I Found a Bunny Today!

[JewelFreak]

You are all so nice, I feel like breaking out in tears! Thank you very much, but the bill was only $67, nice vet.

Okay, ahem, here's what he had: wolf worms. Obviously I wasn't wearing my glasses when I looked at it. Ever heard of a wolf worm? Icky critter that looks like a maggot. They burrow into the animal, eventually going to the...euuuwww...brain. Poor Mr. or Ms. Bunny had 3 of them, on neck, chest, & abdomen. After extraction, flushing, antibio injection, & car ride to and fro, he is now mad at me. My gosh, what a way to get an education! If I try to pet him, he growls -- sounds like a short fart -- & lunges at me. We. are. not. friends. right now. I'm giving him the afternoon to chill. Then I have to dose him with antibiotics, further cementing the good will.

The vet & techs could not say enough about what a nice rab he is & how well he behaved. Health is excellent (minus wolf worms). Vet said "he didn't go far" before I found him. Maybe his owners are on vacation or not on the email list. I'm going to try again -- somebody MUST be missing him -- and if he's a male, he's neutered. They look the same & vet didn't check more closely. Another indication someone gave him good care.

Poor little character has had a very hard few days. I hope someday he will get home & tell his grandchildren about his adventures. Thank you all again, love you dearly!!

--- Laurie

 

[minousbijoux]

Wow, relieved that it wasn't more costly, but it certainly sounds gross enough! Thank you for all that you've done for him. Now if someone could just invent an easy way to give animals antibiotics! I hope with some quiet reflection Mr. Bunrab figures out that you were saving him and changes his growling to purring, cuz boy do you deserve it.

 

[Smith1942]

JewelFreak, you are taking unbelievable care of this rabbit! It was very thoughtful of you to check all his fur like that and to find the worms. I agree that he seems well-cared-for and that someone must be missing him. Have you let the local police know? Just that someone who is missing him would probably notify the local police in case someone dropped the bunny off there. Also, is there a branch of the ASPCA near you? I'd also phone them if I were the rabbit owner, since it's another place that someone might drop off a lost-and-found bunny.

You are being so nice to the bunny, it's lovely!

 

[LibbyLA]

and if he's a male, he's neutered. They look the same & vet didn't check more closely. Another indication someone gave him good care.

Poor little character has had a very hard few days. I hope someday he will get home & tell his grandchildren about his adventures. Thank you all again, love you dearly!!

--- Laurie

The bunny is very cute and it's obvious that you are taking excellent care of it.

However, if it's a he and he's neutered, there won't be any grandbunnies .

liz

 

[chrono]

A little bit of good news and a huge dose of relief. Thanks to Mum Bunrab.

 

[missy]

Oh my, wolf worms, super yuck. So glad you found this and brought him to the vet Laurie! You are a great foster mommy and I really hope you find him his permanent loving home soon! Off to look up wolf worms...

 

[royalstarrynight]

Did anybody claim this lovely boy?

 

[JewelFreak]

Yes, sort of. A teenaged neighbor has a summer babysitting job at some townhouses down the road a few miles. This poor rabbit hung around there for a week or 2 & she left food for it on the porch of her employers. Somebody probably moved & dumped out such a sweet bunny. A friend of hers mentioned wanting a rabbit, so she plopped him in her car, sans cage. As she carried him from car to house, he jumped out of her arms & she couldn't catch him. Didn't put up any signs or alert anyone to look for him.

Her father called when he saw my email. They collected the bunrab the next day & he was due to be picked up by his new family the day after that.

Cleaning the guest room, I found places where he'd peed -- VERY pink urine. Called the father & told him the rabbit has a urinary infection & to tell the new owners he'll need a vet visit. I heard him groan softly while I talked & could tell he was not happy with that. Promised to mention it, but I don't know whether he did or not. Seemed like he thought taking an animal that had been stray for at least 2 weeks, maybe longer, to a doctor was too big a task.

I hope these folks give him the care he needs. In the South, it's just as likely they'd throw him out again rather than go to bother or expense. The attitude of many down here toward pets is shameful -- it's inhumane to treat even livestock as many people treat their pets. Let's just pray these people are the good ones.

--- Laurie

 

[distracts]

No, no, pink urine is normal for bunnies! Anywhere from yellow to burgundy is totally normal.

 

[JewelFreak]

NO KIDDING, Distracts??? You can tell I'm no experienced bunny person. Who'da thunk it? Why do they have pink pee? How unusual!

That's great news! I hope they kept him & made him a happy home, especially since he wasn't sick. I've been feeling so sorry for that poor little animal & how awful he must feel -- and he feels FINE! Thanks for the info! Amazing what you can learn, hanging around here!

---Laurie

 

[minousbijoux]

NO KIDDING, Distracts??? You can tell I'm no experienced bunny person. Who'da thunk it? Why do they have pink pee? How unusual!

That's great news! I hope they kept him & made him a happy home, especially since he wasn't sick. I've been feeling so sorry for that poor little animal & how awful he must feel -- and he feels FINE! Thanks for the info! Amazing what you can learn, hanging around here!

---Laurie

Oh Laurie, I just LOVE you! You are so caring and committed to helping - I sure wish you were my neighbor

 

[distracts]

NO KIDDING, Distracts??? You can tell I'm no experienced bunny person. Who'da thunk it? Why do they have pink pee? How unusual!

That's great news! I hope they kept him & made him a happy home, especially since he wasn't sick. I've been feeling so sorry for that poor little animal & how awful he must feel -- and he feels FINE! Thanks for the info! Amazing what you can learn, hanging around here!

---Laurie

Yeah, rabbits are definitely different than cats and dogs. Red urine is most often caused by plant pigments, though other things can cause it as well. You're only supposed to suspect a UTI if the rabbit looks like he's in pain while peeing. Rabbits are weird creatures. All sorts of things that look like imminent death in other animals are normal for rabbits and all sorts of things that aren't a cause for concern in other animals mean possible imminent death to rabbits (not pooping for several hours, sneezing, snot, etc).

Also, you may wish to know that rabbits are physiologically incapable of vomiting. Fun fact!

 

[minousbijoux]

NO KIDDING, Distracts??? You can tell I'm no experienced bunny person. Who'da thunk it? Why do they have pink pee? How unusual!

That's great news! I hope they kept him & made him a happy home, especially since he wasn't sick. I've been feeling so sorry for that poor little animal & how awful he must feel -- and he feels FINE! Thanks for the info! Amazing what you can learn, hanging around here!

---Laurie

Yeah, rabbits are definitely different than cats and dogs. Red urine is most often caused by plant pigments, though other things can cause it as well. You're only supposed to suspect a UTI if the rabbit looks like he's in pain while peeing. Rabbits are weird creatures. All sorts of things that look like imminent death in other animals are normal for rabbits and all sorts of things that aren't a cause for concern in other animals mean possible imminent death to rabbits (not pooping for several hours, sneezing, snot, etc).

Also, you may wish to know that rabbits are physiologically incapable of vomiting. Fun fact!

Why distracts, who knew you were the receptacle for such profound wisdom!!

 

[JewelFreak]

I read up on rabbits when I got this boy, Distracts, and saw that they can't vomit. Which can be inconvenient for them, eh? Like horses. But nothing mentioned pink urine, dang! I'm glad I know such a smart person!

Minou, I'm dying to move & downsize -- come with me! I can't get DH in the mood yet. We could play with our stones all day -- and a few critters.

--- Laurie

 

[distracts]

Not especially wise or smart, just the owner of a lovely bun for almost three years (third bunniversary on Tuesday!).

 

[JewelFreak]

CARROT CAKE!!!