TH E B U N OL OGIST

Your FREE monthly rabbit newsletter brought to you by BOING To join, visit www.scribd.com/bunologist or www.boingonline.com

August 2012
Posh dyes rabbits pink International Rabbit day Gaga wears rabbit fur Grooming long haired bunnies Life at the Do Hop Inn - another emergency surgery! Geratric bunnies looking after an older bunny

Posh dyes them pink

2 July 2012 - http://entertainment.stv.tv Harper Seven Beckham celebrated her first birthday on July 10 and proud parents David and Victoria Beckham pulled out all the stops to make sure the toddler was going to have a party to remember. Her extravagant birthday bash had a guest list of A-list stars, fluffy bunnies, pony rides and cupcakes. A source told Closer magazine: "Victoria spent around 50,000. "The garden was rumoured to be filled with big pink cuddly toys, pony rides, a bouncy castle, balloons and tons of cupcakes. All pink. Apparently, even the fluffy rabbits were going to be dyed pink too!

Gaga wears them pink

14 August 2012 - Mail Online

International Rabbit Day 22 September 2012

Twice in two months Lady Gaga has walked the streets wearing real fur. The pink one above is rabbit fur! Gaga was in Bulgaria for the start of the European leg of her Born This Way Ball world tour. Her arrival in Bulgaria comes as RadarOnline revealed that PETA has targeted the singer by writing her a personal letter and begging her to no longer wear fur. 'Many of your gay fans, I among them, have long admired what you told Ellen: "I hate fur, and I don't wear fur,"' wrote Dan Mathews, Senior Vice President of PETA. International Rabbit Day seeks to protect rabbits as pets and in the wild. Animal rights groups and humane societies are active promoters of this special day. Their objectives are to promote healthy, caring environments for rabbits that are raised as pets, and those living in the wild. They also seek to stop the use of rabbit furs and the use of rabbit on restaurant menus. Whatever country you may be in, check out & see if there is a group celebrating International Rabbit Day in your area. If not, you could organize your own celebration or do something active to help other bunnies that may need your help. And dont forget to give your own bunny some big cuddles and kisses!! 'What happened? Are your stylists telling you that it's fake, or are you a turncoat?' Mathews asked. 'Many gays are animal advocates because we recognize that the same arrogance and indifference that some have toward animal suffering has at times been directed toward us personally because of our orientation," he went on to say. 'By wearing those dumb furs in a heat wave, you're making yourself a target just like the mindless Kim Kardashian. As we plan our fall campaigns, please tell us whether what you gracefully told Ellen was heartfelt or just a pose.'

Grooming fluffies
by Karen (www.boingonline.com) Having extra fluffy bunnies to care for means extra special and regular grooming to keep them healthy & happy for many years to come.

Notice the new fur appearing (darker colour) under the old fur that has matted to the new emerging fur.

If you are having difficulty grooming a fluffy bunny with a brush, comb or scissors, consider purchasing an electric pet clipper. They make grooming and removing matts on long haired bunnies very quick and easy. It also means no pulling of the fur and the bunny will be more comfortable. Quality pet clippers are not cheap but the more that you spend, the quicker the clip and the quieter they will be. They will also last many years if looked after and cleaned properly. The best pet clippers have detachable blades so you can replace or sharpen. The best blade for rabbit fur is a #40 blade. Rabbit fur is very soft and this blade will easily cut through the fur.

This clip took about 10 minutes. The bunny was not badly matted so it was a matter of clipping back to the new emerging fur.

The easiest thing to do with a fluffy bunny is to remove the long fur to a comfortable length. The area that matts the most on a bunny is around the bottom and under the chin.

Theres no need to go too short with a clip on your bunny. Just enough to remove all matts and ensure that your bunny is comfortable. A brush can remove any loose fur after clipping if required.

Life at the Do Hop Inn

By Karen (www.boingonline.com)

EC results
We recently had 3 of our buns tested for E Cuniculi just out of interest. It was a simple blood test, taken from the back leg and took a few days for the results. The results of the test indicated whether the bunnies were carrying E Cuniculi, a parasite that can affect long term health.

Charlie
Six weeks after Missy (Charlies sister) had a stomach blockage and needed emergency surgery, it was a complete shock to find it happened to Charlie too!!!!

Saffy & Finn (above left)) and Tinkerbelle (above right) were tested out of interest.

Missy (left) and Charlie

He stopped eating one morning, his tummy felt fine so he was given some critical care before I went out for a short while. However, by the time I returned, Charlie was still not eating and I could feel a large lump in his tummy. Panic set in again and he was raced off to the Melbourne Rabbit Clinic. Again, our fears were confirmed as a stomach blockage and Charlie needed emergency surgery to remove the blockage. Fortunately, surgery went well. Unlike Missy, Charlie took longer to recover. It took a good few days for him to start eating again on his own so there were lots of sleepless nights, critical care feeding him and keeping him comfortable and warm. Missy was such a good sister and looked after Charlie very well. Charlie has recovered very well and he is doing great! I am so grateful to the Melbourne Rabbit Clinic for looking after Missy & Charlie and saving both their lives!

The results were as expected. Tinkerbelle was positive (she has had a few EC related health issues) and Saffy & Finn were negative. What was good to know is that if EC is in the house, it doesnt get transferred as easily as some people might think (if the buns are not living together).

Ally

Ginger
My lovely boy Ginger had to have a molar trim this month. It was expected as he has one nasty molar that grinds down into a needle like point if not monitored. All went well and his other teeth were fine. Always good to keep up with those teeth checks!!

Ally buns (above left) will turn ten years old in December so hes doing quite well for his age. He does suffer badly from arthritis, however, and I have noticed recently that he does have mobility issues. The Pentosan injections, treating his arthritis, are getting closer and closer together as his mobility decreases. Some days he requires pain relief and he does have difficulty grooming himself. He cant groom his ears or his bottom so I have to monitor those areas. His diet and bedding have been adjusted. He doesnt get as many greens and no treats as they cause him to produce wet poos that get stuck to his bottom. His bedding is very soft with pillows so he can lean on them for support and the fluffy beds provide comfort for the soles of his feet.

Geriatric bunnies
by the Melbourne Rabbit Clinic www.melbournerabbitclinic.com So your little furry friend is getting older. As with any older animal, geriatric critters require an increase in hands on care and observation. Rabbits are very good at hiding any signs of illness and hence it is important to spend plenty of time with your bunny to notice their own unique habits. Changes in behaviour, appetite, urine and faeces or their coat can be an indication in an older rabbit. Well maintained pet rabbits may live to an age of 8-12 years. Your furry friend may require some changes to give them the best of their golden years.

It is a reasonably painful condition and can lead to bleeding and infection. Prompt treatment is always recommended to contain the condition. Treatment can include antibiotics, pain relief, bandaging of feet and managing our bunnies environment to provide soft bedding.

Mites
Mites are a skin parasite of rabbits, which can be confirmed in some cases by a fur pluck test. The condition itself is easily treated, however, is often a sign of underlying disease. A thorough health check and even blood tests should be conducted in our elderly patients.

Tumours
As with our species, older rabbits are more prone to tumours and cancers. The most common and preventable tumour we see in rabbits is uterine cancers. Desexing your female rabbit will completely prevent this tumour from occurring. Knowing what may befall your rabbit as they age is helpful in keeping a close on any changes you may see. It is important to seek veterinary advice as soon as you notice things are not right. Any delay in treatment may make it difficult to resolve or control these conditions that are common in older rabbits.

Arthritis
Like all animals, as well as humans, bunnies do suffer arthritis. Arthritis is a disease of the joints and you may see a number of signs pointing to this. You may see a decrease in activity, hunched posture, varying levels of stiffness and inability to clean themselves. Sometimes we see an animal that is just not grooming as well as he used to or one who sits around more between bursts of energy. Diagnosis can be based on clinical signs or we may take xrays to confirm this. In many cases it is not until we trial treatment, that we see a big difference in a bunny we thought was okay.

What you may notice in your bunny:

Urine or faecal staining around the bottom. This may get to the point of actually burning the skin, and you may notice red raw skin around his bottom. Infection may set in with severe cases. This can be caused by diet, urine leakage, environment, dental disease, arthritis, obesity, neurological issues, pain, bladder disease, kidney disease or a combination of these. Increased frequency of urination or drinking Rabbit appearing scruffy and unkempt Wounds on the underside of your rabbits feet or elsewhere Loss of hair and/or scaly skin

Management will involve a combination of things. Owners should conduct regular bottom inspections. Pentosan injections are a drug that assists in joint lubrication and increasing mobility of joints. Some rabbits require long term or intermittent, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (usually meloxicam) to keep them comfortable. A bunny brazilian (clipping up their bottom) is a very useful service we can provide your older bunny to help keep him clean and tidy. Renal disease (kidney disease)

Renal disease is a common condition seen in elderly rabbits. Your rabbit may show signs of excessive drinking and urinating, not wanting to eat, diarrhoea and weight loss. So what can I do? These signs may be very milk and may be difficult to notice especially in pair or group situations. If in doubt, a simple Changes to housing it is all about comfort! Think about blood test can put our minds at ease. padded surfaces and non slip material under footing. Providing easy access to heights, eg. ramps rather than There is no cure for kidney disease and treatment may steps. Some rabbits may require a move from a multi level involve drugs or altering fluid intake. complex to a single storey home.

Sore hocks
Sore hocks, or pododermatitis, are frequently seen in sedentary rabbits. This can range from an area of irritation on the weight bearing point of the hock, to scabs, open wounds and sometimes abscesses. These abscesses can infiltrate into the underlying bone in severe cases and can be difficult to completely cure. Poor nutrition, inactivity, abrasive surfaces (carpet, wood and wire) and obesity all contribute to the development of sore hocks. This disease is generally seen in the back feet, however is sometimes seen in the front ones.

3 monthly veterinary checkups As any pet ages, it is important to keep a close eye on their health and general well being. Annual blood screening blood tests are able to pick up internal changes early that may not be being outwardly expressed. Annual calici virus boosters should continue to be administered as elderly rabbits are still susceptible to this disease.