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| Teeth problems in Bunnies |
| Increasingly rabbits are been seen for dental
problems- overgrown teeth. A rabbit's teeth grow continuously
throughout its life and are usually worn down by the grinding
action as they eat the tough fibrous material in their diet.
Studies have shown that rabbits fed exclusively on grass and hay
are extremely unlikely to develop teeth problems, whereas those
fed on mixed diets are much more likely to have teeth problems.
This is partly because of selective feeding (rabbits eat the
bits of the rabbit mix they like), and also because of potential
calcium imbalance in their diet. Our tip is to put bunny out on
the grass and let him chomp. Make sure he has good quality hay
in his hutch for when he is in there, and please, don't give
rabbits sugary snacks! They need a high fibre, low protein, low
energy food. |
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| Rabbit Whispering Myth or Fact? |
| There is talk of
rabbits being "hypnotised" by cradling them on their
back and massaging them. In fact, research by Dr McBride, an
animal behaviour scientist at Southampton University, shows that
rabbits are more stressed when put into this position-
their stress hormones and heart rates increase. So far from
being relaxed as they appear, they are actually not enjoying it.
This technique is not recommended unless it is to keep your
rabbit still during nail clipping etc. |
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| Vaccines
Please remember that myxomatosis vaccines need to be given
every 6 months to rabbits. It is a particularly horrible viral
infection which is almost always fatal. |
| Pesky Flies
Summer brings out the flies, which for rabbits are more than
just a nuisance. Flies can lay eggs around soiled bunnies
rear-ends, which can quickly hatch out into maggots. Maggots can
do a lot of damage very quickly and literally eat away the skin.
Our top tips for avoiding "fly-strike" (also
known as myiasis) in rabbits are:
- check bunnie's bottom every day and give it a good clean
and dry if it is soiled with faeces or urine.
- make sure your rabbit is on a good diet of grass and
hay to help prevent diarrhoea.
- clean the hutch regularly so your rabbit is not sitting on
soiled bedding.
- speak to the vet about getting an application to put on
your rabbit's bottom to discourage flies.
- keep your rabbit active so he/she doesn't get overweight-
ensure he has a good run in the garden.
- If you see maggots, get him/her straight to the vet.
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