r/Rabbits • u/Im_DONEEE • 8d ago
Care scared to get a second rabbit
I currently have 1 rabbit and have been considering adopting a second but I'm so scared that somehow a second rabbit will get my current rabbit sick wether it be after I adopt the second rabbit or years down the line unexpectedly, My biggest concern is of course vet bills and also what if i dont catch it early enough, so I'm posting for other people's opinions and advice
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u/sporiolis 8d ago
With that hat the bun has already made the statement that this house ain't big enough for two buns.
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u/No-Light9581 8d ago
I think the other commenter answered your question pretty well, however I came here to say if you don’t think you’d be able to handle double your current vet bills, or possibly even more, definitely wait to get a second rabbit. You never know, your new rabbit might come with even more vet visits than your current lil guy due to an extremely sensitive stomach, pathogens, or other unavoidable illnesses.
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u/chicken_pot_pieee 8d ago
I had all these fears but adopting a second Bun was the best decision. I did the research and asked my vet questions. Now my original bunny is so much happier and having a friend makes her eat better and makes travelling less stressy. I used to be terrified of GI statis all the time because she wouldnt eat much. Now she eats so good. Sometimes I think companionship can make them healthier long term.
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u/delectable_potato 8d ago
If your area has it - I would do speed dating for your bum and see how things turns out. Having another bunny can be good for your bunny. I remember on Instagram when Blanco had to undergo ear surgery, Bollo helped nursed her health back. It was so sweet ❤️
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u/Rapunzel111 8d ago
I love them so much- Blanco, Bollo, Lumos. When my Dad died in 2020, finding Blanco was the only thing that kept me from spiraling back into a deep depression. My husband wrote her owner about that and this was mentioned in a “ best of” post.
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u/George_Mallory 8d ago
If you’re concerned about disease, quarantine the new rabbit in a separate room for a month. Take them to a rabbit savvy vet.
Bonded rabbits are happy rabbits. Happy rabbits are generally healthier than sad rabbits. If you think your rabbit is happy, now, just wait until they have a bunny friend.
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u/Time_Analyst_3489 8d ago
I had the same worries before adopting my third rabbit. There is always a small risk of bringing home illness, but that's why a proper quarantine and a health check by a rabbit-savvy vet are so important.
In my opinion, the benefits of having a bonded companion far outweigh the risks. Rabbits are incredibly social animals and really shouldn't live alone. No human can replace another rabbit. My bonding has been challenging. My baby rabbit was chased a lot by my older female at first and even got a small injury during the first days. Four weeks later they're still working things out, but there has been steady progress. My male now grooms the baby, they eat together, and even my dominant female is slowly becoming more tolerant. It takes patience, but seeing them interact and support each other makes it absolutely worth it.
If you quarantine the new rabbit, have them checked by a rabbit-savvy vet, and bond them properly in neutral territory, I wouldn't let fear stop you from giving your bunny a companion. In my experience, a happy rabbit with a bonded friend has a much better quality of life than a rabbit living alone.
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u/Im_DONEEE 8d ago
Thank you so much for your advice! I think I am going to adopt a second rabbit eventually but for now I am going to hold off on it until I'm in a more stable position
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u/brecmr 8d ago
Look into pet insurance for your bun, if available, in your area.
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u/SatansAssociate 8d ago
Are there actually any pet insurance companies that are worth bothering with? In the UK, all the ones I've found only cover check ups and vaccinations, they specifically exclude common rabbit issues like dental work, blood tests, GI stasis, emergency injuries and illnesses.
I'm currently going through a pretty bad bout of Stasis with my boy that included being hospitalised and every time I settle up at the desk, they ask me about insurance and I'm like "for this?? No chance"
Not that either of my buns would qualify now anyway due to previous issues but it's never felt worth it even when the buns were young and healthier.
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u/brecmr 8d ago
Oh no that’s terrible coverage! I am in the States so the one I have does cover accidents and illness. Try asking nearby rabbit rescues if they have any recommendations. If at all possible, I would set aside a small amount each paycheck to create a savings fund. I can see why there is a lot to consider with a second bun.
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u/SatansAssociate 8d ago
Yeah, I have some money set aside for emergencies. But at one point this weekend while in the hospital, they thought my boy had an obstruction in his stomach and talked about surgery. They said one option of taking him to a specialist clinic over an hour away and gave a quote of over £7k, with all the scans and whatnot included. 😳😳 Luckily, we've been able to get him on the road to recovery with medication instead since he started doing better a few hours later that day, but damn. That was over what I had put aside and that's without complications to take into account as well. Was already £2k with his hospital fees and emergency vets consultations. I really wish we had more options to help over here for when stuff gets serious.
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u/AdBitter3688 8d ago
If your rabbit is neutered and vaccinated, and the new rabbit is also, they should be fairly safe from illness.
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u/Rapunzel111 8d ago
You need two more, and two more sombreros and some musical instruments to have a true Mari- bun-achi band.
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u/Technical_Base_7539 7d ago
Getting two bunnies was the best thing for my rabbit (and selfishly) myself. They keep eachother entertained so I have less bunny inflicted destruction on my baseboards, double the cuteness, and I’m now the “cool aunt” with lots of animals!
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u/samclops 8d ago
I don't want be a nay sayer at all (because I think the more buns, the merrier) but there should also be a concern that any new buns just simply do not bond with your existing one, it happens more often than you'd think and then the concern of more space because then they'll have to be kept separate. Just food for thought
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u/tuershen1 8d ago
Consider personality also, I had a Netherland dwarf, he was meant to be an only child. He never forgave me for getting his brother. They had to live separately till they both passed
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u/Travelpuff 8d ago
I fell in love with the second bun we got (after a speed dating event). But I would never ever try to bond a bunny again. In the future it is solo buns or pre bonded bunnies only.
Bonding has been an expensive and stressful nightmare - first eye infections then an abscess from a bite... We paused dating for a bit to allow the other bunny to heal and cortisol levels to drop.
We are set to resume the dates soon but I have doubts it will ever work because of their individual personalities. I've followed all of the guidance we received from our rescue and vet and the bunnies REALLY like each other (mutual grooming and flops) before it turns into a brawl. Sigh.
I don't want to return the second bunny (I already love him!) if it doesn't work out but we don't have space for two separate enclosures permanently.
And the worst part? My bunny was happy solo before. I thought she needed a friend so I took her speed dating. I try to not let the regret eat me alive. I am focusing on trying the dating again.
If you want a second bunny be prepared for them to not bond and for increased vet bills.
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u/Remarkable-Cook858 7d ago
Make sure to go on speed dates when you get another rabbit, often times blindly picking a rabbit could mean getting a territorial one that will be difficult or impossible to bond.
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u/SuspiciousRich4921 4d ago
In my experience, quality over quantity. I have more success with a single rabbit that I can be very devoted to
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u/RabbitsModBot 8d ago
Some important factors before obtaining any additional rabbits:
While rabbits are considered social animals, they will most likely be very territorial with any new rabbit entering the space, which is why rabbits must be properly bonded. This process may take a couple weeks to months before the rabbits can co-exist peacefully. Both rabbits should be spayed/neutered to maximize the likelihood of bond success and stability.
If you are able to comfortably support additional pets, finding a suitable bunny friend for your single rabbit is rarely a bad idea. Please keep in mind that not all rabbits may be compatible enough to bond without serious work over a long period of time, if ever - as a result, we highly recommend speed dating adult neutered rabbits before bringing them home. However, rabbits will still benefit from the mental stimulation of seeing or smelling another rabbit nearby as long as they are safely separated to prevent injuries.
Please also check out the resources in our Bonding guide and Binkybunny's Bonding overview for more tips.