Sorry, this post is a long one! Only look if you have some time :o)
I look on allexperts.com regarding rabbit issues. Generally, I find the responses given there to be considered and based on some sound knowledge. Mmm…. I came across this one yesterday………I’d call it interesting to say the least. I’ve pasted the Qu & A below as it was layed out haphazardly at the site. If you wish to view the original though, this is the link: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/Bunny-active-3.htm
Expert: Dr. Stephen Roush – 6/28/2005 (see detail re expert below)
Question – (from Krystal)
Hi,
I wrote yesterday to ask about my bunny’s sneezing sound. I think she is less active today. She takes the treat that we give her, but does not eat it. She usually finishes the pellets in the dish over night but she did not finish it all last night, but had a good amount.
She had been flipping over the food dish the past week, and wanted to attack us when we put our hands into the cage. She seems fine after we let her out.
She seems to be less active since yesterday, after 3 days of the sneezing sound. She does not let us play with her, but would let us pet her.
I am not sure if it is the change of weather (we live in Massachusetts) or if there is something wrong with her? We did not change her pellets/hay and give her fresh food and water. She is not old enough (15 weeks) to eat greens yet.
We took our last bunny to the vet, and she did not help. The bunny died after having diarrhea for a few hours. We could not visit her. We are afraid that the vet would not be able to help this bunny either, so we want to see if we can do anything at home to make her feel better.
Can you please help? We are very worried. Thank you very much.
Answer –
Krystal.. I never got a question yesterday..Perhaps you sent it to someone else. Let’s start with the issue of sneezing..It is due to a irritation or allergy, and is not uncommon for rabbits, just like people. Is there any white mucus coming out? I doubt it. If there is, she has a minor cold and needs an injection of Combiotic penicillen. Time usually cures these issues if it is something else. (See below about hay.) She is irritable because she is an adolescent and is starting to feel the call of nature to breed. Bear with her and she’ll settle down as she gets a little older…or else she will stay ill tempered, just as some people are prone to do their whole l;ives. Sorry but we cannot always control how animals (or people around us) behave.
The really, really important infromation is this…Don’t let her die…and here is the solution… feed her only 4 ounces of rabbit feed, and just 4 ounces, and nothing else. Your last rabbit died because you fed it ‘greens’. This is a domestic rabbit, and is not related in any way to the wild ones whoi live outside. Different genus as well as species.) It’s digestive system is not conditioned to digest ‘greens’. If you stay with the prepared 16% protein rabbit food (about $5 for a 25 pound bag at feed stores) she should be OK..I mean it…NO treats. I have raised about 200-300 rabbits a year for over 30 years..so that is over 6000 rabbits. I now am a small producer with a 54 hole rabbitry and just over 70 rabbits, and still, I rarely ever lose a rabbit. I feel that your bunny is going to be OK.. A thing you need to do is to remove that hay, also. (I know, I am taking the fun out of having a bunny..sorry!) That hay may have a mold or dust that is causing the sneezing also, even if you cnnot see it. This is not uncommon….Short story..No greens , no hay, no treats, just 4 ounces of rabbit food (a small tuna can full) once a day and all the water she can drink. I know, you think she will starve..but she will not.. and give her an extra 4 ounces of pellets about every three days if she seems hungry.. The healthiest rabbits always have an empty feeder the next day. Did you know they usually eat at night, and are primarily nocturnal? I know I sound harsh, but this is the reason my rabbit herd never sneezes and never gets diarrhea.(In case you are interested, the diarrhea kills them because they only get Vitamin B through ingesting their own soft fecal pellets late at night. (They cannot digest vitani B, even if it is in their food.)When they have diarrhea, they can’t get the Vitamin B and this deficiency ultimately, along with dehydration, causes their death. Be good. Regards, Steve
Question
Hi Steve,
Thank you very much for your reply. I am wondering if I should get her a companion? I bought her at a pet store, and I am thinking about getting another female bunny. She gets angry when we keep her in the cage for too long (bite our fingers or approach towards our hands fast) when we open the cage to put food/take something out from the cage. I think it might help if we get her a friend. Should we get the same type (lop)? Or it does not matter which types we keep?
She is only 15 weeks old. When do you think is the best time to get her neutered/spayed (We are new to keeping a rabbit as a pet, and we’ve been reading books/websites on them)?
We try very hard to try cutting her nails or check her teeth. She simply does not like it when we hold onto her or pick her up from the ground. She lets us pet her, though. We got some suggestions such as wrapping her in a towel or hold her down on the floor. I am just afraid that she will keep attacking us with her nails and not let us cut them.
One more question, and sorry for the long messages.
We are using paper bedding (http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?familyid=7466&sku=6704402401&tab=6&dept_id…) and not the wood/chip kind of bedding. Do you think this might cause any allergic reaction?
I hope you are right about her having ill temper at this stage. I am very worried about her health, and will get the rabbit feed. Thank you very much again.
Krystal
Answer
Krystal.. Under no circumstances will you want to ever leave her with any rabbits, other than her own babies, and even then not after they are about 3 months old. They will, literally, tear each other up! I use all wire cages, including a wire bottom of 1/2″ X 1″ mesh, and it is great, as they do not sit in thier own urine or poop, and it is easy to clean.. having said that, when i used to keep rabbits in solid floors, I always used wood chips for bedding…but softwoods, like pine..as hard woods cause problems. (It is very cheap, like $5 for a large cu. ft. container at Tractor Supply..or even Wal-mart.) You want my honest best opinion, breed her and let her have a litter of babies. Leave her with a buck for about 2 minutes, and if she is ready, they will be done! Then give the babies away to friends. Then you will have people to ‘compare notes’ with. It is good experience and will generally clam her WWAAAAYYY down. Then you can get her spayed..or not, as that is expensive and may not do the trick…especially given your bad experience with Vets and rabbits, thus far! Hope this is useful.. Steve
About Dr. Stephen Roush
Expertise
Can answer any questions on rabbit coat color genetics, showing and shows, rabbit registration, and rabbit judging
Experience
Licensed ARBA Rabbit registrar for 26 years, ARBA Judge for 23 years, Have judged over 500 rabbit shows. Past chairman of ARBA Judges Educ. Committee, past member of Standards Committee, Past Cahirman of ARBA Commercial Committee, have written over 50 articles on the subject of rabbit production and genetics, purebred breeder for 30+ years. Currently have small 64 hole rabbitry, automatic waterers, etc.
Organizations
American Rabbit Breeders Association, Minirex Rabbit Club, Georgia State Rabbit Breeders Association, NW Ga. RBA
Publications
ARBA Domestic Rabbits magazine, Rabbits magazine, ARBA Judges website, Minirex news, Many other specialty breed newsletters, edited 3rd Holland Lop guidebook, 5th American Chin Guidebook
Education/Credentials
Doctorate in Adult Ed.(Va. Tech), Masters in Agricultural Education (Va. Tech), Bachelor of Science in Animal Science (NE Mo. State University)
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