Big Bunny Rant!! >:(

[AnnaW]

I am ranting about one of my rescue buns, Barney. It’s absolutely no fault of his own, and I absolutely adore the little guy. He’s an angora x something, probably lionhead … but he is such a state 90% of the time. I cant help but feel that it is cruel to breed bunnies to be SO fluffy that they are constantly matted, probably far too hot in summer and uncomfortable. What makes matters worse, is that Barney has a VERY sensitive tummy, and has very wet cecotropes a lot of the time (despite many diet variations, barely any pellets etc). My vet is sure that this is a result of him being mistreated in his last home, because he was not given ANY hay and was fed on hamster mix. 

In all honesty, I do wonder whether his very sensitive tummy has also been caused by the breeding of fluffy bunnies to create the perfect fur monster, with no regard for their health!  

I absolutely love Barney, he’s a little angel and IS adorable and fluffy, but I feel so sorry for him when it comes to grooming time and I find that he nearly always has new huge matts, especially when he has had a bad tummy. 

Does anyone else feel like this about their ‘special breed’ bunny? And also any tips for the terrible matting?

Thanks guys, just needed to get that out Have added some pictures of my little baby, two of them at his fluffiest when he can barely see! He has to be trimmed every couple of days or his fur grows over his eyes!

Love Anna, Barney and Belle x

[Tessie]

Awwwwww, he’s so fluffeh!!
Sorry, I know it must be a pain to be constantly dealing with this much fur.. :/

He’s so sweet though!

[bunnygirl]

Why would you feed a bunny HAMSTER mix?! UGH IT MAKES ME SO MAD. I SWEAR TO GOD I GET SO UPSET SEEING PEOPLE GET ANIMALS WITHOUT DOING THE PROPER RESEARCH ABOUT THEM. -sigh- sorry. I get pretty over protective and into things ._.

[bunnygirl]

Glad Barney’s with you now Anna!

[LopLove]

I admit, I always thought it would be so much fun to have such a fluffy bunny. Doubtless, there would be much fun to have, but I never thought about how much work that would really be. I never would have guessed that you’d be trimming every couple days! Also, your fluffy unicorn. I love him.

[Stickerbunny]

Well, angoras are supposed to have their fur harvested for making yarn, would a small trim with an electric trimmer in the trouble areas so there is less fur (and so fewer mats) be OK for him? Something you could ask the vet, anyway.

[jerseygirl]

It is surprising how quickly the matts reform. I saw that when I looked after a friends cashmere lop.

Like Stickerbunny, I’m wondering if an “undercut” of some sort would help? So trimming fur on belly, hind and feet quite short, leaving the rest long to cover. It seems to be the areas that contact surfaces that get really matted.

Maybe look on some breeder/shower pages too, to find out if there are tips for keeping them tangle-free longer. It would be great if there was a conditioner product but the downside is their self grooming.

A couple members recently have mentioned water source as being possible problem for tummy / poop problems. Something to trial with Barney and Belle?

You do an wonderful job Anna. He looks really good and that’s testimony to the time you out in for him.

[AnnaW]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. He IS adorable and fluffy, but he definitely takes a lot more upkeep than Belle … she’s the 3 legged one and yet never needs any help or extra attention! Such a good girl
When I had Barney neutered I did ask the vets to cut off any big matts that they could see, he looked SO sad coming back from the vets all sore and half bald! But it did the trick … for about a week. We have tried using quiet human hair trimmers on him but they TERRIFY him, the worst places are his bum and tummy, and his legs also get a lot of matts on them. But he just gets so terrified, he only lets me touch those areas of him at the very best of times.
So the only real solution we’ve come up with is someone stroking him whilst I cut the matts with small scissors, but it’s pain staking and makes me nervous incase I cut him! Barney doesnt enjoy it either, he squeaks and grunts and snuffles his face into me thinking I’ll protect him, which makes me feel awful

He’s such a darling, and I love him to pieces, I just have a lot of guilt surrounding him being matted and uncomfortable, and me causing him distress trying to sort it all out
Thanks everyone x

[Sindri]

Your bunny is so cute. I do feel your pain when it comes to dealing with mats. I really wanted a fluffy bunny but dealing with a Persian, Himalayan, shih tzu and a shih Tzu mix I didn’t want to deal with another animal that gets mats. My cats have horrible mats this season. I called to get them shaved but it would cost me $400 plus for both cats so I have to fight them to cut them off. I wish our animals could understand they need to sit still and let us get those darn things. It doesn’t seem to matter how much I brush them they still get them.
So I again I totally understand how you feel. I wish I had some tips to help you out.

[MoxieMeadows]

You should try to brush your bunny as often as you can, and trim out any mats. I know what you mean about people just breeding them for fur, it gets me annoyed too! I have an angora and she is a darling, but she’s the type that has the same amount of fur on her face/legs/tummy as other buns, she also has guard hairs to avoid matting.

 

 I also didn’t like the conditions of the breeder’s rabbits. But anyway, these buns can give just as much love as any other bun! Mine is a little love bug! Make sure he eats PLENTY of hay to avoid wool block.

Good luck!

[MoxieMeadows]

Oh, and your bun is SOO cute!

[tanlover14]

Hey Anna – WHAT A HANDSOME LITTLE MAN!

I say your addition about his tummy issues. There is a new food going after that has been helping a lot of buns with recurring GI issues. It’s called Sherwood Forests. A LOT of rescues around the country have been advocating their Maintenance and Support pellet as decreasing or eliminating their GI issues with a lot of their bunnies since beginning the pellets! I am switching my own little guys to this as soon as it arrives. Simba has been having recurring GI issues as well. I can let you know how it does for him! Maybe it would help your little man as well?

The ingredients are all natural and organic. And there is nothing bad for bunny! It’s currently one of the top rabbit pellets on the market – may be worth making the switch if theres a possibility it could help!

[Eepster]

What is your current day to day grooming routine?

[AnnaW]

Sindriona – I had persian too, they were matty little beasts but thankfully chilled enough to let me comb them out! I know, I wish they could understand we’re trying to help!!!! Thanks

Moxie Meadows – I wish barney had those guard hairs! it seems to be the fur closest to his skin that matts the worst, whatever those hairs are! thanks

Tanlover – thankyou for that suggestion!!! I will look into that food and where I can get it in the uk, I have just read some great reviews! if that could help his tummy I will be so pleased!!!!

Eepster – I basically grab and groom him whenever I can, little and often is best for barney as he gets quite distressed by it!

[KytKattin]

Such a precious little furry guy! You are really making me appreciate my Rex though. I just take a lint roller over her sometimes, or wet my hand and pet her a few times, and we are done. Plus I had to leave her with my mom for 2 years while I was at college, and I don’t think she could have handled the fur. I do have a dog, pictured with my former rabbit Nova in my siggy, and she has an “innie” for her privates that means I have to keep the fur very well trimmed and bathed every week or so to prevent yeast infections. I don’t think I ever want another long haired animal again!

Have you tried making the clippers associated with positive things? Such as, during dinner the clippers are on/running nearby. Or, the clippers are turned on, here is a treat! Basically, desensitize him the the noise of the clippers. I personally haven’t had to do it with rabbits, but I have with horses. They tend to be pretty similar when it comes to scary things and how they get over them. Except a scared rabbit probably won’t trample you!

[AnnaW]

KyKattin – Aw I love rex bunnies! :3 Yeah I have, unfortunately with unknown things he is very timid anyway – he LOVES cuddles from me and if he is out and about he can usually be find snuggled up as close to me as he can physically get, but with anything new he’s very frightened. We have lived in this house for 4 months and still doesnt actually hop anywhere, he crawls! We call him the little fluffy toad haha
I have done some de-sensitising with horses too, it was terrifying Hahaha Barney scares me a lot less than that horse did! Bucking and bronking, and charging me, as you say, as least Barney cant do a good job of trampling me!!

[jerseygirl]

We have lived in this house for 4 months and still doesnt actually hop anywhere, he crawls!

That’s a bit odd. Is he uncertain on the flooring? Does he hop when he’s back in enclosure?

[AnnaW]

Yeah, Barney IS odd haha! He’s a very special little bunny. Not really, sometimes he hops a little when he’s outside or in the conservatory running around, but mostly he crawls pretty much everywhere x

[jerseygirl]

Does his vet know he does that?
Just thinking perhaps he’s got something going on with his spine or hips. If that was so, it could well tie in with his stomach issues.
Funny little guy! He’s turned out to be the special needs bun, not Belle.

[Beka27]

He is so precious, but I feel your pain with the high maintenance… Don’t have any other suggestions for you that haven’t already been mentioned… Just try your best. He’s very fortunate to have you…

[bunnytowne]

When i had my lionhead Ruby I trimmed her bum area with scissors.  She would just lay in my arms on her back and let me trim. 

Seems like your little beauty won’t do that tho. Can you have the vet do it?  I don’t know how costly the groomer or vets would be.  The groomer at our vets is 60.00    That can really add up.  

The desensitizing seems the best options.  Awe I am so sorry your little beauty is having such a hard time with matts.  And he isn’t cooperating with you trimming so he is more comfy and not so matted. 

Gosh I wish they could understand we are trying to help them.  I bet it does break your heart he tries to hide his head under your arm.  

I love him he is beautiful.   I love long haired rabbits and cats.  I love the extra grooming.  Well I did with Ruby she didn’t get matted and she was so calm and gentle.  So sweet.  She wasn’t afraid when I trimmed her. That really helped.  

I would love your boy tho.  

[AnnaW]

Sorry for the late reply everyone, hospital shifts have been manic this week.
Jerseygirl – Yeah my vet does know … she said it could either be that he is very nervous of new things or could be from his previous habitat which was very crowded with other rabbits and guinea pigs, and on concrete so maybe he was sitting funny a lot of the time. Yeah, you’d never know Belle is special needs compared to him!

Beka27 – Thanks, I really appreciate that! He’s my little prince, I just feel bad for him!!

Bunnytowne – Your ruby is absolutely gorgeous!! Glad you had less trouble than I did with matts! My vet once clipped him when he was put under anaesthetic to be neutered, but he gets soooo frightened when he’s conscious that I get genuinely worried he’d have a heard attack! So i think i’ll just have to keep clipping away every day, a bit at a time and then let him go when he gets too upset. Bless him.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Coincidently, he has a sore tummy again today. xxx

[jerseygirl]

{{{Barney}}}
I hope you’re able to get to the cause of these gut troubles.

[AnnaW]

Thanks Jersey. He is feeling a little better this afternoon and is out playing in the garden with Belle, hopefully plenty of hay will sort him out. It just seems to be an ongoing problem, he has it a couple of times a week sometimes and occasionally is so poorly that he’s all hunched up and wont move That used to panic me to no end and I would go and get him meds from the vet, but he always seems to right himself within a day and can be tempted with some herbs to keep his gut moving. Bless him! x

[tanlover14]

He kind of sounds like Simba.

What is his pellet intake, Anna? I use Oxbow but after going through all these bouts with Simba we have seen better results from limiting his pellets. We haven’t experienced an episode with him since! And he was getting to be at least once a month. Maybe this would help? I will also let you know what happens with Sherwood Pellets. I’m in the process of discussing it with my vet. She had concerns (that everyone else has concerns with – high calcium/alfalfa WITH timothy) and the biologist who created the product gave me his cell number for her. So I’m waiting to hear back from her on her take after discussing everything with him. He went on and on in all these biology terms on WHY the alfalfa is okay in their pellets (they balance it with phosphorous? – for anyone who is biologist savvy?). Anyways, I’ll let you know what she says as my boyfriend & I agreed to not give it until we have her complete support. For obvious reasons!

[jerseygirl]

TL, I 1st came across the calcium : Phosphorus relationship here. It goes into it a little.
http://www.galensgarden.co.uk/herbivores/herbivore-nutrition/minerals

I don’t know the biology behind it. I think a lot of food rabbits graze on in the wild is naturally balanced. Many of the grass hays fall withing the ideal Calcium to Phosphorus ratio.

Anna, check out the Galens Garden shop too. Got some great looking stuff that might suit Barney’s sensitive tum.

[tanlover14]

I just spoke with my vet – so she doesn’t think the Sherwood is terrible – and she said if she had a bun with no tummy issues on it, she wouldn’t tell them to switch BUT she still thinks that the Oxbow is better. I have decided to stick with the Oxbow – although I asked her about the other two adults foods (organic & the natural science) to see if their was any extra benefit to switching to those.

The alfalfa use at all still is not something she thinks should be in there. I’m not sure how you all are – but my boyfriend & I prefer to treat our rabbits based on research, which is why we decided to get her full opinion before switching. She linked me this article as well which is between the calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D content which is one of the cases Sherwood makes – not adding D3: this vet journal article says that D3 in moderation does not affect:

“I like FHBs work. You should read her thesis. I believe it is available from Royal College of Vet Surgeons in UK.

The quantitative requirement of vitamin D for the rabbit has not been determined. The classic symptoms of deficiency are rickets in growing animals and osteomalacia in adults. Under normal circumstances (calcium levels in excess of requirements) rabbits are very efficient in absorbing calcium, a process that seems to be quite independent of vitamin D status. Bourdeau et al ( LongLink @ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov… ) showed that the net intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus in adult rabbits is similar for rabbits deficient in vitamin D and those with vitamin D-supplemented diets. Febel and Huszar (Examination of the effect of vitamin D3 on Ca and P metabolism in the rabbit with isotope method. Magyar Allatorvosok Lapja 122(4): 209-213; 2000) found that the injection of a large dose of 100,000 IU cholecalciferol did not affect calcium and phosphorus excretion via the faeces. In addition, excess vitamin D3 increased renal tubular reabsorption of calcium, but did not affect that of inorganic phosphorus. Levels of vitamin D3 as low as 2300 IU kg−1 are detrimental to rabbit productivity, with increased fetal mortality, depressed appetite, diarrhoea, ataxia, paralysis and death

Excess vitamin D, rather than deficiency, is more likely to be a problem under practical conditions. The excess causes resorption of bones and calcification of soft tissues such as the arteries, liver and kidneys. The incidence of problems because of excess dietary vitamin D3 is more acute when calcium is fed in excess of requirements. Probable vitamin D toxicity in rabbits fed a diet containing 23,000 IU of vitamin D per kg. The observed signs were high blood levels of both calcium and phosphorus and calcification of soft body tissues. Consequently, the recommended level of vitamin D3 for rabbits is low and should not, under practical conditions, exceed 1000–1300 IU. Most of the commercial premixes surveyed are within this range, but >0.3 appear to have an excess of this vitamin. ”

Here is the article this was in response to:

https://www.naturalrabbitfood.com/timothy-hay-for-rabbits/#calcium

She also a little leery of the helping GI issues, simply because a lot of things in the past have been deemed “useful” in treating stasis when later research shows this is almost usually untrue. Some examples that come to mind are pineapple (pineapple now has been shown that the enzymes are broken down too quickly for them to be of any use) and Reglan being used a gut motility drug (my boyfriend & I got access to The Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine which is a site full of the most up-to-date vet articles and research) when in reality, no one has ever been able to prove it actually does this in rabbits. My boyfriend and I tend to agree as we are very big on research rather than old wives tales. It’s easy to say something works – but if there’s no substantial reason as to WHY it works, it makes it much harder to believe.

Long story short, we are not switching anymore. So now I have 8 lbs of Sherwood pellets for no reason Haha! Maybe I’ll donate them to our local shelter/rabbit rescue as I know they have been using Sherwood with their GI buns which is what pushed me to look more into in the first place.

[khrisangel]

Just a side note: My buns both crawl or scoot alot. Lol. Mostly when they are on the tile. When on carpet they binky away

[Author]

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