My baby bunny has a swollen foot! - Paw Talk

RedHead15 · #1 11-11-2010, 10:32 AM

So I have 4, 5 weeks old bunnies(all rex mixes). One has two gashes on the bottom of his foot. I cleaned them with peroxcide, and tghere fine. But his foot is very swollen and a dark blue color. My dad told me to just put him with his momma, but the momma runs aropung the backyard. And I dont want him to get hurt by a hawk or an owl(there are one of each that stay in the vasinity of my backyard. Im only 16 so the vet isnt an ption for me. PLEASE HELP!

Purple-Hops · #2 11-11-2010, 01:49 PM

Well if a vet is not an option you need to surrender the little guy to a rescue who can provide medical attention or put him with his mom and let natural selection take over (5 weeks is too young to take him away from his mama anyway). Is the mama bunny in an enclosure? Or is she and her babies free to roam around and fair game to the predator birds lurking around? I think the conditions of your backyard are unfit for bunnies if such an injury can occur and there are predator birds flying around.
DO the bunny a favor and get him medical help!

RedHead15 · #3 11-11-2010, 06:29 PM

Well, I have lots of rabbits hopping around the yard with our turkeys. We have a shed that we have all of our food for the animals in, along with hay. Its also a storage shed. We keep the door open and I stumbled upon her babys in the hay in the shed. So I let them get old enough to there weaning point and then took them(thats when I saw the injury, I think he must have stepped on something in the shed). I have a home all four are going to. Im pretty sure they can take the baby to the vet, but I just wanted to know if there was anything I could do now to make the swelling go down.

Jennicat · #4 11-11-2010, 07:52 PM

You need to contact a local rescue to help you get this situation under control. These rabbits free roaming and having babies constantly which are suffering and not even receiving medical care is absolutely awful.

Purple-Hops · #5 11-13-2010, 09:30 AM

"Im pretty sure they can take the baby to the vet," Shame on you for pawning your problems on someone else. It is your responsibility to make sure your animals are provided for and kept safe. Also, 5 weeks is too young to wean them.

Jess · #6 11-13-2010, 10:53 AM

Well, I sure hope you can take it to the vet.

This is why its a good idea to plan ahead, and save up some money for emergency vet bills. Im 16 too, and I pay all my own vet bills (And my pets enjoy being expensive, so its alot of money!).

RedHead15 · #7 11-24-2010, 10:18 AM

This is odd for me. Im usally the one getting baby bunnies. I've hand raised numerous wild bunnies and returned them to the wild. All I've ever done is rescue animals. For once I needed help. I dont want anyone to think of me as a person who commits animal cruelty. I love my animals so much. I couldnt live without them.
(Im sorry if this came off as rude, I just can't describe how this hurts to think someone thinks im a bad owner)

Purple-Hops · #8 11-24-2010, 05:22 PM

No body thinks you're a "bad owner". Um, but hand raising bunnies and releasing them to the wild is super cruel. You make them reliant on people and then, let me guess, in a week they are predator food. Rabbits need to be left alone, no matter how cute. You are not actually "rescuing" them if you return them to the wild to fend for themselves.
Hand raise wild bunnies? In the original post you say they are Rex mixes.... wtf?

Jennicat · #9 11-24-2010, 08:54 PM

Not to mention that domestic rabbits are a completely different species than wild rabbits. You're releasing to their doom -- they're poorly adapted to most of our climates and can't become part of local warrens.

jasime · #10 06-01-2012, 08:57 AM

Hi, Im pretty sure they can take the baby to the vet, but I just wanted to know if there was anything I could do now to make the swelling go down.