How to Care for a Blind Bunny

A little over a month ago I adopted a blind bunny and named her Velvet-Sky. I wanted a special needs bunny, so I searched Petfinder.com Velvet-Sky is absolutely perfect, the light of my life and an ongoing experience with an animal spirit.

Caring for a blind bunny requires seeing your environment in a whole new way and from a completely different perspective.

Rabbits are prey animals, so each of their five senses is crucial for survival. As caregivers of domestic rabbits we are obligated to respect their instinctive prey animal reactions. For example, a knowledgeable rabbit caregiver knows that they hate being picked up or worse grabbed. This instinctive response comes from birds of prey swooping down and grabbing rabbits in the wild.

One of the senses that a rabbit's instincts call upon to survive is absent in a blind bunny. As caregivers, we have to work harder to give them security. Trust is the first and most important thing to develop with a blind bunny. We have to be their eyes and we also have to help them to see without eyes. They need to know that they are protected, where they are unable to protect themselves.

Toys:
Toys that lay on the floor are an obstruction that a blind bunny can bump into. Rolling toys are great, because they can push them and they will roll with their movements. They also like toys that hang from the bars of their cage, without blocking the door. Rolling toys and hanging toys insure that your unsighted bunny is in control of her toys, instead of toys controlling and confining her. When she is ready for expanded territory you can introduce other kinds of toys, in a more open area.

Encouraging them to chew is an extra challenge. Since they can not see, they are not attracting to things that they can chew. This may seem like a blessing that they can not find your baseboards, but they need to chew to keep their teeth filed down. Offering palatable chew toys and apple tree twigs is important. A little applesauce or molasses will spark their initial interest.

Chewing is especially important for a blind bunny because it engages her other senses; chewing palatable twigs or toys is a sensory experience not compromised by the inability to see.
Other Animals:

A blind bunny has lost one of their best devices to protect themselves against predators, therefore we need to strictly supervise other animals with them and do careful bonding sessions. They need to bond to their human first, so they feel protected when other animals are present. As their caregiver, you are their eyes.

Coming home from adoption: (if applicable)
When a blind bunny first arrives at her new home she needs a smaller, contained safe place with few obstructions and obstacles. A blind rabbit can not see their new environment and this can be scary. A water bottle is better because a crock can be an awkward obstruction. Place their water bottle in a place that is easy to access and put unsweetened applesauce on the spout. The best litter box is one with a low side. A Super-Pet cage is nice and safe with sharp edges. My bunny, Velvet-Sky surveyed her environment with her nose and her front paws. It is very important that there be little or no obstacles. Soft things like sherpa * and appropriate plush toys are helpful and reassuring. As her caregiver your voice and touch are most important. To begin to feel safe with you she need to hear your voice. I am lucky that I can sing really well. My blind bunny Velvet-Sky also really loved hearing me read to her. Our bunny library includes Seven Little Rabbits, Peter Rabbit and The Velveteen Rabbit) Having something that smells like where they are used to is even more important then it is for a sighted animal.

For the first week, Velvet-Sky stayed in her cage, but I kept it open. It was very exciting when she ventured outside of the cage and even more exciting when she began coming out into the living room. It was comparable to the way a parent feels when their baby takes their first steps.

Love and Human Companionship
When my bunny, Velvet-Sky is navigating her space, I make sure that she can hear my voice. I feel this gives her assurance that I am nearby and that I will keep her safe. This is especially important when she is exploring new space. Predictability is many more times important for a blind bunny. When you change the environment, a sighted bunny can see the changes and navigate accordingly. If a blind bunny has a change in their environment, they have to navigate, without sight, all over again. This can be stressful and exhausting to the rabbit, but it can also hurt their sense of security.

Before I enter my blind bunny's territory, I let her know verbally. I approach slowly and I talk to her about what I am doing. She can not see me coming and she needs to know what is happening and that she is safe.As a rule rabbits do not like to be held. Velvet-Sky's foster mother told me on adoption day that she likes to be held. Once Velvet-Sky bonded with me and felt trust she did enjoy being held. I believe that her four senses work so hard and that she needs the warmth, sanctuary, closeness and security. With everyday she is becoming more adventurous and independent, however she needs moments of relief during the day; she needs assurance that she is protected and cared for by someone who will always be there for her. What I had to learn to do, to assuage her instinct to fight being held, is to approach her slowly and talk to her. When your bunny is blind it is critical that you tell them what is happening, especially that you are approaching them and also when you touch them.

Conclusion:
When a bunny is blind the most important person is their caregiver. If you have lots of love, sensitivity, and compassion and can set up a safe environment, your blind bunny can adapt and compensate for her disability. I must caution, rabbits with all five senses are very challenging; special need rabbits are even more work.

* Sherpa is faux sheepskin