can they eat corn on the cob though??

Question
Hi there, I just found a rabbit in the street infront of my house that is DEFINATELY someones pet, and until I find the rightful owner, I wanted to know a couple things about caring for it. I had one as a young girl but cant remember much. I have it in a medium sized dog kennel, and I read some where that they are okay in small spaces, but is this enough??. Also, I saw the women asking about corn husks, I can understand from your answer why it would be bad, but what about the cob, either after the corn has been eaten off, or with the corn on???. Also, how would you find out, if there is a way at all, if the rabbit is a female or male??. I would GREATLY appreciate ANY help you can give me, thanks so much!!!. Sara

Answer
Dear Sara,

Thank you for taking in the little lost bunny. Although she was certainly someone's pet, I would not be surprised if no one claims her.  We are at the height of "Easter Bunny Dump Season," when those adorable baby rabbits parents got their kids at Easter reach sexual maturity, and people realize they actually have to *take care* of the bunny (horrors!).  So they often just dump them on a street or in a park to let the bunny fend for itself--and usually with disastrous results for the rabbit, since most are killed by predators, run over by cars, or slowly starve to death.  So you really are this bunny's saving angel!

Contrary to what you might read on rabbit breeding sites, or what pet store people might tell you, rabbits are NOT okay in a small space.  They are as active, inquisitive, intelligent, and playful as a dog or cat, and they need just as much room and stimulation.  They are wonderful indoor companions who learn quickly to come when called, and how to completely own the house and everyone in it with their charming ways.  :)

A bunny needs lots of room to run and play, and they are easily litterbox trained once spayed/neutered.  You can try to sex the bunny with the information here:

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

and find litterbox training tips here:

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

A trip to a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

is probably the simplest way to find out the bunny's sex, and you can also schedule a spay/neuter operation to make the bunny adoptable if you cannot keep her yourself.

As far as diet is concerned, corn kernels, husks, cobs...any corn is NOT recommended for rabbits.  The plant contains a complex polysaccharide that even the bacterial flora in the intestine of the rabbit cannot digest, and we have seen far too many intestinal impactions caused by corn and corn parts.  I just would not give her corn of any kind.

For information on a healthy diet, please read:

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

and more about spay/neuter:

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

You can find a wealth of information on how to care for the bunny here:

www.rabbit.org  

(especially check out the link to "Rabbits 101" on the top of the page)

I hope this helps get you started.  Good luck, and thank you for being such a caring person to save this little bunny's life!

Take care,
Dana