Filed under: Health
I got this safety tip from a post on Etherbun (a yahoo group relating to rabbit health issues). The woman in this post told the story of what happened last year to her rabbit when loud, frequent, and sudden firecrackers and fireworks noises were happening outside her house.
Many areas like to celebrate July 4th by setting off firecrackers and other
types of fireworks at home. These noises are sharper and more alarming to
rabbits than the deeper booming of “big” fireworks displays such as are set
off by the cities for public enjoyment.
If you live in an area where this happens, please, please, please-turn on
your radios in your house early in the day, if not the day before. Start
off relatively soft and turn up a little
every several minutes until you gradually work up to a loud volume. This
will
not keep the rabbits from hearing the fireworks, but WILL help them not be
alarmed by a sudden sound since they are hearing continuous loud noise.
I wish someone had given me this information in time to save my dear
Clover-muffin. Clover was not usually one to get frightened easily by loud
noises, but one 4th of July a particularly sharp firecracker in a yard near
ours went
off, and she bolted from her room and raced down the hall in such a panic
that she ended up practically bouncing off the walls. I was unable to go
near
her for several minutes, but when she finally calmed down she seemed fine.
Little did I know that the shock depressed her immune system terribly and
that
clostridium, a bacteria that is normally present in a rabbit’s system, was
beginning to take over her little body.
2 days later, Clover began to show serious signs of illness but as it was
late in the day on a Saturday, no rabbit vet could be reached. My regular
vet
has given me his home number but was out of town for the holiday. Clover
became limp and mostly unresponsive by that same night, and finally passed
away
from a heart attack when the clostridium entered her heart the following
morning.
Clover passed on July 7, 2002–exactly one year to the day from her
adoption. That single year she taught us many things, and was a constant
source of frustration from her naughty antics and amusement from her great
intelligence
and drive to succeed at whatever she set out to do. But above all, I learned
to take caution on the two nights that the locals insist upon making loud
noise with explosives–July 4, and Dec 31.
Filed under: Health
Ginger (and Juju) went to the veterinarian today for her checkup. I got a free pass to visit the doctor because I adopted Ginger from the House Rabbit Network. She went back to the same hospital that removed her front incisors back in the beginning of the year. Dr. Siperstein, who took out her teeth, was on vacation so we had Dr. Kruse, who’s a rabbit doctor and owner.
The moment Dr. Kruse saw Ginger, she fell in love with her. Dr. Kruse told us that her first rabbit was a Flemish Giant just like Ginger and coincidentally was named Ginger! So Dr. Kruse, needless to say, was very fond of our Ginger and was very gentle to her. She even kissed Ginger on the forehead!
On to the checkup – Ginger weights a little over 13 lbs. That’s 1 whole lb heavier than when Emily fostered Ginger. I read online that Flemish Giants are suppose to get up to 15lbs – 20lbs. However, Dr. Kruse said that rabbit breeders suggest higher weights because they breed bunnies for looks, meat or procreation, and therefore their weight suggestions are usually over the appropriate limit. She also said that each rabbit is different and depends on their bone structure. Ginger is just the right size right now and shouldn’t gain anymore than 1/2 a lb over what she is now.
I was also worried about Ginger’s eyes and sore hocks. Apparently Ginger just has a large third eye lid which makes it look red but it’s actually not inflamed. Her sore hocks are also healthy. They were there before I adopted her so there’s nothing much I can do about them now that they’re there. She can’t get rid of them because the patch of fur over the sore is already gone. The best we can do is keep an eye out on it and make sure it doesn’t get inflamed. (more…)
Filed under: Uncategorized
Taken from SaveABunny in California.
Phoenix was a pet rabbit housed outdoors by a mother and teenage son. The teen tortured Phoenix by putting lit cigarettes to him and finally one day, doused him with lighter fluid and set him on fire. The neighbors called for help after hearing the screams of a burning bunny left for dead. The video and website tells of his amazing journey from victim to survivor to teacher.
The teen who tortured Phoenix got arrested and plead guilty and was eventually sent to Juvie.
Filed under: Bonding
Ginger and Juju have been in their new home and bonded for over a week. We got them back last Tuesday. Currently, they have been confined to the kitchen where their new condo is. This is to ensure that their bond will be cemented and hopefully make it so that they’ll stay married.
I’ve been wanting to expand their area by opening the homemade door to the kitchen, fencing off the adjoining dining room to let them have that area to play. By slowly expanding their area, they should be less territorial and be more willing to live in harmony. Joey has not approved of me letting them out into the dining room, while I’m all for it.
Is it time to expand?
Filed under: Health
It’s been at the high 70s mark in the apartment for the better part of the last week and I’m kinda OK with it. Then again, I don’t have a body covered with fur. The buns, I think, are not liking the heat. They’ve been less responsive and have just been lying around all day and night.
Rabbits don’t like the heat. If out in the wild, they would naturally dig holes and burrows underground where the soil protects them from the heat. They can’t however, dig through the linoleum tiles in the kitchen (but they try). So Joey and I decided they needed air conditioning. I went to Home Depot and got the biggest AC that the sockets in my house can handle and came home with a 15000 btu unit. Joey and I spent the better part of last night installing the window brackets and mounts and finally managed to get the AC in the window without it being a danger to whoever or whatever might be underneath the window at the time.
Despite my efforts to keep the apartment cool today without turning on the AC (closing the blinds and keeping the windows opened), it still got up to almost 85 degrees in the house. So I just turned on the AC. The temp. hasn’t gone down yet but I hope it helps the buns with their heat stroke and breath life into them again.
Filed under: Health
A sore hock in a rabbit usually occurs in the hind foot pads. A patch of fur is rubbed off or gets irritated and falls off and what’s left is exposed skin that gets inflamed and callused.
According to a lot of online rabbit health sources, sore hocks is common, especially among larger rabbit species. They can go untreated most of the times but they need to be carefully examined on a continued basis to ensure they’re not .
Ginger has 2 sore hocks on the back of her hind legs. I’m not sure if they’re or not or if they need treatment. I’m going to be making an appointment with her vet to check on her teeth. While I’m there, I’m going to ask them about the sore hocks.
Any comments?
