TH E B U N OL OGIST

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March 2012
Ricky Gervais is cruelty free for the buns Little Til dies Sharkira adopts 2 buns Rabbit Rescue Aging gorilla find a friend with pet bunny Adopt me! Life at the Do Hop Inn Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Rabbits

Ricky Gervais is Cruelty Free for the buns

12 March 2012 Cruelty Free International

Shakira adopts 2 buns

13 March 2012 E.online

Ricky Gervais launches global campaign to end cosmetic tests on animals. There is no worldwide ban on animal testing for cosmetics. Despite progress with some countries and companies, over 80% of the world still allows animals, including rabbits and guinea pigs, to be used in cruel experiments. In a global market it is important that all countries ban the practice to avoid testing simply moving around the world to those countries with no effective laws. Visit their website: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org

The Colombian songstress has become the proud parent of not one, but two adorable little rabbits. "Meet our baby bunnies," Shakira tweeted along with a few shots of the adorable duo, a male and a female, as well as the above pic showing the "Hips Don't Lie" singer cozying up to her fuzzy friends.

Rabbit Rescue
http://www.bigearsanimalsanctuary.com Big Ears Animal Sanctuary are currently undertaking a rabbit rescue in Tasmania. They need your help.

Little Til dies

The Germans, it seems, are very keen on unusual animals at their zoos as a tourist attraction. Little Til, a 17 day old bunny apparently born without ears was to be their next big thing. Very sadly, his little life was cut short when he was accidentally killed at the photo shoot.

If you can spare any money to help pay for veterinary costs to help some very needy buns, please send a donation to Big Ears Animal Sanctuary at the link above.

Pictured left is Mayhem. She is one of the rescues currently living at Big Ears. She is a survivor from a meat rabbit farm.

Aging gorilla stifles loneliness with zoo's gift of a pet bunny named 'Panda'
9 March 2012 - http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Adopt me!!
Peta & Leroy Location: Melbourne

These two gorgeous indoor bunnies are desexed and currently looking for a new home (only because of moving house and there is a resident fox terrier that is a danger to the bunnies). Leroy is placid, sweet and can be very entertaining. Peta oozes personality. She's affectionate (although doesn't like being handled) and loyal and has no issue speaking her mind!
If you could offer Peta & Leroy a new loving indoor home, please contact Emma at emmalouisesaunders@gmail.com

An elderly gorilla at a Pennsylvania zoo has a new companion: a bunny named Panda. The Erie Zoo's gorilla, Samantha, has been without a full-time friend since the death of Rudy, a male gorilla, in 2005. But officials say the 47-year-old western lowland gorilla is too old to be paired with another gorilla so they opted last month to introduce her to Panda, a Dutch rabbit, instead. Since their introduction, which was performed in gradual, precautionary steps, Samantha and Panda get along well. Samantha gently scratches under the bunny's chin and also shares her food. 'Right off the bat, they hit it off,' said the zoo's director Cindy Kreider, to the Erie Times-News. There was one time the zoo's chief executive Scott Mitchell recalled to the paper, however, where all breath was held when Panda hopped over to Samantha's favorite stuffed toy gorilla named Baby. The park officials knew in advance, no one is to mess with Baby. With Panda moving toward the toy, to the relief of workers, Samantha instead pushed Baby away, moving the doll so Panda could get by. Officials at the zoo say Samantha has always had a gentle personality and that if she was much younger, and they were not as familiar with her behavior, there could have possibly been more of a risk. Instead Samantha was hand-raised and was more comfortable around humans even when Rudy was alive.

Nibbles Location: Melbourne

Nibbles is a two & a half year old outgoing desexed and vaccinated female cashmere lop (vaccinated in December 2011). She recently lost her partner and her current family wish to find hew a new home and a new friend. After losing her friend recently, her current family do not feel that they can cope with another bunny. Nibbles has been spending a lot of time inside of late because she is on her own. She is used to a large inside/outside enclosure with lots of room to move. Nibbles is currently being groomed once a week and her fur rimmed every 4-6 weeks to minimise any matting. If you are interested in giving Nibbles a new loving home, please contact Monique on 0414 735 218 or kmblanch@bigpond.net.au

Life at the Do Hop Inn

By Karen (www.boingonline.com)

Then it was Missy & Charlie (both around 7). They were both in good health which is fabulous and just needed their vaccinations.

We have started yearly vaccinations and checkups for our buns at the Melbourne Rabbit Clinic. Mr Pumpkin (around 7 years of age) was first. His checkup revealed that he is overweight. Hmmmsadly, this I knew as he is very round and solid and always has been. He cant groom his bottom region very well and has to lie down to get anywhere.

(Missy (left) & Charlie (right)

Next was Rex (8) & Tessie (4). Rex had started to sneeze again and was diagnosed with upper respiratory disease. Its not too bad and weekly penicillin injections seem to keep it at bay.

Pumpkin having a snooze (check out that tummy!) My concern with Pumpkin is that he may develop bladder sludge or stones because of his weight and age. Ive stopped giving him his treat of pellets to eat (even though they are Oxbow) to lessen the chances of a problem. He needs far more exercise but he has been overweight since we found him many years ago roaming around a construction site. More running Mr Pumpkin!!! Next was Ally (9) & Peter (4). Ally was back & forth a few times due to a mild ear infection but otherwise he & Peter were very well. Tessie (left) & Rex (right) having a snooze on their pink fluffy bed Tessie was in good health and just needed her vaccination. Yearly calici vaccinations are very important to ensure that all buns are safe from this fatal disease. Even though our buns all live indoors, and chances of contracting calici is very limited, it is still something that we choose to do for the safely of our bunnies. Calici virus is a contagious and fatal virus that can be transported into your home on clothing and shoes.

Ally (left) & Peter (right)

Gastrointestinal Obstruction in rabbits

Melbourne Rabbit Clinic Handout www.melbournerabbitclinic.com Gastric Dilation in rabbits is commonly caused by gastrointesinal obstruction. Rabbits cannot vomit and when in pain continuously secrete saliva. The fluid accumulates in the stomach leading to the rapid development of gastric dilution at the level of the stomach-intestine or small intestines. Gas is produced which leads to further distension. Pain from the distension stimulates hormone release which causes secondary gut stasis. Gastric dilation can put pressure on the chest and compromise breathing and circulation of blood. In addition, changes to blood volumes and electrolytes occur. Common causes of intestinal obstruction: Pellets of compressed hair these pellets are similar in appearance to normal faecal pellets but larger in size. It is possible that the pellets are actually hard faeces containing ingested fur that was compressed during its passage through the colon and the rabbit has ingested this faecal pellet during caecotrophy and it was large enough to obstruct the intestine. Intestinal cancer Sweet corn, dried peas and seeds Carpet fibre Tapeworm cyst Post spey adhesion Intestinal intussusceptions

X-ray front view of gastric obstruction Surgery was chosen to treat the obstruction for this rabbit. This bunny recovered well and is still alive and well today. DIAGNOSIS Diagnosis of gastric dilation is on abdominal palpation and radiographs. Prognosis is poor to grave, depending on the clnical state of the rabbit and the duration of the gastric dilation. TREATMENT Medical Management Involves warming, pain relief, being on a drip and gastric decompression (often sedation is required to pass a stomach tube). In some cases, managed medically, the intestinal foreign body may pass into the hindgut. If the rabbit is bright and radiographically the obstruction looks to be moving then the rabbit can be monitored and treated medically. There is often a rapid clinical improvement if the obstruction passes into the hindgut and the rabbit may even begin eating. Surgery Exploratory laparotomy is often quick, easy and well tolerated in rabbits. It is often diagnostic and offers an opportunity to resolve a gastrointesinal obstruction. Prompt surgery is often ideal. A blood test is recommended to evaluate the risk of the general anaesthesia.

Common sites of intestinal obstruction: Small intestine Junction between the small intestine and the large intestine Large intestine (at fusi coli)

X-ray side view of gastric obstruction

From a welfare point of view, immediate surgery or immediate euthanasia is in the best interest of the rabbit with gastric dilation.