New house rabbits

Question
QUESTION: We have adopted two rescue adult rabbits who are both neutered/spayed; a Harlequin boy and a lop eared girl Harry and Sally.  I wonder if you could help answer some questions we have:
1. they seem to enjoy humping each other despite having been operated on - is this normal?
2. their urine is pale yellow and opaque I have read this is normal - am I correct in thinking this.
3. earlier today sally had two white blobs in her eyes and I wiped one out with water and cotton wool and it was just a folded up hair was this the wrong thing to do?
4. they seem to spend a lot of their time lying and not doing very much - should we be concerned?

They have been checked by a vet 4 weeks ago and we were told they were healthy.  We'll be taking them for vaccinations and a check-up ourselves in the week but just wanted to reassure ourselves, hope you will be able to help!

Anita and Rob

ANSWER: Dear Anita and Rob,

I'll take your questions one by one:

1. they seem to enjoy humping each other despite having been operated on - is this normal?

Yes, especially if they have just come from a familiar place and feel insecure in their new home.  If they were not introduced before you brought them home, and are only now meeting one another, this is a normal part of the bonding procedure.  But be sure you don't let this get out of hand and develop into a fight.  This could prevent them from ever being at peace with one another.  

If you're not sure they're bonded, then please read the appropriate articles here for help:

http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-a=00062824-sp00000000&sp-q=bonding&user=enter

2. their urine is pale yellow and opaque I have read this is normal - am I correct in thinking this.

Yes.  The opacity is due to calcium salts in the urine, which are excreted via the renal system.  As long as it's just chalky, there's no cause for concern.  Some bunnies develop metabolic bone disease and  excrete *too much* calcium in the urine, and in this case they'll leave a toothpaste-like residue that's a dark yellow, a bit reminiscent of a pile of wet curry powder.

3. earlier today sally had two white blobs in her eyes and I wiped one out with water and cotton wool and it was just a folded up hair was this the wrong thing to do?

No, it's good to keep their eyes clear.  If this is chronic, please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sneezing.html

and find a good rabbit vet here who can help you resolve the problem:

www.rabbit.org/vets

4. they seem to spend a lot of their time lying and not doing very much - should we be concerned?

Nope, that's pretty normal.  Rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they're most active at dawn and dusk.  But they spend much of the day napping and relaxing.  As long as their appetites are good and they're acting normal, I wouldn't worry.

To learn how to tell if your bunny is ill, please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

and for all the best and most accurate rabbit care information, please use

www.rabbit.org/

as your resource.

Hope this helps!

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Dana,
Thank-you for your very helpful advice!
I wonder if you wouldn't mind answering a couple more questions:
For the last couple of days Sally (the mini lop) has not been wanting to interact with us and has been running away whereas Harry is getting much more attentive which is great.  Rob thinks it's just that she's nervous but she doesn't seem herself - should I be concerned?  She is still eating and drinking as normal.
We've just bought a couple of harnesses as we have a lovely big park near our house and thought it might be nice to gradually get them used to the rabbit harness and then walking out and about.  Do I need to wait for them to have their Viral Haemorrhagic Disease vaccine first and is there anything I should keep in mind when walking them?
Again, many many thanks for your help
Anita

Answer
Dear Anita,

If Sally is eating and drinking normally, then it's not an emergency. But if this standoffishness is a new thing for her, she could have some source of pain that's making her feel vulnerable, and this will make her shy, even if she is normally friendly.  A trip to a good rabbit vet for a complete wellness check would not be a bad idea.

If she's always been shy, then keep up the good work in winning their trust:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/shybun.html

Every rabbit has a unique personality, and she might just be a little less outgoing than Harry.

I'm not a big fan of harnesses for rabbits.  Rabbits are just not "built" for walking on a lead, and accidents can happen so quickly that your head would spin.  It's much safer, if you can manage it, to let the bunnies run free in a safe, fenced yard (no pesticides or fertilizers) under your supervision.

In a park, even the sight of a far-off dog can make a rabbit panic, and being on a harness will not stop him from bolting, which can cause serious injury.  If you do decide to take the bunnies to the park, I would be sure their vaccinations are all current first, especially if there are any wild rabbit populations in the area.

Hope this helps!

Dana