Small update on the bunny......it's a.....ANOTHER Update Pg 3!!

[sixcats]

I have two one-eyed cats and they manage just fine. I do agree that a vet check would be a good idea. My son and a friend came home with two bunnies just like that last week. I promptly sent them back to the backyard they found them in and they went back into their nest.

Your little guy is lucky you are there to care for him.

 

[Pooh93]

Awwww...sorry about his eye, but he looks great! You are doing a great job with him!

 

[Colleen A.]

Oh, I am so fuming right now! I couldn't find a vet to take care of "wild animals" so I decided I would call that wildlife rehab center back (despite the fact that they NEVER returned my call when I first found Thumper ) and asked them if they would be able to check Thumper out but NOT keep him. They promptly, and quite rudely I might add, start to tell me that I will not find a vet to look at him, they need a special permit. THEY have to permit, but WILL NOT check him out unless they can keep him! They also tell me that I have NO RIGHT to keep him. He is wild and I can get into trouble IF I'm caught! I was so stunned I was almost speechless. I tried to tell them everything I have done (none of which the woman could find fault with) but she kept saying he could "become stressed and die". I would imagine he would become MORE STRESSED if I took him there and left him!! You know, it's not like I DIDN'T look to them for help. They basically blew me off and didn't even give me the decency of a call back. I did whatever I could to see be sure Thumper would survive. We have so much emotionally invested in him, it would break a lot of hearts, including mine, to hand him over to them. It would of been easier a week ago. She told me not to worry, they wouldn't put him down. I didn't ask that question...why offer the information unless..... I honestly don't see how they could do anymore for him than we have. I still get up for middle of the night feedings. Would someone be there to do that? Would they hand feed him oat flakes piece at a time?!

I have told the kids I don't want them to let any of their friends hold him. I don't want to invite trouble. I thought I did so much good this past week. Now they have me feeling horrible.

 

[mhopset]

Don't pay any attention to those rehab idiots!!!!!! You and Jeana just put him in a cage, fatten him up a little and then we will talk about Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WilmaBud]

Don't even think about giving your precious bunny to those rehab people! You are doing just fine on your own, and I have no doubt they'd put him down once they saw that eye. I wouldn't trust them at all, and I would never call them again. Do you have a vet that you'd trust at all? What's the big difference between "wild" rabbits and domestic ones? I mean cats can be "wild" too if they grow up on their own, but that doesn't mean their physical makeups are any different from domesticated ones. I can't imagine there's it's too different with rabbits. Ask your friends who have pets about their vets. Maybe one of them can talk to their vet for you. I know my vet would help me out - at least steer me to a vet who'd see the bunny if he couldn't help. Most vets are animal lovers and would help out in a bind. Try to find a vet who sees "exotic" animals.

 

[Colleen A.]

Tony, I would have a witty comeback for you if I weren't so upset! My biggest fear is that the rehab center has caller id and will report me just to get the bunny!

One sweet moment this evening was when we had Thumper on the living room floor (on his towel....I KNOW how much his bladder holds first hand! ) He had been down there awhile getting his "exercise". I laid down on the floor near the towel to watch him. Once he spotted me, he walked right over and snuggled next to me! Yeah, he's going to get real "stressed" here.

I guess I need to hold my breath for awhile just to be sure they will leave me alone. Gee, I call for help and end up with problems.

 

[WilmaBud]

If they contact you, just tell them you let the bunny go into the wild, and tell them not to contact you again. It's not like they can search your house or anything. Honestly, try not to stress too much about that. They wouldn't be able to prove you still have the bunny anyway.

 

[goofygirl]

It doesn't change the way I feel about him. He is such a sweetie. But I do think now, I am 100% sure about his future. Looks like we have an "official" new member of the family!

Very nice !

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Really Colleen, I can't believe that there is not a vet that would see Thumper, wild or not. That's just so sad. I think I would call and lie to make an appointment. Once you are there I don't think the vet would kick you out and would take a look. I know lying is wrong, but in this case maybe it's needed.

That rehab place sounds messed up.

 

[sandramaac]

Colleen

How about just a little fib, and say that you got him at a pet shop or a breeder of rabbits. This way then the vet will look at him and check that eye. He may need some sort of antibiotic drops. I know it is fibbing, but its not like the rabbit is going to tell.

 

[Cinders]

How about a school/University that has vet classes? Sometimes they will treat animals when its something a regular vet cant handle. I'd try calling a few more vets maybe in the surrounding counties even. We picked the vet we have because I read a thank-you type article in the paper from a lady that found an injured deer and all the vets around here wanted her to pay $$$$ to take care of it. Our vet not only took care of the deer but she paid for the meds then turned it over to a wildlife rehab lady. She even stopped at the rehab lady's house to check on the deer a few days later.

 

[Val]

In (very little) defense of the wild life rehab people- federal laws are quite strict about wild animals- you are not supposed to have them in your house (I do animal research with lab and zoo animals and have rehab'd more than my fair share). Many rodents and rabbits can carry awful diseases, and it is possible that you "could" be contaminated. Same for a regular vet taking care of it- the animal could potentially really contaminate the other animals in his/her care....also, many people underestimate the ability to domesticate a wild animal. Squirrels and raccoons can do REAL damage, as can wild deer, fox, etc. They are NOT inside pets and should generally not be rehabilitated by the unknowing/unwary (notice I didn't include bunnies!!!)....

.....that being said, the litte guy you have might have some disease that is causing the neurological damage, but given the signs/symptoms it sounds more like trauma than illness. I agree with the "little white lie" to your vet. Say that a friend of a friend gave you this little bunny, and you would like to get a vet check before you decide to keep it (well, aren't you your own friend!). One long term problem is that it is NOT a releasable animal any longer- too bonded on humans and with the bum eye it probably is a sitting duck (rabbit?) for predators. Sounds like you have a nice pet! Rabbits are nice pets- they can be litter box trained (I don't know about your guy- depends on the extent of his neuro damage whether he can learn to "hold it")....watch out because they chew, chew, chew and seem to have a weird attraction to electrical cords. I highly doubt the animal welfare people will come after a rabbit- more idle threats than anaything. Sounds like Thumper may be a permanent family member, though. Enjoy him!!!!

 

[preshi]

Thats it!!! I am moving over there and starting my own wildlife rehab facility.

How rude!!


CLAP CLAP CLAPPING for Val!!! Good post.


I too think you could tell a small fib to get him seen...it's just as important for them to see a dr as it is for us when we have a problem


Take Care!!

 

[Colleen A.]

I'll have to call around and see what I can find. I'm just so afraid that I'll get turned in and risk losing the rabbit. I hate to think how stressful that would be for HIM. He will only take the formula for me although he will take the oat flakes from the kids or my DH. He did reach another milestone today...he can now eat from a little bowl! I put his morning oats in a small lid from a plastic bottle and after offering him a couple flakes and showing him where they were, he got the idea! Of course, I have to teach him that you DON'T pick the bowl up with your teeth and dump it! Gee...I remember the kids doing that!

Here's another picture. Bath time is now one of his favorite pass times!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Everyone together now...AAHHHH! He just gets more loveable with every picture. Don't worry about those wildlife people. If we have to I'm close enough that we can play hide the bunny. I don't think it will come to that. My brother is going in his last year at vet school at Penn and they see everything come in, including wildlife. I'll see what he suggests~~I agree you need to have someone look at him. In the meantime please keep us posted.

 

[Colleen A.]

This bunny's guardian angels are really working hard for him!! He just took his first HOP!! He is really getting around the floor!! He is so cute to see.

Now the second update is the REALLY big news!! I have NEVER been so happy to say I was WRONG! Yesterday, when the eye opened, it was white...no visible color. All I can say is that it must of been a second protective inner eye lid because at this afternoon's feeding, I first thought I was going nuts. I swore I saw a dark eye looking at me. My DD just brought him out to walk (or hop! ) around and I picked him up for a second. The eye is totally open and there is no mistake...it is BROWN! The eye must of stayed closed til it healed. No weeping or stickiness either.

The next picture I post will be of Thumper walking around on the floor. Probably later today. Luckymommy, please let me know what your brother says. I'm very curious!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Give me 5 minutes...I'm PMing you!

 

[Pugsley]

I’m so glad he’s doing so well and that he has found such a caring family. He’s precious. I want one!

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Aww...he sounds like he's made a lot of progress.

I think I would probably tell a fib to get him to see a vet. If you use Val's theory, you can tell the vet that you got the rabbit from a friend of a friend. Well, I'm sure you are a friend of a friend I mean, it's not like you're going to have a friend that doesn't consider you a friend. So that wouldn't be lying if you told them you got the rabbit from a friend of a friend

 

[sha_lyn]

or tell the "truth" your DS got the bunny from your neighbor. this would involve less stretching of the truth.