since he got here. Lol. And I’m glad someone else thinks it’s good to wait. I didn’t ask the vet or anything, I just keep reading how sensitive bunnies can be, and I want to be as careful as possible. I’ll definitely take it slow with the vegetables. I want to know exactly what upsets him if something does. Plus he’s had a lot of stress already this week just moving in with us, I don’t want to upset his tummy too.

[GhostHelwig]

Aw, thank you! I actually got Bunnicula’s name from a book. It’s a children’s book that meant a lot to me as a kid – I still love it now, actually – so I had his name way before I had him.

I admit, I did research because I was terrified I would be a bad mommy to him otherwise, having only had a dog before this. And that was a long time ago. But pet stores, I’ve heard they can be very misinformed. I’m so glad I came here to check. You guys are all wonderful.

I’m so sorry your baby Bunneh was ill – I hope he’s recovered now? It definitely sounds like you made the exact right call taking him to your own vet. The idea that they would have put him down instead of taking care of him… That’s chilling. That had not even occurred to me. I’m so glad you avoided that entirely. I hope your Bunneh is happy and healthy now!

 

ETA: Sorry, I meant to edit my previous post, not create a whole new one. I am so on the ball today. Lol.

[Deleted User]

Delighted that things have gone so well! Always feel its best to be cautious with any animal (I’d rather bug my vet for nothing then find out I should have been there days before), … and remember now that you have one you seem to get along with your vet is only a phone call away. Every vet I’ve ever dealt with (and that includes vets who did not have my pets as patients) has always been willing to discuss a potential problem over the phone.

I don’t think being caring, thoughtful and a little cautious is ever paranoid. Its always best to be able to pin point the probable cause of a problem so waiting to observe for a few days after any change (adding meds in this case) is very sensible.

Happy you found the House Rabbit site, I’m thrilled to have myself, and in a round about way its how I got here, … and this forum is definitely an invaluable source of help and wisdom, I know how you feel about having it to visit, ask and share on.

By the way, in case you haven’t found it yet there’s an excellent article on the House Rabbit’s site that deals specifically with rabbit diet and includes a break down of different food groups and suggested lists of vegetables etc. Its a good article to have read, and I do keep going back to those lists, … great guideline.

Well happy you found your Little One (which book does his name come from?), and very glad he found you! Think you are set to enjoy each other very much!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I just want to Welcome you to BB. You got some great advice from the other members. Your new baby is adorable.

[tanlover14]

Welcome to BB! He really is an adorable one.

Pet stores can be horrible places! I rescued my fifth bun from a pet store. She was sneezing, her head was swaying, and her hair was completely tangled and in knots (she’s long haired). Alfalfa is good for babies – when you go to switch him over to “adult” hay, I would suggest Orchard Grass or Oat Hay. My boyfriend is INSANELY allergic to the Timothy also but as long as he’s not sticking his face in a box of the other stuff he’s typically fine.

I’m glad you found a good vet and the HRS website is wonderful! I was on that site ALL the time (and this one) when I got my first bunny. Okay, I’ll admit… I’m on my fifth bunny and I’m STILL always on these sites!

[Monkeybun]

He’s cute!

But, if he is the age that the store said, he is not a dwarf breed He’s too big already

[Bam]

He’s adorable! The mites he had were probably Cheyletiella Parasitivorax, very common in rabbits who have been under stress of some kind. The mites are often transferred to them from their mother, but they don’t start to multiply and cause trouble unless the rabbit gets the wrong food or the wrong care etc – as is often the case in pet stores. Both my bunnies had these mites when I found them. (My bunnies were found outside, abandonned by their people.) It’s easily cured, though. Revolution is good stuff =)

Crazy thing to say, that a dwarf rabbit shouldn’t get alfalfa hay because it would make it grow too much. It’s kind of like if you’d get a chihuahua puppy and have to be very restrictive with the food or it’d grow into a Great Dane =)

[Chronicambitions]

I think pet stores like to label bunnies as dwarfs when they aren’t too sure of what breed the bunny is. They have an easier time selling smaller bunnies than they would with a bigger bunny. Whenever I go into the store to pick up food I see wrongly labeled rabbits. Usually they just put dwarf or something that starts with mini.

[Valkyrie]

I have to say, good job on Bunnicula’s name! I have been a huge Bunnicula fan since I was a kid and have already preordered the box set that is being released next month. I am also designing a Bunnicula tattoo; just have to figure out where I want to put it (it’s Bunnicula and a jackalope munching on some dandylion together because I am that metal lol). I was supposed to get it when I turned 20, but I decided to finish my degree first.

Some pet stores really suck. A few years ago I was in the local pet store and saw a grey and white rabbit there. He was there for months and inspired me to end my bunny hiatus. I didn’t buy him, I went to a pet store in the next town over and paid $50 for a dwarf. He sneezed every now and then, but the frightening part was that he ate non stop and peed ridiculous amounts – he didn’t seem to be able to control the pee either. I didn’t even have the chance to take him to the vet because he died within days. He didn’t even have a set name yet, although we called him Bunny. I was so upset because of course I already loved him. I called the petstore and they said to come in and they would give me another bunny. Before leaving, I bleached my cage and accessories in case it was contagious. They only had one non-dwarf left, so I took it home. As soon as I put it in the cage, it started sneezing and mucus was coming out. I drove it right back and they fought me about returning it!!!! They said it “looked fine.” I did get my money back though and went straight to the local pet store and bought that grey and white bunny that originally inspired me to be a bunny mom again for $11. That was Merlin, the bunny in my profile picture that passed away yesterday.

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