MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Snowberry and I wish you all happy holidays.

Have safe travels to and from home.

Take care of yourself and bunny.

Be safe, thankful, healthy, and "hoppy".

AS WE GO INTO THE NEW YEAR DON'T FORGET ABOUT 

SOME NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN DO.

Some things you may want to do to take better care of bunny:

.Grooming and playtime

.Cleaning cage 7 days a week

.Feeding healthy food

Think of how you can better care for bunny.

TAKE CARE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I love a white Christmas. So does my Fuzz-butt bunny.

Grooming

Every rabbit should be groomed. Grooming includes brushing, trimming nails, and possible bathing.

Grooming is one of those things that you need to make time for. Grooming can take awhile. It all depends on how long bunny's fur is and what needs doing.

THINGS THAT SHOULD BE DONE DAILY: (15-30min.)

Bunny has to be brushed a minimum of once a day. Really it should be twice a day. If you have a bunny breed with long hair then you may to do it more often.

Check her ears to see if there is gunk in there or ear mites. See your vet if there is anything in there.

THINGS THAT SHOULD BE DONE MONTHLY:(15min.)

Clipping bunny's nails are important. Clipping is hard but it is easy to find tutorials on YouTube. 

You can also have your vet clip them for you.

Please do not, I repeat, DO NOT EVER give bunny a bath or take into the shower or pool with you. Some bunnies can get shocked by it and end up sick or even die. The only case in which you should bathe bunny is when her bottom is covered in dried poop. Even then, never fully submerge her. Just get her tush and then dry her very well. Do not use human shampoo, conditioner, or soap. You can help keep her clean by cleaning her cage often, letting her play outside her cage, and grooming her. 

I'm Bunnysitting

This is one of those things that has to be discussed before you get a bunny. Whose going to take care of bunny while you're away from home?  Bunnies aren't like cats where you can have somebody come once a day to feed and that's that. If you have a bunny sitter then they'll have to clean out the cage everyday, feed them hay that'll last all day long, and give them some playtime. Bunnies don't have an easy time being on the road. Flying on a plane can be traumatic for bunny if she flies in a pet kennel that she could very easily get sick from other animals, and stress. Most airlines wont let you take bunny with you on board.  A trustworthy bunny sitter is the best option for bunny if you are going on vacation. You could board your bunny at a pet hotel, or hire a professional bunny sitter.

A bunny sitter should be a reliable person who reads instructions carefully. It should also be someone you now well (i.e family friend, cousin), or a professional bunny sitter who handles rabbits. The bunny sitter should know how to properly clean out the cage and supervise her while she plays. They will also have to come everyday. It is a good idea to invite your sitter over to your house so you can show him/her how to clean/feed/play/ take bunny out of the cage. If you have other pets like a dog or cat and they don't get along with bunny, then you'll have to tell the sitter to let bunny play in a separate room.

WHAT TO LEAVE WITH YOUR SITTER:

.Your vet's info and the vet clinic directions in case an emergency happens with bunny.

.Instructions on feeding amounts, playtime, and a page on emergency health problems. 

.Leave your cage cleaning supply where they can find it

.Leave food (and measuring amounts) out too.
.Any medicine that bunny needs and how to administer them.
.Do not let your bunny sitter take bunny on walks
.Do not allow bunny to hop freely around the house, if the bunny is only going to come once a day

Bunny's Health: Chubby Bunnies

Being a chubby bunny isn't healthy. She may look cute being plump but she sure doesn't like it. Being a chubby bun can lead to avoidable health issues. It can shorten her life span and make her more lazy. If bunny is already lazy then being chubby wont help. 
If you want bunny to have a long, healthy life then now is not the time to keep letting bunny get chubby or more chubby.

Causes That Lead to Chubbiness:
Bunny can get chubby easily. Being fed the wrong foods or to many treats can make her chubby. If bunny is not let out to hop around a minimum of 1hr a day she can gain weight too. A small cage with no play toys can make her bored and lazy.


What to do if bunny is Chubby:
Let bunny get out and play! She'll learn to like it even if she is lazy. She may just sit there at first, but after awhile she'll get bored sitting and play. Don't over feed bunny or give her too many treats. Get bunny a bigger cage. She'll enjoy extra levels to hop around on. You can also ask your vet for advice. *(Please read the underlined words as they are links to past posts. These will help you keep bunny fit and trim).

Make a few check up trips to the vet to check bunny's health. Ask your vet what bunny's ideal weight should be.

Spaying and Neutering:What is it?

What is it?
Fixing bunny is a surgical procedure that keeps bunny from having babies. It'll keep them from wanting to mate and is important if you have both boy and girl. You should never have one fixed and not the other. If you only have one rabbit then you can probably pass on fixing him. Unless he starts to show signs of aggression, is very territorial, pees everywhere, or you want another bunny should you get him fixed. Also, never go to vets that don't specialize in rabbits. A rabbit needs a special vet that deals with rabbits regularly.

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering:
.Keeps bunny from having babies.
.Helps aggressive bunnies to be less aggressive.
.Helps keep bunny from having the need to pee on everything (marking his/her territory)
.Can help keep bunny from types of cancers.

If you take bunny to get her fixed take note that the vets may or may not keep her overnight.
They will probably give you pain medication and you'll have to make sure bunny's cage is cleaned out REALLY well. Avoid picking bunny up around the tummy or allowing her too much exercise. She may be groggy or a bit sleepy the first few days after surgery.

Note for parents:There is always a risk in bunny going into surgery and not coming out. Remember that vets are always very careful about bunny. Sadly, mistakes do happen. Although this very, very rare.

Pain Medicine.

Fuzz-Butt and her incision.

Outdoor and Indoor Rabbit Safety

When you first get a bunny, your family has to decide whether or not you will have an indoor or outdoor rabbit.  Indoor rabbits in general can live longer than outdoor rabbits because they are not exposed to as many elements as the outdoor bun. This lesson will help you know what you need to know about outdoor and indoor bunnies.

INDOOR BUNNIES:

Most people have indoor rabbits. An indoor rabbit will live its life inside the house. An indoor bunny can hop in the yard if you have one but the cage and main living space is inside. A bunny that lives inside the house should have a large cage and a safe spot to play in indoors ( i.e a spare bedroom or an area in a finished basement). The bunny's cage should be in an area of the house that is somewhat exposed to main family areas (like a rec room, office etc) so bunny doesn't get lonely but also in a quiet area so she doesn't get stressed out by noise. One thing that many indoor rabbit owners do is put the cage in a spare room with a few windows, and then make an entire "Bunny Room". The bedroom door would be replaced with a baby gate. Bunny could hop freely around the "Bunny Room" and then be put in her cage overnight. You can find great rabbit room ideas online!

OUTDOOR RABBITS:

Outdoor rabbits live there lives outside. On a back porch/patio, or in the yard. Even so, an outdoor rabbit will need to come inside sometimes (like in bad, hot, or cold weather) so a cage should be available inside your house. If bunny will live outside then you need to make sure that her cage (or hutch as it is sometimes called) is safe and secure. It will need to be very big. At least 3 levels and a safe hiding spot for her safety. Just make sure that you can reach her hiding spot if you need to get her. The hutch should get at least 4 hours of sun a day and she should have an extremely safe rabbit pen to play in. Your yard will have to be rabbit proofed. Make sure that bunny is safe from predators like raccoons, possums, and wolves. She shouldn't play with wild rabbits or be near them as they carry illnesses that can make bunny sick.
You can find rabbit pens and rabbit hutches online as well!

A Healthy Bunny is a Happy Bunny

If you keep bunny healthy then she can live a long and happy life! Bunnies need special care and have many needs. If you know what things can help keep her healthy then you can have her for a long time. Here are ways that you can make sure bunny stays happy and healthy.

ENVIRONMENT:
Bunnies need an environment that doesn't have a ton of noise, no "enemy", and a cage in a good place. Noise can stress bunny out a lot so don't play loud music around her or have a party in the area her cage is in. Try to keep bunny's cage in a place that is not a main highway for your family but so she does have some time around you all so she doesn't get lonely. Put her cage in a place that has sunlight, but no direct sunlight. Also, make sure that if bunny lives outdoors there are no ways for her or anything else to come in or out. If bunny is kept outdoors make sure you bring her in for the night and take her inside if it is above 80 degrees or below 50 degrees. Make sure her cage is safe and secure.

FOOD:
Make sure that bunny gets a small amount of treats and fruit and a good amount of veggies and hay. Certain types of veggies are not good for bunny. Feed her a mixture of some greens 2x a day. Water is also important give her clean water with no chemicals or human water sweeteners. If you feed bunny pellets only give them to her once a day and in a small amount.

EXERCISE:
Bunny needs at least 2-3hrs of playtime a day. Bunny also needs safe toys in her cage to encourage playing. Beware of toys that have lots of dye in them. Some of the chemicals in the dye can be toxic to her. Give bunny some empty toilet paper rolls to chew on. They are safe toys and good for her teeth health. Let bunny play on floor that is not slippery. She shouldn't play on carpet that she could chew. Never give her a box filled with sand, newspaper, or cat litter to dig in. She should also have plenty of things to hop over and climb on to encourage fun play and exercise.

HEALTH CARE:
Give bunny a daily health check to see if anything is wrong. If you notice that bunny seems sick or depressed then take her to the vet. You can also take bunny to the vet once every 3 months for a check up or whenever you feel the need to.

Handling Bunny's Sweet Tooth

All bunnies have a sweet tooth. Some have more of a sweet tooth than others, though.

Making sure bunny has healthy food is essential. Good food keeps bunny strong, and happy. Too many treats will make bunny sick, chubby, and she may end up with health issues and die at an early age.

What you may think isn't a treat and is just a "healthy snack" might not be.

Common things that people call "rabbit friendly food" are any kind of rabbit "fiesta" mix and pellets (depending on the brand). "Rabbit friendly" fiesta mix often has things that are bad for bunnies. They have things like seeds, extra sugar, and honey. Never feed bunny something that isn't meant for rabbits! Pellets were meant to get bunnies fat. Yup. That is the truth. Now, however, pellets are made better and healthier. Still, if you give bunny too much of even a good brand, she could get chubby. If bunny has never had pellets before, then don't give them to her. Pellets are generally pretty sweet (even fairly good pellet brands) so bunnies like them as treats. A bunny should be given pellets only once a day. A large bunny can have have 1/2 a cup. A small bunny can have a 1/4 cup. I only give Snowberry 3tsp. because she is extremely lazy. I know that she would get chubby overnight if I gave her more than that!

Good treats for bunny are carrot tops and carrots (half a carrot is good for a big bunny, a baby carrot is good for a small bunny). Apple slices, and papaya chunks are healthy and great. (No seeds for either fruit as they're toxic)! Don't buy fancy store bought papaya chunks, buy the papaya at a store where it is cheaper.

Papaya is a very healthy sweet treat for bunnies. The papaya is good for poop health and digestive health. Papaya is a great first aid for pearl poops. 
You can buy papaya at the store, cut it up into small cubes, and then freeze some in the freezer. If you freeze them then you can thaw some out if you want to give them too her. Do not feed bunnies the seeds of papaya as they are toxic!

Signs of Poor Health

Bunnies don't like to show it when their sick. Because of this it can be very hard to tell if bunny is sick.
It doesn't matter how well you know bunny, she'll hide as best he can. There are things we'll never know about our bunnies (and people!) no matter how well we know them. However, knowing bunny well can help you to identify bad health in bunny.

Know Your Bunny's Likes:
By recognizing what bunny likes you can see if poor health affects that. Does she like to eat and is not eating? Does she love to hop and play and is suddenly too weak to play? You get the idea, right?

Know Your Bunny's Behavior:
If you know how bunny behaves around certain people, noises, and/or situations you can see how her behavior will be affected by poor health. Does she like to be around people and suddenly is lethargic? Is she most often happy and sweet and now seems aggressive and depressed? Seeing her behavior change rapidly is bound to give you a clue.

Call Your Vet If You See These Changes:
.Not eating anything or vomiting up food**
.Lethargic, not responsive or sitting in a hunched position**
.Not pooping or peeing (ALWAYS check the litter box)**
.Diarrhea, mushy poop, or peral poops**
.Poops that are strangely small*
.Hard, doughy stomach**
.Rapid and/or labored breathing** Do not wait! Go to emergency vet care ASAP!
.Loud tooth grinding (either a sign of pain or a happy "purr")*
.Coughing, rasping, sneezing, and labored breathing*/**
.Overgrown front teeth, or lumps along the jaw**
.Discharge from nose and eyes*
.Straining to pee and poop and/or  peeing or pooping blood**
.Scabs, wax or crusty stuff around ear*
.Non lop rabbit with a flopping ear**
.Head tilt, difficulty balance, sudden weakness,** Do not wait! Go to emergency vet care ASAP!
.Sore hocks (red swelling on heels. change litter brand and clean cage more often)*
.Dandruff (possible fur mites)*
.Unable to lift head or support herself. Falling over. Do not wait! Go to emergency vet care ASAP!

**=Needs to be taken to the vet within 5hrs or ASAP.
 *=Needs watching. If it doesn't go away or gets worse then go to the vet within 12-24hrs.

Please view later posts on some of these health issues in detail.

And no----She REALLY didn't eat the cake!!!!!!

First Aid: Minor/Severe Bleeding

Eek. Such a scary thought I know. My bunny has cut herself before. Not severely.

Since I'm sure you hope that you can know how to care bunny for bunny, let us take a look at first aid.

Prevention:
Make sure that there are no sharp objects in the grass, or bunny's cage. When clipping her nails be careful not to cut too close to her blood vessels. Bunny skin is very delicate. If she cuts herself it can go from 1 to 10 in minutes. You have to treat her very quickly or get vet care.

A note for you:
I know this is hard in the moment but have to stay calm. This will keep bunny calm. When you are calm you can think clearly. 

MINOR BLEEDING should be taken care of ASAP to prevent infection and/or worse bleeding.

Apply a damp cloth to the cut using gentle pressure. Clean the wound daily with warm water. Sometimes you may have to wrap it with a small ace bandage if the cut is on her leg. It is wise to seek medical attention.

SEVERE BLEEDING is an emergency. Call your vet and go to them at once. Take a bigger towel/cloth and apply direct pressure to the wound. Put an ace bandage over the wound and then appy a towel for pressure. STAY CALM AND IT'LL HELP BUNNY STAY CLAM. 

Note to parents: If something very bad happens (such as a loss of limb or eye etc.) then you need to do the samething that you'd do in the event of severe bleeding. Apply a large towel and pressure. Call the vet. 

A Note For Parents:When should my kid get a bunny?

While this blog is meant for young children I think that this post is very important to parents.
Parents all ask themselves, "When should I get my kid a bunny?". So they make up excuses for the cute lil' love of their life. She's great with animals. He's ALWAYS wanted a bunny. This'll teach them about responsibility. So when do you know if your child is ready? Well consider the following things......

1.How responsible is she?
2.How good is she with caring/respecting animals?
3.Is she good with instructions?

1.Kids who want a bunny need to understand one thing:The child (who the bunny belongs to) is the one to clean the cage, feed, and groom the bunny.  Unless your child is young enough to need your help, he should be able to feed, groom, clean the cage, and watch bunny. I got SB (short for Snowberry) when I was 9. SB was mine. All mine. Not my mom's or dad's. I was the one to do all the bunny stuff. Unless I was sick the job was mine. Your child should also be responsible BEFORE you ever get her rabbit.  A rabbit is a reward for showing responsibility, gentleness towards animals, and a desire for a bunny. Not a something to make the child be hard working, gentle, and motivated.

2.Children like animals. However some may not be as good to them as others. Younger children (in general) tend to be more rough around animals than older ones. If your child is young (6 or younger) it may be good to hold off. This will be a great time to let your child learn more about bunnies! Children will need to learn about holding positions, and what bunny shouldn't eat etc. A young bunny owner (like 7 or 8) doesn't mean anything bad. I got my little Snowberry when I was 9. She has grown up with me into my teen years and remains a big part of me.

3.This kind of goes back to #2. If your child is young she may not understand the importance of why there are rules about certain things and how important they are when it comes to bunny. What if she doesn't listen about food importance and feeds bunny a chocolate chip cookie? Or lets bunny out of the cage and doesn't watch her and bun gets hurt? Or gives bunny a pipe-cleaner to play with which bunny chokes on? She/He must be old enough to understand the absolute importance of instructions and why they must obey them.

In the end it is up to the parent to decide. I would say the child should be 7 or older, responsible, caring, and a good follower of directions. Even if she doesn't meet all the "requirements" she should at least know what you require of her to do on a daily basis. If the bunny is hers then she will carry the bulk of bunny's care.

Seriously! Who doesn't want a cute lil' ball o' fluff?

A Note on Treats

So.....What is a wise treat (or treat amount) to let bunny have?
Everybody likes a nice sweet. With bunnies it is very important to watch her sweet intake. Please note that pellets (depending on the brand) and "rabbit friendly" fiesta mixes are almost just as sugary as sweets. It is always better to avoid any store bought treat unless its a very special occasion. ;)
Bunnies like natural foods. And- believe it or not- they like veggies and fruits for dessert! Not only will bunny be healthier but she will be happy too! Bunny would be happy with just 3 or 6 baby carrots. (Remember small bunnies get a little less). Carrot tops are great. So are small apple chunks, pear chunks, and papaya (no seeds). Pineapple is good too.
Give bunny treats 2x a week. Twice a day. Not to much though.

Protection for Bunny

Ever thought about what might happen to bunny if something really bad happened? (i.e. she got stolen or lost or went missing in a terrible storm).

Lots of people live with no protection for their pets. So that doesn't mean that you should. If bunny gets lost, stolen, or you loose her during a bad storm you will soon realize what you needed to do.

What if bunny gets stolen?:

PREVENTION-Bunny should not be left outside alone. A rabbit hutch should be kept in an area not visible to the general public. She shouldn't be tied tied up outside like you would a dog. Don't take bunny out for a walk with no leash on and then turn your back. Lock your house and don't leave windows open while your gone. You could always install a camera in the yard where bunny is kept or in your house where bunny is in her cage.

WHAT IF IT DOES HAPPEN-You can file a police report. Don't wait too long though if you want to file one or it will take longer to address the problem. Put up signs in your neighborhood to let people know to watch for bunny and offer a reward. 

What if bunny gets lost?:

PREVENTION-Rabbit proof your yard and make sure you watch bunny when she is out there. Don't leave bunny attended in your yard unless she is safely in her hutch/secure bunny pen. If you are walking her do not take her off of the harness. You can ask your vet if you can microchip bunny.

WHAT IF IT DOES HAPPEN-Put up signs in your neighborhood. Keep a look out for bunny. Safety note:Don't put a collar on bun.

Thankfully this rarely happens to rabbits. It is more common with dogs and cats.

If you never see bun again remember, its OK to be sad. Don't take it out on your family. If it is someones fault forgive them. Don't be bitter. If it is your fault for something don't kick yourself for it.

Remember the good times with bunny. Give thanks for the time you had with bunny. 

BUNNY LUV 

Dealing With an Aggressive Rabbit

Do you have an aggressive bunny? I did. Fuzz-Butt (Snowberry's nick-name) was a pretty mean girl. When she wanted to be that is. (Just like her lovely mamma)! 'Twas such a nightmare! Everyday when I tried to feed her or clean up her cage it was the same: Open the cage, get bite, open the cage, get bit. Being a 9 year old rabbit owner to a 6 month old aggressive dwarf rabbit was not easy! So, since I understand how you feel let me share with you what I learned. Remember......
Be kind to a mean bunny. Don't be mean or cruel to her. This will only make it worse. Sometimes it has to do with you. Think for a moment. Do you ever speak sharply to bunny or make "aggressive" movements? Do you forget to feed bunny? Clean her cage?
If bunny bites you or scratches you then give her sharp NO and put her in her cage. Do not give her treats.

APPROACHING THE CAGE & DEALING WITH THE AGGRESSIVENESS:
Approach casually. Don't be nervous, bunny'll see that as weakness. Speak calmly, in a quiet voice, and a little firm. Place your hand above bunny's head and then take her out. If bunny bites, say, "NO!" very loudly and don't give her treats! Do not hit bunny. Seriously consider getting bunny fixed. Unfixed bunny's can be very territorial and aggressive. 90% of SnowB's aggression went away after we fixed her. Be considerate to bunny. Respect her. Talk to your vet about bunny and se if he has any ideas about what you can do to help bunny be nicer.

NOTE: Bunny bites can get easily infected. Please keep all scratches and bites clean. Never  lash out at bunny in anger.


So who is the boss? You or bunny?

my beautiful lil' devil

Walks, Swimming, and Baths

I'm sure that at one time or another you've seen a person walking their pet rabbit. Maybe a friend had a party with their bunny in a lil' kiddie pool. So, is walking bunny bad? Is it OK to let bunny have a dip in the pool or in the shower with you?

WALKING--  Walking bunnies has become a little more common in the past few years. However, it has also become even more hazardous. Why? Well, dogs for one thing, animal diseases, loud noises, and even people can sometimes be a bit of a hazard. Bunny can also very easily catch fleas, ticks, and other bugs. A dog could easily attack a bunny while you are walking her or if she is not being properly watched. Heatstroke, cold wind, rain, hail, or sudden thunderstorms can lead to a sudden panic attack. (VERY dangerous.) I personally don't recommend walks for bunny, but if you want to-with adult supervision-you may walk her. REMEMBER: Bunny should have all her shots and should be on a HARNES. NOT A LEASH. Always have bunny on a leash that is attached to a harness. Always. Take bunny out on nice days. Don't let young children walk her (6 years or younger). Don't let friends that are little walk her. Don't run with bunny. Hold her if you see a dog.

SWIMMING AND BATHS. No lie, bunnies can actually be pretty good swimmers! So does that mean that bunny should get a dip in your big/kiddie pool? How about sprinklers? NO. DO NOT EVER take bunny into the pool with you. Bunny will not like you for it. She could end up sick, or drown and then die. Bunnies are very susceptible to the cold and could get sick. She could also get water in her mouth and get germs from that.

"But she loves the pool", "But I'm having a pool party. Come on." Sorry, no. It is not a good or safe idea. It may be a good idea to avoid sprinklers too.

Heat Strokes

Bunnies can get very hot in the summer so it is not to rare to have bunny get heat stroke.

Heat Stroke: What is it?

Heat stroke (we'll just do HS for now OK?) is when bunny gets too hot and gets overheated. This can make bunny pass out and possibly die! 

Prevention:

Bunny should never be outside in over 85 degree weather. However, 80 is a better limit. Don't let her do heavy work outs in 82 degree weather.

If it is very hot inside fill up a plastic soda and/or water bottle, freeze it then put it in bunny's cage. 

NOTE: It is a good idea to not put bunny's cage  in direct sunlight. (Not in complete shade)

What would I see if bunny gets heat stroke:

.Rapid breathing

.Panting/gasping/raspy sounds

.Limp and/or unresponsive 

.Feeling oddly hot

.Laying flat (which bun may do to cool off. This does not always mean he has HS)

.Slow/No Heartbeat

.Fast heartbeat (bunnies do tend to have a faster heart rate then people)

First-Aid:

Get bunny into shade ASAP! Wrap a cool, damp- not wet!- cloth around bunnies ears, not her whole body. Keep bunny in an air conditioned room. Offer her cool water. If she is unresponsive for over 15min. take her to the vet.

Chilling out, Snowberry?