Yesterday, you might have found yourself the proud new caretaker of a little bunny, duckling or chick. As a veterinarian, I feel compelled to offer some advice on live “gifts” from the Easter Bunny (E.B.) Let’s start with the bunnies. They are awfully cute and are generally good pets, just make sure the E.B. leaves bunnies from domesticated stock. We occasionally see wild bunnies that people try to keep as pets and they tend to retain so much of their wild instincts that they live in perpetual fear of being eaten. The “prey” instinct generally causes the “wild” bunnies to be timid and reluctant to interact with the new family. Bunnies from domestic stock, however, are very tame and generally make much more enjoyable pets. Most bunnies live in hutches (raised pens) but I know of some house-dwelling bunnies that have been litter-box trained and are allowed free run of the home. While bunnies don’t require vaccination like dogs and cats, they do have some issues that require veterinary care. For instance, they are susceptible to ear mites and I’ve seen some terrible cases over the years. Bunnies are prone to upper respiratory tract infections, which can be severe especially if left untreated. Chicks are also popular presents left by the E.B. While cute and fluffy, they grow incredibly fast and will be nearly full size in 6-9 weeks. This rapid growth is due to selective breeding by the chicken farmers to produce a market-ready bird as quickly as possible. Chicks tend to need outside accommodations within the first few weeks because they produce a lot of waste. I’d also warn you that the cute little chick will soon be a full grown chicken that may become an annoyance to your neighbors if you live in town or in a subdivision. Should the E.B. deposit a chick in your home on Easter Sunday, I’d have a relocation plan for the bird should it become necessary. Finally, let’s talk ducklings. Boy, are these guys cute swimming in the bathtub (yes, I’ve had baby ducks in my tub). But, like their chick counterparts, they grow very quickly and produce lots of “by-products.” Having an outdoor pen will greatly help in raising ducklings bacause they prefer a swimming pool (a plastic kiddie pool works well). However, this pool must be cleaned regularly or the stench will knock you over. Dr. Michael Dill is a veterinarian at Bienville Animal Medical Center in Ocean Springs.

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