On an impulse, I picked up a new bunny locally before picking up another bunny over the upcoming weekend.
When I went to get the bunny a few hours ago, the previous owner (a breeder) brought out the 13 week bunny in a small blanket-like thingy that specifically meant for small pets, in which only the bunny's face was visible. His legs were not.
After I brought him home (the ride was less than 15 minutes), I noticed that he keeps itching his ears with his legs every ~10 minutes (I texted the breeder immediately), and he's unable to sleep for more than a few minutes because of it. So he keeps running throughout his play pen – from his litter box, to his tunnel which opens into his den, and back. He does take breaks, though. I did turn off the lights but he kept playing & I turned them back on because I was afraid he may injure himself if he can't see where he wants to jump. Also, I gave him 6 fleece blankets to cushion his jumps. He has a plush mat in his den but he's mostly been resting in his litter box.
I may be wrong but I suspect the breeder deliberately brought him out in such a blanket so that his ear illness would be hidden. Also, she said that she puts down bunnies with undesirable traits. I'm guessing she told me that so that when I'd discover his illness, I'd take him to a vet instead of telling her that she sold me a sick bunny.
WabbitWiki does mention checking for any itches, but I was stupid & forgot because the captive bunny in my lap was lovely – he let me pet & hold him, but when I brought him home, despite being very careful to hold his pet carrier, as soon as I opened the pet carrier, he made a murderous face & thumped at me. I hadn't expected it & was startled. Then he immediately tried to jump over me & run out of the play pen. He has now been letting me pet him for a few seconds when he comes over to see if I have any treats in my hands. I sat down in his play-pen for hours like y'all told me, but while he runs away from me as far as he can, he looks at me like he wants to hurt me. After running away to the farthest corner, he makes a combative pose. Whenever he catches me looking at him, he makes the same combative pose. I find it uncharacteristic of Holland Lops.
There are two options now –
Return him to the breeder & will let her keep the money, if she won't hurt him. Also, I need her to come pick him up since he's not getting back into his front-load pet carrier, even if I put treats there.
Take him to a vet. His aggressiveness may also be linked to his illness. It's clear that an ER vet is not needed.
However, option 2 means willingly falling back into the trap I seem to have falken into. This bunny already seems to be in puberty (the breeder mentioned he mostly doesn't use his litter box nowadays. He has indeed been pooping all over despite I having dropped hundreds of them in his litter box) & it seems bonding would be very hard. If I wait too long to bond, the breeder may not take him back, and who knows how deep the rabbithole goes (that'd probably be clear upon a vet visit but how can I take him to a vet since he's not getting back into his front-load pet carrier, even if I put treats there). WabbitWiki does recommend getting 8 week old bunnies because that's the best time (efficient for all parties) to bond with new owners.
by just_a_curious_fella