Rescued Bunny - cuts, skinny, SMELLY!

Question
Hi Dana,

I am writing because the other day, while collecting eggs from my neighbors coop, I stopped to say hi to his new batch of rabbits in the hutch.  He had just bought a group of females at the auction.  While sneaking them some dandelions through the mesh I noticed that one of them was off in the corner.  I opened the hutch door and took her out.  She had been beaten up by the other rabbits, so I took her home with me.  I spoke to my neighbor and he said I could do whatever I wanted with her.

I believe that she is a mini lop (she was the only lop in the hutch).  I don't know her age, so she might just be a young lop (she strikes me as being young).  She is smaller, has longer hair and a wider head than the mini lop I had when I was in college.  Of course, she is from the livestock auction - so she could be a "mutt"...

As for her injuries: She has a 4" long cut/scrape along her spine.  It is scabbed over.  The bottom 1/4 of her right ear was torn off (again, this is scabbed) and she has a few smaller cuts in other areas of her body.  All of the cuts are scabbed and not bleeding. There is minimal/no inflammation - they don't look infected.  She is VERY dirty and stinky, but I haven't washed her - I didn't want to stress her out.  She is also VERY skinny under her fluff - I can feel her vertebrae, hips and ribs.

As for her behavior - she is eating/drinking.  I've seen her groom herself.  Right now she is laying in the grass in my backyard (fenced yard, no fertilizer/herbicide and I'm sitting right here looking at her).  I've held her and she sniffs me and is interested.  I've seen her run and hop around - she seems happy, but tired (she is sleeping a lot - LOVES the sunshine!).

I wanted to know if there is anything I should be doing for her other than feeding her and letting her rest.  I am planning on building her a hutch this week (right now she has the yard, a mesh cage with no tray that I leave her in (outside) during the day) and a smaller cage with a tray that she is in at night (I wasn't planning on having her here so I had to improvise with my parrots travel cage!).

Should I bathe her since she is so stinky?  If not bathe, is it ok to spot clean her (especially around the wounds).  What should I use?  Just water?  Should I clip the hair around the larger wounds (with clippers, not scissors!) and apply any ointment?  Is there something I can feed her to give her more energy (other than pellets).

I plan on trimming her nails (which NEED it!) and giving her more grooming attention once she feels better - but for now I am planning on leaving her alone as much as possible so she can heal... but I feel like I should be doing SOMETHING...

Any suggestions would be great!!

Thanks!
Kelly

Answer
Dear Kelly.

Aww.  Bless you for saving the life of this poor little waif.  

I agree with you to hold off on the bathing.  As she starts to feel better, she will groom herself and get cleaner and less stinky.  But you might want to check her ears for canker, which can be quite stinky.  If she has that, she will need Revolution (selamectin) to cure the problem (and it might not be a bad idea to give it to her anyway; consult a good rabbit vet about this. You can find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Other than that, I think you're doing the right thing by just providing a healthy diet, free choice:

www.bio.miami.edu/diet.html

She will gradually gain weight and energy as her poor body heals from all the insults.

If the wounds look as if they need cleaning, you can spot clean them with dilute Betadine (povidone iodine)solution (about one part Betadine to five parts lukewarm, clean water).  If her bottom is messy, here are some instructions to help you clean her up:

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

If she's super stinky/greasy, you could probably safely work a little bit of baby cornstarch (not talcum) into her fur, and brush it out.  This will help get it a little cleaner, and improve her smell.

It's great to let her rest, but if she likes company, then lavish the love on her and don't be shy.  Let her tell you when she's had enough cuddling.  But love can be the best medicine of all.

I hope this helps.  Good luck with your new, sweet friend.  For all the best, most recent and accurate rabbit information available, please visit

www.rabbit.org/

Take care, and noserubs to the little Lucky Bunny from me!
Dana