AboutDana Krempels, Ph.D. Expertise I can answer just about any question regarding rabbit BIOLOGY and HEALTH from the commonplace (e.g. "runny stool"; dental problems) to the unusual. I can also help you with the most recent information on general rabbit care, as recommended by the nation`s top rabbit veterinarians and other experts.
For the best information on rabbit care anywhere on the internet, be sure to visit www.rabbit.org and consider joining EtherBun, a free listserve about rabbit health, care, and behavior. For more information on EtherBun, visit www.bio.miami.edu/hare/etherbun.html
Experience I have lived with companion rabbits for over 30 years, and have been a rabbit rescuer for the last 13. (Our first rescue, Maggie, just celebrated her 13th birthday!) I can answer just about any question concerning rabbit biology, health, care, and behavior.
I have a Ph.D. in biology (expertise in evolutionary biology, genetics, ecology, botany, and herpetology), and have worked extensively with veterinarians who are on the cutting edge of rabbit medicine.
I own EtherBun (EtherBun@yahoogroups.com), the largest free listserve devoted to companion rabbit health, care and behavior.
Since 1998, I have answered rabbit health and care questions from all over the world via the House Rabbit Society web site (www.rabbit.org), and if I cannot answer your question, I can certainly refer you to someone who can.
Organizations belong to House Rabbit Society
Publications Exotic DVM
Warren Peace (Journal of the House Rabbit Society of Miami)
Various newsletters of the House Rabbit Society, nationwide
Education/Credentials Ph.D - Biology
B.S. - Biology
B.A. - English
Awards and Honors Lightspan Academic Excellence Award for web site on rabbit health and biology
(http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare)
Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: Wild rabbit not walking properly
Question About three days ago I rescued a wild rabbit that had fallen into my pool. At first I thought he was dead but after warming him up he seemed ok. I had been feeding him some carrot baby food and giving him pedialyte to drink and everything seems to have been going alright. Last night I introduced him to a small carrot stick and he seemed to like it. This morning when I went to check on him, he kept falling to his side and he was walking very funny. I brought him to the vet immediately and they told me they were going to confiscate him and put him down. I pleaded with them not to do this as I am trying to rehabilitate him for another 2 weeks or so and then my plan is to let him loose where I found him. They returned him to me claiming that everything would be "off the record" but they refused to tell me if anything was wrong with him. Since then I took him to eat some grass and he seemed to be moving alright but now that we're back at the apartment he's walking funny again. I gave him some goat's milk mixed with a little bit of probiotic but I don't know what else to do. Please help!!! and I'm sorry this was so long.
Answer Dear Ashley,
The bunny's best chance at this point would be for you to bring him to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who can legally seek and administer the veterinary care he needs. It's possible that he got water in his ears in the pool, and that this has elicited an ear infection. This will only get worse without proper antibiotic treatment, so the sooner you can get him to a good rehabber who is trustworthy with cottontails, the better.
You don't say where you are, geographically, but you should be able to find a local rehabber by Googling "wildlife rehab" and (your city/state). You can also contact Desert Cry Wildlife here:
and see if Regina can recommend a good, trustworthy rehabber near you who will not merely euthanize it (or worse, feed it to a snake or bird of prey, which some of them will do).
This little one needs veterinary help, and if your local vet won't help you (which seems rather cruel to me! I mean...it's not as if cottontails are an endangered species!), then maybe you can check the vet list linked here:
www.rabbit.org/vets
to find a more compassionate vet who will either help you with proper treatment or be able to refer you to a trustworthy wildlife rehabber who can properly rehabilitate and release this little one.
