Pet Store v Breeder Bunnies

[Haley]

I dont know if anyone can answer this for me, but Ive been doing some searching and am not coming up with anything.

My question is this: do you think that rabbits purchased from pet stores have higher incidents of illness than those from good breeders? Im thinking that due to things like being taken away from mom too young, travel and constant handling at such a young age between breeder and pet store, along with lack of proper vet care at pet stores, that the answer would be yes.

I ask because Max (who is a Petco bunny) has had so many problems in his young life, while my other two (both from decent breeders) are rarely ever sick. I know that its difficult to make generalizations, but I always wonder...

I'd appreciate any input on this!

 

[ani-lover]

haley, i honestly think both rabbits from pet stores and breeders have the same risk with health problems and sickness. rabbits from pet stores probably get taken away from mom too early and are probably from bunny mills which can cause much sickness.
also, rabbits from breeders may be healthier and at some times may come from a breeder that doesn't take much care and consideration for the young rabbits. they may not properly care for them and some people who sell to pet stores may just want to get them there to get their regardless of the animals health or safety.

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

I do not believe that any pet store bunny is more prone to health issues than a good breeder bunny is. However, I do think that a rabbit from a decent breeder is less likely to be ill or pregnant than one from a pet store at the time of purchase.There is also the fact that some pet stores are not very educated and either allow them to sit in filth, or use harmful bedding (in which case a pet store bunny may be more prone to health issues in the future). Also, seeing as how often timesI see rabbits way too young in pet stores and I believe those babies are more prone to serious illness and death due to stress than ones left in a rabbinical they are older.

 

[Haley]

I guess thats why I emphasized "good breeder". I know that pet store bunniesall come from some sort of breeder, but arent they usually not very credible breeders, such as bunny mills and backyard breeders, who dont take as good care of their young as other breeders?

Also, dont good breeders try to breed their rabbits to decrease incident of illness and disease (by not breeding sick bunnies), whereas a bunny mill would be more likely to breed sick rabbits?

Just a few thoughts Ive been having lately. Thanks for the input!

Edit: another question, if a baby is weaned too early does this have any effect on their immune system later in life?

 

[TinysMom]

I have a mixed answer for you. I apologize in advance for the length of it but I really want to give a detailed answer.

I believe that pet store rabbits that are taken from their mother too young - have a higher incidence of health problems - largely from being taken from their mom too young. I think the stress of separation can cause health issues. Can I prove it? No.

I personally believe (and understand - this is OPINION only) - that a rabbit from a RESPONSIBLE breeder has a greater chance of not having health issues. I also believe that it may potentially be better socialized to begin with.

Why do I believe this?

First of all, the baby spends more time with its mom. It has less stress (hopefully) at weaning because it isn't taken away at 3-4 weeks of age. It also spends more time with its litter mates and I think that helps with the socialization and health issues. One of the things I love most about my litters is watching the kits interact with each other and with their mom. I think that they need that time with each other.

Secondly, I believe that baby is better socialized from dealing with the breeder on a regular basis. Once my kits have their eyes open, I try to handle them on a daily basis to check tehm for any health issues. They are used to being handled. Depending upon their temperament, by the time they are 3-4 weeks old, they look at my coming to open the cage door as a fun thing and they come running to see me. They know me and trust me. I frequently will bring them a cheerio or something and they see people as "fun".

Thirdly, as a breeder, I can tell you about my kits and their health. I watch regularly for health issues and can start treatment THAT DAY. The kit will not sit alone in the back corner of a cage for more than a few hours before I'm there attending it.

Finally, as a breeder, I do my breeding with certain goals in mind.They might be for body type or for mane (I breed lion heads) or for certain colors and patterns. For example, when it comes to breeding broken lion heads, I'm particular about them - but I am breeding largely for pattern and temperament (vs. my "show litters" where I'm breeding for other reasons). I'm not going to simply put two rabbits together to mate and say "there you go".

With all that said, I have known breeders who have placed some of their babies in pet stores. Most of them wait until the kit is 6-8 weeks old and the kits are gone within a couple of days. Many times they've made arrangements ahead of time and the store has said they'll lionhearted on X day. The pathetic thing is the breeder might get $5 or maybe a whole $10 for the rabbit....whereby if they sold it themselves they could get a lot more...but many times they only want to be known for selling show bunnies....so they sell take their pet quality rabbits to the store.

I think that if you really want to buy from a pet store, make sure they can give you the name of the breeder they got the rabbit from and the phone number. Contact the breeder and talk to them. Really look at the rabbit - does it look like it was too young to leave its mama? I know you want that cute, adorable little bunny - but I'd hate to pay $50 or so for a baby rabbit and then have it die a week or so later.Know what I mean?

Once again, this is mainly opinion based upon what I've seen and heard.I think that the issue with pet store bunnies is mainly "Were they taken away from mom too young?" If so...I think you're going to potentially have some health and maybe socialization issues..

Just my .02

Peg

 

[Pipp]

Good question re: the immunity problems, I've heard early weaning does affect them, but I don't have anything to back that up.

I know that manyailments remaindormant for life unless the rabbit undergoes stress from their environment or another illness. I would think that once some of these things doraise their ugly little heads, they do at least some damage that in turn affects their future health.

Again, I'd have to dig around for facts --expert opinionsand research -- to back this up.

I would also think a pet store environment has a lot more communicable ailments with less immunity optionsthan a good breeders' barn.

And, thebreeders are FAR more knowledgeable than the pet store personnel and better able to spot and handle health issues before they spread or compromise the ailing bunny. That has to account for a lot.

sas

 

[Maureen Las]

I think that a bunny being prone to illness depends onhow, when and where the store buys the bunnies. many stores buy from any backyard breeders or "bunny mills"...people who have no knowledge of genetics. I have 2 bunnies from pet stores. The first is Babette 6 1/2yrs old a purebred mini-lop purchased from a quality store outside Chicago who guaranteed their breeders.They taught me how to care for her properly in the store and she has had one minor health issue in her life. The 2nd is Beau bought from a horrible pet store here and has suffered his entire 3 1/2 yrs from major tooth problem sand isdeveloping cataracts. Even now after 5 teeth removed he will probably be on antibiotics forever because of deep gum infections. Whoever bred Beau had no knowledge of proper breeding. I would never never again buy from a pet store except if I considered it a rescue. I would not worry about health issues if I knew the breederwas really reputable as many breeders also show and have the knowledge to weed out undesirable traits.because I am at the shelter I will always adopt from shelters but a good breeder cares about the health of the rabbits.

 

[TinysMom]

When I sell a rabbit and I give my business card to the new owner, I always tell them to call me ANYTIME. The line I use the most is this:

"I'd rather you call me at midnight and tell me you have a problem than wait and call me at 7 am and tell me your rabbit died. So call me as soon as you know you have a problem."

I care about the health of my rabbits - not only while they are here but once they are in their new home.

Peg

angieluv wrote:

but a good breeder cares about the health of the rabbits.

 

[Pipp]

I thought about my situation, and realized that Pipp is by far my least healthy bunny, and she was bought from a Petcetera store by a couple of street kids with absolutely no knowledge and no means to care for her (and she was mis-sexed) when she was probably way too young. (I got her soon after).

Dill and Darry I do believe were breeder bunnies -- Dill was for sure-and other than Dill being prone to gas attacks, they're fine. (Knock wood).

Radar was born and raised in a shelter, and he's a little tank, even though he only has half a nose.

(No idea re: Sherry's background at all).

sas

 

[Maureen Las]

I KNOW you care about your rabbits Peg.......you're a great breeder and bunny lover

 

[TinysMom]

Thanks. That means a lot to me. I recentness about 1/4 of my herd (for free). NOBODY got a rabbit without an interview and without a lesson on how to care for bunnies. At times I had people waiting for me to get done w/ the person before them and then they'd ask me questions to clarify what I had said.

The neat thing was - for the next week or so - I had three different people who brought back others who had fallen in love with the rabbits.Some of them brought back the rabbits they had taken so I could see how they were doing and I even have vistation rights with a couple of them that were really special to me.

I know I've said this before - but my role as a breeder is not to provide you with a bunny. It is to provide my bunny with a good home. If you're not it - I don't care how much you offer...you won't get the rabbit.

There have been times when I've refused a person a particular rabbit because I knew it wasn't a good match (because they were just looking at the cuteness factor) and I would go into the rabbitry and bring out one that had a better personality for that person depending upon what they wanted from their pet. I've later had them thank me for that.

I'm not saying people shouldn't get from rescues and pet stores - don't take me wrong. I believe the animals in the shelters and the pet stores need love just as much as the rabbits from breeders...if not maybe bit more love if they haven't a breeder who would socialize them.

I just think people need to be aware of the fact that those rabbits*might* have hidden issues in the future that perhaps a breeder would pick up on because they know their rabbits so well.

Peg

angieluv wrote:

I KNOW you care about yourrabbits Peg.......you're a great breeder and bunny lover

 

[Maureen Las]

thats true Peg....you really have a lot more exposure to rabbits and all the complications thanmost of us

 

[ec]

Peg - if only all breeders were as conscientious and caring as you are, so many bunnies (and people) would be a lot better off...

I guess this is a legit Christmas wish, no?

 

[SugarGlider]

I spent a long time looking for a good breeder. I paid show quality price for Livingston.He has been sick since we got him. I say this with the greatest affection but we call him our "Golden Bunny" now because of the hundreds of $$ we have in him.

It's very unfortunate but even if one does make the effort to go out and find a great breeder (or what seems in every aspect to be a great breeder) there can be health problems.

So when I got Emma I just got the first bunny I could find.She was less than a third of his price and from a breeder that I wouldn't normally feel was the best to buy from but she's healty.

 

[bluebird]

Im glad you said good breeder.I think many of the bunnys in pet stores die after they get home on account of them being way too young too be sold. most of the pet stores i spoke too wanted bunnys 4 weeks of age. good breeders dont breed rabbits with genetic defects.including Wolf teeth (malloclusion). many of these defects require very costly vet care. bluebird

 

[Spring]

Alsothe added stress with the noises, smells, and potentiality dangers in the pet store. I know stress can weaken a rabbits imune system, and it doesn't help ease the amount of stress if they are taken away too early.

 

[Pipp]

bluebird, we'reso happy to see you posting again, it's been awhile! not only has your advice and knowledge been missed,your compassion and care for everybunny in your rabbitryhas always set an awesome example of a 'good' breeder. (no, make that a 'great' breeder). you help make iteasy for every bunny in the rabbit community to get along.thanks for that!

:kiss:

sas

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Sas, this got me thinking, wondering your thought on this as you probably have a really good answer.

I got my first rabbit, BunBun from a petstore. He lived to be 6 years old and never was sick until the coughing sounds started, and after a couple of months, his very labored breathing and a vet visit, upon a xray, turned out to be congestive heart failure. My question is do you think that this is just a fluke thing and that it could happen to any breeder or there is a definite way to avoid such an illness, knowing the parents health, etc.?

Thanks!

 

[Snuggys Mom]

I have a pet store rabbit that was taken from her mother way too soon. She was eight weeks old when I got her (if that) and one of the employees told me she'd been there for a month!

She's now two years old and I've never been able to get any weight on her. She eats like a pig, but is always bony. She's also very afraid of humans, especially human hands. I'm the only one who can pet her or pick her up.

On the other hand, she's never been ill (knocking very hard on wood). The only time she's seen the vet was when she was spayed.

I won't ever buy a pet store rabbit again. There should be a law against it. So many of them are too young or too sick to be there.