Emergencies! When should you be hearing alarm bells?

Rabbits are prey animals and, as such, are skilled at hiding signs of illness that would otherwise leave them vulnerable to predation. A sick rabbit may not show very many outward signs other than a reduction in activity levels, appetite and production of faeces. These changes may come on gradually and can therefore go unnoticed for some time.

If, as a rabbit owner, you observe any of the above, your rabbit should be seen by the vet as soon as possible:

My rabbit hasn’t eaten all day / for several days

My rabbit has a wet / smelly bottom

My rabbit is cold / collapsed / no moving

My rabbit is breathing hard / having difficulty breathing

My rabbit is quieter than usual

My rabbit has fly eggs / maggots

August 2010

Emergencies! They can arise at any moment. It's important that you give some thought to how you would react in this eventuality. The following questions will get you thinking about how you might respond should you find yourself faced with a sick or injured pet:

Do you have your vet's telephone number to hand?

Do you have your vet's telephone number programmed in to your phone?

Do all members of your family have access to this information?

Do you know who your vet's out-of-hours provider is?

Do you know how to get to your vet's surgery and how to find their emergency service when they are closed?

Is your pet's travel box 'to hand'?

Do you have health insurance for your pet?

Have you written down clear instructions for anyone left in charge of your pet whilst you are away on holiday / business?

Having these simple questions answered will help you in that time of emergency where all your attention needs to be on your beloved pet. Let's hope you never need to act on the above, but just in case….

Extract from Rabbiting On Summer 2010

July 2010

If you put your bunny in a run during the day remember that the sun will move throughout the course of the day, so ensure there is always some shade and plenty of water and keep an eye on them. Put a blanket over one third of the run, anchored down by something heavy so it doesn't blow away. Your bunny will have somewhere a little cooler to sit, particularly in this hot weather we're having.

June 2010

Fly strike, or blowfly strike, is a serious condition, mainly affecting rabbits, that occurs during summer months. Fly strike is caused by flies; attracted to damp fur, urine, faeces or the odour of rabbit scent gland, lay their eggs on or around the rabbit's rear end where they hatch within hours into a seething bunch of maggots that eat into the rabbit's flesh, eating it alive and releasing toxins in the process. 

Overweight and arthritic rabbits, rabbits with heavy dewlaps, those prone to sticky bottom or suffering from a urinary infection are most at risk from fly strike but all rabbits should be checked for fly strike at least twice daily in summer and treated with one of the veterinary licensed products such as Xenex or Rearguard. 

May 2010

If you are going on holiday this Summer, don't forget to book your bunny or small animal into their 'hotel' for their holiday. Summer is The Bunny Retreat's busiest time of year, and July & August is booking up fast!

April 2010

At Easter time, many rabbits are impulse-purchased as a cute addition to the Easter festivities, without due attention to the work, time and needs of him / her. Please spread the news of the 'Make Mine Chocolate!' campaign which aims to raise awareness of the sad plight of the thousands of pet rabbits bought as presents at Easter and then abandoned months if not weeks later.

They are working hard to spread the message that 'Chocolate is a Treat, Rabbits are a Commitment'.

Please pass on these details to family and friends! Thank you!  http://www.makeminechocolate.co.uk/

March 2010

Vary the veggies you give your bunny so their diet is interesting for them (remember not to give too many though - 90-95% of your bunny's diet should be hay!). For a good list of vegetables, herbs and fruits, please see the Rabbit Welfare Association website by clicking here.

February 2010

Remember to 'bunny proof' your garden if your little one has a hop outside of her run / hutch / house. We put chicken wire along the bottom of our fence and dug it into the soil to make it difficult for our bunnies to burrow out of. One of our little tinkers managed to squeeze through an 'arch' in the wire made by, we think, a hedgehog! She got back safe and sound, but it just goes to show that even if you've done your best, our little bunny pals will be one step ahead! Take care.

January 2010

If your bunny lives in an area of your home where the floor is laminated or tiled, why not give her something warm to sit on in this chilly weather? An old towel, piece of carpet or Yellow Pages will do a perfect job and she'll love you for it.

December 2009

Don't forget your bunny pal this Christmas! Bunnies will love a new cardboard box to hide away in and chew to their heart's content…or how about a little treat, like a carrot or bunny fruity bar, wrapped up to open on Christmas day! Remember, a bunny is for life, not just for Christmas (or Easter).

November 2009

Winter can be a cold time for your bunnies if they live outside. Ensure that their home is sheltered from the wind. Move your bunny indoors into a shed or an unused garage in particularly cold weather. Remember, a garage with cars in it is not safe because of fumes.

extract from '100 Ways to a Happy Bunny'

September 2009

If your bunny starts running around you in circles and spraying jets of urine at you, he hasn't had the snip! This behaviour is a sign he fancies you - it is rabbit courtship. Be grateful that human males give chocolates!

extract from '100 Ways to a Happy Bunny'

July 2009

Bunnies like to chew! Branches of apple trees, hazel and willow are the equivalent of a bone for a dog. Some rabbits are one-bunny destruction units (we've all seen it!), especially unsprayed female bunnies. If you don't give them things to chew they will try to chew their hutch, the side of the run, your shoes, your new jumper, your favourite book, electric cables, table legs or skirting board. Don't underestimate bunny chew-chew power.

extract from '100 Ways to a Happy Bunny'

June 2009

This is a quick one - remember to safeguard your bunny from Myxomatosis (6-monthly) and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (yearly). At this time of year your bunny is more susceptible, so please take your pet to the vet for peace of mind. 

May 2009

To keep her teeth and digestive system healthy, your bunny's diet should be 90-95% hay, plus a small amount of daily treats such as her favourite dried food and fresh vegetables. Resist the temptation to have a constant supply of dried food as this is like giving your pride and joy access to a constant supply of cakes!  Think healthy and your bunny will love you for it. 

April 2009

At this time of year, you will notice your bunny starting to moult.  Give her a helping hand by grooming her more regularly.  Little and often is better than one big 'groom': it will be less stressful for your bunny and you!  You don't need expensive grooming brushes.  A small hair comb will work just as well. 

March 2009

If your bunny lives indoors, a great hideaway is a cardboard box with an entrance and an exit hole cut into two sides of the box. Your bunny will feel safe in there and will flop down after a meal and will even take to re-designing the sizes of the doors by chewing them to size!

February 2009

Instead of putting food in a bowl, hide it so your bunny has to forage for it, or feed it in a puzzle toy such as a treat ball with holes for the pellets to come out.  Most bunnies enjoy working to get their food.

extract from '100 Ways to a Happy Bunny' 

January 2009

Bunnies rarely retrieve, but they like tossing things about.  Toilet roll tubes, dried pine cones, used sticky tape rolls, or light cat toys will be picked up and thrown about.  Some bunnies will enjoy nudging a football about the run.  House bunnies particularly enjoy noisy toys in the small hours of the morning! 

extract from '100 Ways to a Happy Bunny'