Putting on the Ritz

[special_kt9]

 Hi everyone! I’m Katie and I’m new on here. I have a six month old lop named Ritz. I believe she is a Holland Lop and she is named after Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis Escher (better known as MC Escher). When my friend told me that Ritz’s brothers had all developed their “cotton balls” and she hadn’t, we knew that Maurits was a Ritzy. LOL. She has become quite an ornery teenager – digging carpet, flipping her litter box. She’s too cute to get mad at though! My husband and I love her! We are first time bunny owners. In fact, she is our first pet together.

Here she is!

[bunnymum16]

awww what a cutie!

[nugget]

So cute! haha…cotton balls, that made me laugh. Ima gonna hafta use that one Welcome to BB! You will find that everyone on here is great, and very helpful!
(….and they all love pictures)

[LoveChaCha]

Very cute very cute

And welcome

FYI, your bun will ‘forever’ be a teenager if she isn’t spayed

[Monkeybun]

Thats for sure! Have you thought about getting your girl spayed?

[Beka27]

Welcome! She’s very cute!!!

In some cases, males can hide their testicles, or they may not fully descend, so a vet confirmation of sex may still be necessary.

[special_kt9]

 Thanks everyone! Yes, we are planning on spaying her (or neutering if that’s how it turns out, lol). We just found a vet for her and will be making an appointment for a normal checkup and then the surgery soon.  I’m nervous for her but I know its what she needs. Ack, a teenager forever!   Oh boy, yes, then we are definitely spaying her. LOL. It’s nice to meet you all. This website is really helpful. 

[LoveChaCha]

Hehe no problem

Feel free to ask your questions about spaying your girl, etc she sounds like a naughty little bun, hehe!

[jerseygirl]

Welcome to you! What a cute little bun Ritz is!!! Unique name for her also.

I must mention your screen name too – lol I’m also Katie and have signed my name “Special K” in jest before. ;o)

[special_kt9]

 Yeah, high five for Katies!  A friend of mine gave me that nickname when we were in junior high. He said “Special K…T.” 

 

I may have fixed the litter digging issue.  She has a corner litter box that she uses faithfully, even after she dumps the litter everywhere. I put velcro on the bottom so she can’t dump it now, but she was still digging out the litter, so I made a little grate to cover the litter and she seems to not mind it too much. I made it yesterday and no messes yet *knock on wood*. Maybe she was just telling me she was tired of getting her feet dirty. I clean it out regularly but I’m starting to think Ritz is a Miss Priss. LOL. She always demands to be petted and never grooms me back anymore, the brat. Sometimes she graces my husband with a couple licks, though.  But wouldn’t you know, as soon as I fix one problem, she makes another… she’s just started digging a new spot on the carpet.  I’m going to have to tear the carpet out soon, I think. It’s starting to look pretty bad. There’s hardwood underneath, though, so that will look nice once we sand it and put some varnish on it. She is quite a handful, that bunny o’ mine. 

[PuddleJumper]

Aww Ritz is a cutie!! Welcome to BB Im rather new to the site and rabbits as well and everyone here has been really nice and very helpful! cant wait to see more pics of Ritz!

[jerseygirl]

I bet Ritz would love her own special Diggy Box then!

[LoveChaCha]

Well, it sounds like bunny knows that mommy does the grooming, etc so she will only give kisses to the man It happens! LOL!

[special_kt9]

haha Yes, we are clearly a patriarchal home.

I made her a diggy box and she uses it a lot, but I’m thinking maybe it needs some reconstructing. It’s just an upside down box that I cut an entrance into and then put paper in for her to shred. The first paper I had was soft, almost cloth-like (some of my glassware was packaged in it), and she tore it to bits and loved every minute. Then I replaced it with tissue paper and newspaper, but after she tore all the tissue paper up, I replaced it with just newspaper and I don’t think she thinks its quite as fun now. Plus she can pop the top off, which she likes to do, and chew the sides up. I think maybe a more enclosed box with dirt or sand or something might get those impulses out a little better. I’ll have to look up some ideas. Thanks for getting me thinking about it.

Our vet called me personally from her cell phone this morning on her way into the office. I was still asleep, so I didn’t get to talk to her. I haven’t even called there, all I did was email. I was really impressed by that. She said she would email me later in the day with info about her experience. I already got an email from the receptionist with a little info – price and just a general “Dr. has a lot of experience with rabbits”. So far, I really like this place. Plus, the initial office visit, new patient fee, and spaying will cost only $98!

[LoveChaCha]

I wouldn’t recommend dirt or sand for a diggy box. Do you own a shredder?

$98 isn’t too bad. I paid $135 for my bunnys spay.

[special_kt9]

Yeah, I thought that was a great price!

No shredder here, but I think my hubby has one at work. I’ll have to have him bring some shreds home.

[Beka27]

Posted By special_kt9 on 10/01/2010 07:33 AM
haha Yes, we are clearly a patriarchal home.

So far, I really like this place. Plus, the initial office visit, new patient fee, and spaying will cost only $98!

 

$98 total?!  For inital office visit, spaying, anesthesia, and pain meds for after?  That’s incredible.  I would double check that everything is included in that cost.

[LoveChaCha]

Posted By special_kt9 on 10/01/2010 07:42 PM
Yeah, I thought that was a great price!

No shredder here, but I think my hubby has one at work. I’ll have to have him bring some shreds home.

 

Make sure it is newspaper or soy based papers Printer paper can harm. Or just give hubby a newspaper to shred up for bunny

[special_kt9]

Oh, yes, of course.  Or maybe a phonebook, if I can get my hands on one. 

And I double checked the email about the price and…  that didn’t include the price of the spay, just the new client fee and first visit. Darn it. She said we’ll discuss the price of the spay at the first visit. I’m glad you said to double check though, because I would’ve been disappointed when they told us. I guess I misread or just got too excited about it and mixed up the details. 

You all have been very welcoming and I really appreciate it! 

[Beka27]

I’ve never heard of a new client fee. Is that something that you actually have to pay? I would email or call them back and request to know the cost of a spay in advance of setting up an appointment. Tell them you’re going to check some other local vets to compare costs, which is well within your rights. And tell them if other rabbit vets don’t require a “new client fee”, you may take your business there.

 

My thought is:  if they are going to “pad the price” on the very first visit, what other “extras” are they going to add-on later down the road…  I’d ask for an email of the spay price breakdown, including the surgery, anesthesia, pain meds, etc…

[LoveChaCha]

I have been to 3 different vets and they have not added a ‘new client fee.’

[Monkeybun]

I’ve never had to pay a new client fee either O.o

[Beka27]

Yeah… it sounds to me like it’s just a way to add-on to their bottom line. If they would waive this fee for you, I might consider them, but you should still check around.

[special_kt9]

Hmm… clearly I’ve never had a vet of my own. LOL. Like I said before, she’s our first pet. I guess I just assumed that was normal. Well, I guess I’ll have to get more info and check the other vets’ prices. Thanks for the heads up!

[GrumpyBun]

If it would help, the House Rabbit Society has a list of vets on its website, you might find some to check out and compare there.

Welcome by the way!

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