getting rabbit "back to normal"?

[4hgirl]

A couple weeks ago my favorite holland lop Rosco got out of his cage and vanished. I was heart broken but I assumed he was killed by the neighbors dogs or by the coyotes. Well today I found him and caught him. He is super skinny I can feel all of his bones and he just looks so tired and worn out he is also dirty and missing patches of fur. How can I get him looking/feeling better? Could he have gotten any diseases?
Thank you, Melissa

 

[ZRabbits]

Poor baby. Sounds like he had a really rough, scary experience. So glad you found him. If one of mine got out like that, I'd let him rest with lots of hay and maybe oats. I'd start out slow with the pellets too, since he hasn't had any in his system. Don't want to overload him to get the weight back on. Could cause more problems. Also, if you have a Rabbit Vet, I'd take him in for a check up. Just to make sure no parasites.

Hope you keep us updated on his progress. I bet he's scared and will take some time to feel "normal" again.

Karen

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Poor Rosco! He found out that living wild isn't as easy as the wild bunnies made it look!

Make sure to keep him quarantined for 30 days in case he has picked up any diseases.

The hair loss could be from fleas or more likely mites. Food grade Diatomaceous Earth is a safe and natural way to treat him for that. You should be able to buy it at a feed or pet store. Just rub it into his fur and it will kill them within a couple of days.

I agree with Z to limit his pellets, and feed hay and oats. You can also give him grasses and weeds since he is obviously used to them. Look at the Safe Plants Sticky in the Natural Feeding Forum for a list of bunny safe plants and weeds.

You also might want to worm him, but I would wait until he gains a little weight and is comfortable being back home... so maybe wait a week.

I'm glad your favorite bunny made it back home, and I hope he feels better soon.

 

[MaggieJ]

I'm glad you found him. Do keep him in quarantine for the protection of your other rabbits.

He may be dehydrated. Give him a crock of plain water and perhaps another with an electrolyte solution. Pedialyte works well, as does diluted Gatorade.

http://pedialyte.com/products

Plenty of hay and oats (kitchen oatmeal like Quaker Old-Fashioned/Large Flake is fine) some safe weeds and - as already suggested - ease him back into the pellets very slowly. Do not worry if it takes some time for him to put on weight. The main thing right now is slow, steady progress. It is far safer than fast weight gain.

safe-plants-for-rabbits-list-t55.html

 

[Miss M]

Aw, poor bun! Glad you found him, and you've already got plenty of great advice here!

You can bathe a rabbit, as long as you blow him dry on low heat afterward. I wouldn't bathe him right away, though, as the stress could be too much for him. Wait at least a few days.

You could go without bathing him, as he'll clean up on his own eventually.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Poor guy! Sounds like he had an "adventure" that wasn't too fun. Glad he's caught and home again!

I'd forgo the bath...he's been through enough, it could stress him further. I'd just wait for the natural tendency to groom to return. In fact, that's one gauge to how he's coming along...if he grooms himself, he's likely starting to perk back up a little.

Best of luck!!!