Stools & Eating

Question
I have 2 rabbits. They are siblings, boy and girl, born Jun 1, 2007. I have 2 question about each rabbit. My hubby is building a nice large cage for them w/ 2 individual cages. He's been working tons of overtime so the work is going slow. The frame is done and to get away from cleaning the store bought cages w/ trays everyday, I started setting them on the frame and taking the trays out. My hubby does a winter and summer veggie garden. We'r planning to shovel the waste into the garden. Till now thier cages have been under my carport. They get tons of love and attention!!! I peek out my carport door window at them several times a day in between going out to see them. Yes, they are mommy's rotten babies!!! Anyway, my Cocoa is like having seperation probs or something. He stopped eating and was less playful when I moved them. He was even less playful w/ me, he would just press his body as close as he could to me when I'd pick him up and stay burried that way as long as I'd hold him. I moved they back to the carport because it was supposed to rain and they don't have a roof on their cages, yet. He's returned to his normal fun, playful, crazy little personality and is eating normally. He's nickname is Cocoamo (prob not spelled right) cause he's got this funny, crazy, curious - into eveything, explorer little guy when we let him run aroud in our big kitchen/dining room. We can't Cocoa proof the room, he finds a way in &/or around anything we use to keep him out of something. He's spastic and hyper and a total riot till he's out of energy and they he plops down totally worn out and crashs. Like a party animaly --parties all night and passes out --thus his nickname. He has a wonderful fun-loving and funny personality. If I move him back and forth to let him slowy adjust to not being under the carport and so close, we he better adjust and feel more secure being a little futher from mom or will that confuse him? Plez give me any advice you can! My female has been have stools w/ a thick mucusy/jell like stuff on and off for about three weeks. We thought she was pregnant but aren't so sure now. I started cheking for genders every weeks from 4 or 5 wks old. 4 days after I last checked @ about 7 wks I saw him on her and I looked and no doubt in that 4 days his parts showed up, so we bougt a 2nd cage the next day. But, I still can't feel any babies in her tummy and their 4 months and they got together @ 7 wks, so she'd be approx. 9 wks. and no babies. But she is fatter, but that could, of course be just growing. The stools aren't always like that. They'r mostly normal. I'd say two or three times a wk maybe. I only know about checking for babies by reading everyone else's questions on this website. I've learned a lot that way! I have had only one rabbit before these two. He died just before Easter 2006 --Now that was my extremely rotten baby boy!!! I look forward to what every advice you can give me. THX BUNCHS : ) Tina

Answer
Dear Tina,

The jelly in the stool of the female is the biggest concern.  This is a sign of enteritis--inflammation of the intestinal lining, and it can signify a very serious health problem, especially in very young rabbits.  You need to get both bunnies to a good rabbit vet for a full wellness check and discussion of the abnormal stool.  Find a vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and be SURE to read:

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

The most common cause of this is incorrect diet, so be sure to check:

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


It's hard to tell from your post, but it sounds as if the bunnies are about 9 weeks old?  This is quite young, and too young to be pregnant.  However, the male's testicles should descend soon (at about the age of 12 weeks), and at that point he can be neutered so the two bunnies can stay together without fear of pregnancy.  Please read:

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

and

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

Unspayed female rabbits have a VERY high risk of uterine cancer, so once she's about 8 months old, she should be spayed, too.

Moving and change of scene is usually traumatic for a rabbit.  They like constant, reliable surroundings, and any change is stressful.  This could contribute to the female's enteritis and to the male's "depression."  Please read:

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

If you really love your bunnies (and it sounds as if you do!), you'll take the time to properly bunny-proof the house and litterbox train them so they can be completely safe inside.  There is no such thing as a safe outdoor hutch, and I can't tell you how many untimely outdoor deaths I hear about--and in horrible, unexpected ways.  No matter where you are, if you are in suburbia, there are raccoons.  Not only can they learn to open cage, but they also can pull rabbits toes and feet through the wire on the bottom or sides of a cage and slowly gnaw the rabbit to death.

I don't tell you this to scare you, but to inform you that your bunnies are not safe outdoors.

They are also easier to monitor for health problems inside.  Young babies like these will not immediately be litter trained, but it's worth the time and trouble to know your beloved babies will be safe inside with you, where no danger can ever threaten them, as long as you've taken proper precautions.  You can read all about good bunny-proofing techniques from the experts here:

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/rabbit-proofing.html

Hope that helps!

Dana