CARE FOR YOUR BUNNY. (Health care for Angora rabbits)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	Health care for Angora rabbits
Date:	22/08/06 (2307 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A well cared for animal is a joy.

Disadvantages: Not being aware of your animals illnesses is irresponsible.

Illnesses in Angora Rabbits.

My reason for writing this is that I care very much about the health of little angora rabbits like mine, and having tried to source information on the Internet found that many of the sites offering advice were limited in their help, or that in fact the advice that they gave was questionable at best. Angora's are prone to many illnesses, and over the course of the past five years, I have learned how to cope with illnesses that affect our little fluffy friends, and hope that the information in this review will help an owner who finds that their little one is suffering.

Looking out for illnesses.

One of the most important parts of owning a pet like this is the responsibility that comes with it. They are not just a big ball of fluff. They are a feeling animal that cannot complain when ill, because they don't have a voice. Recognising the pattern of behaviour of your rabbit is essential to its' health and to your peace of mind.

Things to look out for :

The rabbit doesn't eat.
The rabbit chews all the time.
The rabbit doesn't go to the toilet.
The rabbit cannot hold leaves in his mouth
The rabbit seems to slobber and dribble
The rabbit's eyes are swollen.

Causes.

Not eating can mean all manner of things, though is a sign that there is something wrong, since rabbits have a good appetite in normal conditions. When my rabbit did not eat, I worried, and tried to feed it by hand. Believe me, if rabbit really does not want to eat, his usual manner is that he will turn his back on you and this is his way of saying "Go away". Many illnesses can cause a lack of hunger, and the ones that an owner should look out for are gingivitis, snuffles, teeth problems or fur balls.

Gingivitis.

This is a nasty condition and causes horrible swollen areas around the rabbits teeth, making it painful to eat. This condition can be treated by anti-biotics, although in rabbits it is exceptionally difficult to know which anti biotic is the best for their particular illness, and a vet may have to try a few times before finding the right one. Be patient, be vigilant and do not be afraid to ask the vet to look, since bunny may not be keen on you looking, or you may not have the experience to look. Vets are accustomed to examinations and early diagnosis can take away a lot of the discomfort. Gingivitis can be made less arduous for the rabbit by wiping the gums regularly with a cotton bud to get rid of excess fluids.

Snuffles.

This is kind of a rabbit flu, and here many people are not familiar with what causes it. Changes in temperature are felt by our little fluffy friends, who are not keen on it. Also air borne germs can cause snuffles, and what it does to bunny is to make him dribble, and you will notice damp fur on his chin, and a definite lack of appetite. Again, this is an illness that you need to seek the help of a professional, and if treated immediately, can be cleared up in a matter of days. Never let the poor rabbit suffer more than it has to. If it starts to dribble, these are warning signs, and early treatment is preferable to leaving the poor little mite alone, hoping that he will get better. Towards the end of an episode of snuffles, your rabbit may need nurturing and encouraging to eat, and sometimes, having had problems keeping food in his mouth, an owner needs to remember that poorly rabbits need help. I have sat with a leaf in my hand whilst rabbit eats on many occasions, because a tired and afraid rabbit just gives up after finding they cannot hold a leaf in its mouth as it normally does. Little by little the encouragement does give them back their zest for life, until such time as they can manage alone.

Fur Balls.

Most animals can get rid of fur balls, by regurgitation. Rabbits cannot. It is for this reason that grooming is essential, since during the washing period, a fastidious rabbit will swallow rather a lot of hair, if the loose hair is not groomed regularly. Get your rabbit accustomed to the brush. Reward him after each session and never be rough. If, like my rabbit, yours lives indoors and has a little house, make sure that the house is always cleaned, and that carpets where he lies are regularly brushed as well, as a hair ball can be fatal. If your rabbit does not go to the toilet, there are a few aids from nature. Papaya and Kiwi are good as they break up the stomach contents so that they can be passed. Okay so if you have a fussy bunny like mine, you may have to resort to devious means, but these do work. For example, squashing a kiwi, taking the juice in a dropper and feeding it to the rabbit (in the side of his mouth), in very small quantities can be sufficient to ease the constipation caused by the fur ball. Olive oil in minute quantities does the same and here, it is not as natural for the rabbit and mine hates it.

Teeth Problems.

The main tooth on a rabbit continues to grow all the time. You may think you are doing your rabbit a favour feeding him all his favourite bits and pieces, but remember that the health of their tooth depends on having sufficient hard food to wear down the growth. This is essential to good health. Vets don't like to cut teeth, though will. They actually prefer owners to be caring in the diet that they give their rabbits. Having something to chew is good for them, and here I give mine little blocks of wood, and a square chalk like calcium bar which is hard and he seems to love chewing. I also ensure that his diet contains hard grain and things that work the teeth. Not eating can be a sign that the tooth has grown too long, and this really must be sorted before it becomes a discomfort for the rabbit.

Soft Stools.

This is normally a sign that the rabbit is not getting the right diet. High carbohydrate in the diet can cause a soft poo that gives off quite a nasty odour. To correct this, feeding the rabbit with a good balanced diet is the answer.

Urinary Disease.

Here, giving your rabbit sufficient water is essential. My rabbit has been extremely ill lately, and one of the main stipulations of the vet was not to make matters worse, and to ensure that the rabbit always had water available and was encouraged to drink it. Insufficient water can cause pain, and urinary infections that are pretty nasty and difficult for poor bunny.

Heat stricken Rabbits.

Imagine what it's like to be a big ball of fur, in the heat of the summer. Often, my rabbit lies on its' side on the tiling floor and I came to recognise that this was his way of cooling down. Never shock a rabbit by inducing coolness with ice cubes or have any ideas that this will help. Usually a rabbit can cope with heat, but a damp towel will help to cool him down without shock.

Nail Clipping.

Long nails on a little creature like this can hurt him. Make sure that you cut the nails regularly or if you are unable to, that a vet does.

If in doubt.

Once you get to know your rabbit, you will know when he is ill. Mine has been very ill and has hardened lungs which I cannot do very much about. When they become a problem for his breathing, the vet does give him anti inflammatory drugs and anti biotics, and it is sad to see a rabbit poorly, though sometimes I have to trust my vet to know what is good for him.

Care is essential. Brushing is essential, and watching out for any changes in the behaviour of bunny can make the suffering less. They are small creatures. Mine is a miniature and though it has an ornery character, nothing satisfies me more than knowing that I am there to help him when he has difficulties. The vet has told me to watch out for any sign of eye problems, since these indicate teeth problems that are serious, though fortunately, this has never happened in his case.

Treat your rabbit with respect, and let it enjoy you as an owner, as much as you enjoy it as a pet.



Rachel

Summary: They make wonderful pets if you understand their health needs.