Quote of the Moment
Nov 23
The late Muffin as a young girl, checking out Boo Boo, the cat! Little did Boo Boo know she would be “serving” the “Queen” one day!
Cold Weather and Your Bunny
Nov 23
I am one who is completely against a bunny being kept outside. For one, it is your pet and should be around you, the caretaker, for attention, love and bonding. Secondly, the outdoors have many serious risks. These are not hares in the wild, roaming free to at least dig a tunnel and hide from predators. Rather, they’re pet rabbits confined to a hutch, with nowhere to go or truly hide should a predator try to attack (and yes, predators can easily break into a hutch).
Additionally, being out in the cold can kill your pet rabbit (no differently than being out in extreme heat). Many pet rabbits die in this cruel manner. However, despite this sad fact, there are still going to be many people out there determined to keep their rabbit(s) out in the cold, in a hutch. With that said, below are some tips to adhere to, to ensure your rabbit doesn’t suffer the cold winter.
- Ensure there is a place for the rabbit to hide. For one, this will provide extra protection from predators. Secondly, it will provide blockage from the strong winds which typically accompany winter weather.
- Provide adequate heat. Your bunny is NOT invincible. No animal can survive any kind of weather–wild or otherwise. Some people have heated hutches, but most do not. Either provide hot water bottles the bunny can lay against, or hot patches, which are cheap and can be found in any store. They will stay warm for usually eight hours or even longer. Provide a thin pillowcase to lay over them, though, as some can get very hot, and might scorch your bunny. Replace regularly.
- All animals need exercise! It’s common sense, although many people still think a bunny just “sits there.” Well, if the bunny doesn’t have adequate room to stretch and run, what do you expect a bunny to do? Ensure the hutch is large enough to allow the bunny to get in some exercise.
- Like any extreme season, food can rot quicker. Ensure hay, pellets, etc., are healthy and fresh, and not ruined from the extreme temps.
- Ensure water is not frozen! If it’s very cold out, put out warm water–not cold. This will not only make the water take longer to freeze, but the warmth of the water ingested will warm the bunny’s body temp.
- Place plenty of plush towels or the like within the hutch, so the bunny has something warm and protective to comfort him or her. Throw the towels, etc., in the dryer, for extra warmth and comfort.
These are but a few suggestions to ensure your bunny is getting adequate care through the winter time. I cannot express enough my disdain for rabbits being kept in hutches. I think it defeats the purpose of even having and enjoying a pet. I cannot imagine having my pet away from me, so to me, it’s absurd. Furthermore, I feel having a rabbit in a hutch in cold, windy, horrible weather is plain cruel. I know of one person whose rabbits died being kept in a hutch in the winter time, and it is a cruel way to die. It is easily preventable. Keep your bunny inside. After all, why wouldn’t you want to?
Quote of the Moment
Oct 21
Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by what is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him?
~Pierre Troubetzkoy
Cute Pic of the Moment
Oct 1
Pepper and Cupcake enjoying a small snack together!
Tribute to Muffin
May 6
On April 18th, 2011, the beginning of Passover, my beloved bunny, Muffin, died. She was almost nine years old. I was out of town when it happened, and although a part of me was sad and guilty I was not there when she died, I also know God spared me in a lot of ways.
My mother found her, and it appears she went to sleep and died in her sleep. I guess her body was just tired. Just two weeks prior, she was quite jovial and alert. It was as if she had one last surge of energy before going. I hope that she knows how much I love her, and I hope I was a good mommy to her.
It was tough to see her stiff body, as I stroked her fur and kissed her head. Obviously, I had many moments of sobbing. A soul is a soul, and love is love. It matters not what species it is. She was with me almost a decade, and very special to me. I wrote her a letter, which I read before I buried her. My friend let me dig a grave right behind his patio, where there are woods. There was a nice clearing just for her. I buried her on Good Friday.
I made her a heart-shaped grave marker, saying “Muffin–Forever My Queen. Died on Passover, April 18th, 2011.” It was raining outside, which made digging the grave easier, but it was also depressing. I read Muffin my letter and kissed her goodbye and buried her with her favorite red rug, bowl and the letter.
I will never forget Muffin. She had a personality all her own. She would grunt at me, demanding her treat, which I loved. She was best buddies with my cat, and they would play, nap and eat together. Muffin had some medical issues, but she was always a trooper. In a way, I am glad she is where she is, knowing she is not in discomfort or pain anymore. And I know one day I will see her again.
I love you, Muffin.
Muffin’s Grave
The Monty Python Bunny!
Mar 15
Oh no! Looks like Muffin is being stalked by the Monty Python rabbit!
Pet Hamsters Killed
Mar 15
Please Note: Even though this isn’t about rabbits, I still like to report animal abuse of any kind, since it’s all within the same circle of principle I wish to address.
A horrible case of animal cruelty, where a Brooklyn woman threw some hamsters onto the ground, killing them. This is not the first time hamsters had been killed in this home. My friend emailed me this link, that of the article about the case. The good news is it was taken seriously; the bad news is the charges got dropped. Click the link to read the full story, and the conflicting reactions to the story.
I grow tired of people like this thinking it’s “not a big deal” to hurt God’s creatures, whether it’s just because they enjoy it, or they feel it’s “just a hamster” or “a guinea pig” or a “rabbit,” and so on. It is NOT for us to determine which soul is worth less than which. The vessel in which the soul resides does not reflect superiority or otherwise. A soul is a soul–period. Animals are perfect and sentient entities, actually, and it is the innocence factor which counts. To maliciously hurt any animal is no different than hurting a baby.
If something can give and receive love, then it is equally important, and certainly important to God. It takes a coward to abuse an animal. Those are the people who need to be locked away and made an example of. It is time we begin respecting animals more. Taking care of the weakest members of society reflects the progress and greatness of a society. More people need to speak up for animals, since they don’t have a voice. And I will do my little part in this.
I am a huge advocate of exposing animal abusers, and I will never feel bad about exploiting who those people are, and give them the “Low Life Award.” So, here you go, hamster-abuser of Brooklyn; here is your ribbon…
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/charges-dropped-in-hamster-killing-case/
Q: Hi Kristen! I wanted to know at what point should I worry about my bun’s changes in going to the bathroom. My bun, Oscar, seems to be going to the bathroom less. I am thinking about taking him in, but wanted to ask you first if this is something necessary or if I am being too paranoid. Thanks! –Gary, Virginia
A: Hi Gary! Thanks for writing me, and I’ll do my best to help you. I assume you read my e-book, or no? It’s free to open and read, so I suggest you check that out, not only for this question, but for other questions you might have in the future. Having said that, I will reiterate some things, but also add on to the info already found in the book.
Unlike other pets, it is of UTTER importance that you keep a keen eye on a rabbit’s bathroom habits. Dogs and cats don’t go to the bathroom nearly as much as rabbits do. Secondly, rabbits are prey, so it’s instinct to hide their illness, which can make it very difficult for even a supposedly trained or experienced rabbit owner to notice changes. It is great that you have noticed this. Many people do not, and to their dismay, the rabbit gets very ill or dies right under their nose.
Fecal matter is a key way of being able to tell if a bunny is sick or on his way to becoming sick. Rabbits don’t meow, bark or whimper, voicing pain or illness. So, we have to “up” our detective skills and use what we can. Paying close attention to their bathroom patterns is one of the few ways we can detect a problem.
A rabbit’s GI tract is VERY sensitive, so any changes in diet will induce changes, henceforth, in fecal droppings. I am not a veterinarian, but I can tell through my experience some basic changes and what they could mean.
If your bunny is dramatically pooping less, then for sure take him to the vet. A bunny can easily fill a litter box in one day. If he is only filling it halfway or two-thirds, this doesn’t necessarily mean he’s sick. He could just have gas and it’s making it hard for him to go. I err on the side of caution, and backtrack to the things I’ve fed my rabbit. If you have given him a treat such as broccoli–which is a VERY gas-inducing vegetable–then this is most likely what’s causing your bun to slow down hopping into the litter box.
Is he curled up and mot moving much? The first thing I do is put a few drops of Milicon Infant Gas Drops into his water bowl. If he really doesn’t feel like drinking, I force a few drops in his mouth, using the side opening “pouch” of a rabbit’s mouth. Just gently stick a little of the end of the dropper into the side pouch opening, and squeeze some in. Of course, he will recoil, but as long as he gets some in, it should its job. This will break some of the gas bubbles down. I did this with Cupcake, when some broccoli didn’t sit well with her, and within hours, she was hopping around again and going to the bathroom.
If this doesn’t seem to work, then something worse might be going on. Are the poopies your bun, Oscar, is releasing, small and hard? Are they black/very dark? His GI tract could be sluggish, also known as GI stasis. This is the early stage of GI blockage/obstruction. IF this is the case, your bun could die within 72 hours. So, time is of the essence. I’d err on the side of caution again (always with a bun!), and take him to the vet. I did this with Muffin when I noticed her fecal matter was small, hard and dark, and she wasn’t pooping much. She would lay around and not move.
When I took her in, the veterinarian told me that it was prudent I got her in when I did, because she had severe GI blockage, and needed surgery. Most rabbits do not survive the surgery, and it’s even worse post-surgery, because the hardest part is getting the GI tract moving again. This takes a lot of time and effort on the owner’s part. You’re talking 2-3 medications, massaging the belly, 24 hour watch for changes, Pedialyte to get the tract going, and more! Luckily, I did everything right and she survived. She is now almost nine!
Anyway, if the poopies are small, hard and dark, this could mean GI stasis. If your bun is not moving, and just sitting bunched up, then there very well could be a problem. Take him to the vet ASAP. ALWAYS TAKE YOUR BUN TO THE VET IF HE IS NOT USING THE BATHROOM AT ALL.
If the poopies are bloated and light-colored, this could be from too much fiber, which usually levels itself out over time. The key is to watch how many veggies you’re giving. Just because rabbits are vegetarian doesn’t mean their GI tracts can handle the veggies with zero issues. Just like a human, veggies and fruit are good for us, but it takes time for our stomachs to adjust. Gas and bloating can be very painful for a rabbit, and it comes on very easily from ANY change in the diet.
Only give SMALL pieces of veggies and fruits. For example, don’t give a whole carrot, despite the cartoons we grew up with and what we were taught or thought was proper to give. Buy a bag of pre-sized baby carrots, as those are a perfect portion size. Only give one and wait to see how the bun handles it. Same goes for lettuce and especially gas-inducing foods like broccoli and apple. Only small slices and pieces! A good gauge would be the piece should be no bigger than two of your fingers put together. Lettuce can be the size of your whole hand but no more, especially if it’s very dark lettuce.
If your bun has a lot of cecotropes (again, read e-book for full details), this is typically a dietary change, and the bun’s body is trying to adjust. Watch giving too many treats, especially if you’re giving carb-related stuff. The only things a bun should have ample amounts of are water and timothy hay. If you’re using alfalfa hay, this could cause many issues, too, as it is much lower in fiber than timothy, and has a lot higher protein percentage/ratio, something only a very young bunny can handle for a short time.
Your vet will ask you about the bun’s diet, and be honest! Don’t lie or hold back. He or she can’t help you if you don’t give proper information. Absorb whatever tongue-lashing you might receive, and see it as a learning experience. Humility is essential in caring for a rabbit, because they are such fragile creatures, and our egos kill rabbits every day. Sad but true.
Anyway, this is a basic rundown. Once again, please read the e-book to learn more. Hope this has helped, and please let me know how Oscar fairs!
Passed Out Pepper
Mar 11
I couldn’t resist stroking my bunny, Pepper, while he slept! That’s my baby boy!
