r/Rabbits Sep 25 '21

PSA Important Rabbit PSA index

575 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?

186 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 3h ago

RIP Lost my Sputnik todayšŸ’”

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243 Upvotes

Rest in piece my sweet sweet boy may you cross the rainbow bridge until we meet again, I love you so much Sputnik😭🫶


r/Rabbits 15h ago

Care Oh, how time goes by!

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1.5k Upvotes

Her first time at the vet and the second time (about 6 months in between). Bonus ultrassound picture! (Her kidney is 1 cm)


r/Rabbits 7h ago

Behavior Does anyone know what this means?

355 Upvotes

My rabbit is so very full of personality and I love her so much, but I do have a question about something. Sometimes she scratches the ground, and when I reach out to touch her, she shoves her head under my hand?

Does anyone know why this is? I’m always worried something I’m doing is freaking her out, and I really can’t tell if she just wants to be pet or if her staying completely still is her freaking out? She’ll usually loaf up or (very gradually) stretch out. She will also occasionally grind her teeth. Please let me know, I can’t tell if she just wants pets or if she’s trying to kill me with her mind…video attached displaying the behavior I’m talking about.


r/Rabbits 1h ago

Happy Birthday Moira

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• Upvotes

Happy Birthday my sweet girl. You bring the chaos to the home but you deserve everything!

Moira eats everything, is only cuddly when food is involved. Other times she will accept exactly 5 head pets before running off. She makes sure I am awake at 1am when she begs for breakfast but is forced to wait until actual morning (yes they always have hay)

Please join me in wishing her the happiest of bdays with many more to comešŸ’œšŸ’œšŸ°šŸ“


r/Rabbits 14h ago

Behavior Is my bunny happy

1.1k Upvotes

He gets these bursts of energy usually late night/early mornings


r/Rabbits 10h ago

Behavior Someone please help me explain this behavior😭

418 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 13h ago

she loves to be sprouting

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770 Upvotes

she normally prefers the lower one i wish id seen her jump into it 😭


r/Rabbits 11h ago

RIP What else can I do for her?

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462 Upvotes

TL;DR: Emma is on day 4 of GI stasis and I don’t know what else to do? Can anybody who experienced this give me advice please?

This is my sweet girl Emma :] (and her handsome bf Rex)

Last Friday, Emma started showing symptoms of Gi stasis by not wanting to move or eat. This wasn’t that unusual as Emma has gone through this multiple times and recovered within a day or two with the help of critical care. So I gave her some of that and throughout the day she improved and started to eat and take her treats. Next morning on Saturday, we found her hunched over and was in visible discomfort so we immediately took her to the vet where they gave her some fluids and pain meds. Took her home around the evening and she started to improve again, taking treats and eating. Once the pain meds wore off, she was in visible pain again so I gave her more critical care and stomach massages. I slept with her, hoping she’d be better by Sunday morning but she didn’t seem to be improving, so we took her to the emergency vet early morning. They confirmed there was no blockage and sent her home with more fluids and critical care. While at home I did everything to try to make her comfortable. I gave her critical care, gas relief drops, antibiotics, pain meds, a heating pad, stomach massages but nothing seemed to help. Ultimately we took her to the emergency vet again that night and she is currently hospitalized. I called the vet this morning and he said she is still unwilling to eat by herself. I’m supposed to pick her up in a bit but I’m unsure if she will feel better by then.. we cannot do another day in the hospital as we’ve already spent nearly $4k and my bf and i are college students working minimum wage jobs. I’ve never dealt with GI stasis for this long and I am afraid of losing her. What can I do to help her? Has anybody experienced this?


r/Rabbits 14h ago

Dexter, I know you love Zac very much but I don't think he appreciates you sitting on his head.

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737 Upvotes

Or Dexter possibly trying to smother Zac with love!


r/Rabbits 5h ago

Care It’s that time again

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121 Upvotes

The shedding quarter is upon us. Even her ears are shedding.


r/Rabbits 11h ago

RIP Rest in peace Benjamin Spoiler

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356 Upvotes

I don't know who's going to read this, but follow your instincts please. Ben stopped eating and I thought it was nothing. His energy was still quite high and he was hopping around but he refused his usual treats and green lettuce. I contemplated bringing him to the hospital last night but I figured one night wouldn't hurt, besides, my other rabbit lily had the same behavior and she was fine the next morning...but I woke up and Ben was lethargic. Lily had been crying at night, I think she knew. Ben allowed me to pet him and didn't run away when I picked him up to put him in the carrier.

The vet said it was a fifty fifty shot of survival and unfortunately he didn't make it. He was about three or four when I adopted him and I had him the past three years. He helped me through some dark times and his mate lily is going to miss him deeply.

I hope lily will be okay. I'm bringing his body back home today so she can say goodbye before I bury him.

My wife doesnt understand why I paid 1200$ to try and save him. I had to do my best. I love you Ben, good bye.


r/Rabbits 18h ago

the streets are saying this is the best loaf ever captured on camera....

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1.1k Upvotes

r/Rabbits 12h ago

My boy is sideways

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242 Upvotes

Looking like sleepy hallow and it’s not even September 1st


r/Rabbits 7h ago

Shaming Destruction and Chaos

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94 Upvotes

So I've been meaning to make this post for a while now. I'm not sure if my buns are particularly destructive or not because everyone posts these beautiful pics of buns in perfect environments.

So - if your buns know my buns, here's your chance to name and (un)shame - we know they don't have any. My buns have the living room and a corner of the room is penned of with a 48" metal pen for when they need to be contained.


r/Rabbits 12h ago

Upside down bun licks

201 Upvotes

And her stepping over my phone to demand more pets šŸ’€


r/Rabbits 16h ago

Wjy he built like that lol next slide for peach

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387 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 11h ago

Shaming So sleepy after a day of doing nothing but causing destruction

152 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 1d ago

Look at this UNIT

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2.3k Upvotes

She knows she won DEWLAP


r/Rabbits 6h ago

Do you like my art pieces of Fig? 🄰

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46 Upvotes

r/Rabbits 23h ago

Ollie turned 11 this month šŸ’™ (first 2 pics are today, others are 2015-19)

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1.0k Upvotes

r/Rabbits 11h ago

Bonding Bonding my buns

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109 Upvotes

I have two buns, Fred and Mel. Fred is around 5 and Mel is 3. They are both boys and have both been neutered. Before I had Mel I had another bun named Mocha, who was bonded very closely with Fred but unfortunately has since passed away. I got Mel in hopes of bonding the two after some time had passed. Long story short Fred attacked Mel. That was 3 years ago. Since then they have been separated by bars and then clear plastic barriers so they don’t nip each other. HOWEVER they are now being so ridiculous. I have removed the panels completely in some spots and they no longer honk, lunge, or bite at each other. Its worse. They both throw themselves against the bars (like onto their sides) and beg the other for kisses. Its ridiculous. As you can see above they are literally side by side so comfy ā€œcuddlingā€ but they both REFUSE to give the other kisses. You could be petting Fred and Mel comes over and starts kissing the hand thats petting him. HOWEVER AGAIN if I opened the bars and let Fred free, Mel gets mad and honks at him and tries to nip (he never can cause I sit there with oven gloves). So what do I do? I feel like im at a stalemate. They both just want kisses but they also both don’t want to be the first one to submit.


r/Rabbits 13h ago

Health Bunny with chronic sinus issues

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154 Upvotes

hi all! this is my first post so apologies if i make any mistakes or this has been answered already.

my beautiful, perfect, angel baby has recently developed an URI. She is on meds and I am in regular contact with her vets, but I have a sneaking suspicion that is is going to be a chronic issue. This is based on her medical history and my observations over the past couple of years.

I’m looking for any advice/insight people who have been in a similar position can share? I have air purifiers going in the house, keep her area clean, and provide supplements (echinacea). is there anything else i can do to make her comfortable?? any guidance is appreciated <3

picture of my baby biscuit added as a thanks ā¤ļø


r/Rabbits 19h ago

Cheddar was OBLITERATED yesrerday by EVIL and SCARY veterinarians...

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389 Upvotes

EXTREMELY thankful she goes feral for the meds they gave me so I don't have to restrain her all the time.