Any Rabbit advice ?

girlpower

Thanks Fire Fox and Picklepick.
Have appointment with vet tomorrow. She won't like it but really need to get it sorted.
She has never bitten anyone (she is a little sweatheart most of the time) but if you try to pick her up shes off, if theres no where to run she practically glues herself to the floor or ground depending on where is at the time. On the last few occasions I actually managed to pick her up she wriggles so much & trys to jump out of your arms so I just feel it is too stressful & dangerous (for her not me), she could hurt herself badly if she managed to jump from my arms.
She doesn't appear to mind being moved in her carrier, I open her hutch and hold it up to the door & she goes in it.
Dreading the vets tomorrow, she makes a huge fuss when I take her to get her nails clipped or her annual jabs.

staceysteve

Hey,
We have a mini lop and netherland dwarf and whilst the netherland dwarf is very particular and keeps himself spotless the mini lop is the opposite, I have twice had to cut poo out of his fur by his bottom, not pleasant but had to be done!!
Rabbits go really quite still if put on their backs so although thye struggle at first they seem ok when settled on their backs.
I put on my rubber gloves and away I went, left a little that was closest to his bum as didn't want to hurt him and he successfully cleaned this himself!

girlpower

staceysteve wrote: »

Hey,
We have a mini lop and netherland dwarf and whilst the netherland dwarf is very particular and keeps himself spotless the mini lop is the opposite, I have twice had to cut poo out of his fur by his bottom, not pleasant but had to be done!!
Rabbits go really quite still if put on their backs so although thye struggle at first they seem ok when settled on their backs.
I put on my rubber gloves and away I went, left a little that was closest to his bum as didn't want to hurt him and he successfully cleaned this himself!

Thanks have not tried putting her on her back. Might try that in the future, going to leave her alone till we have been to the vet tomorrow as need them to see first.

Money_maker

On backs worked for us. We used to lay bunny on his back along our legs (sitting down) whilst we cut his teeth. He would almost go to sleep.

chelle230

my rabbit had a dirty back end, and did have to take him to the vets also, he has problems with his teeth so couldn't keep himself clean properly.
you have to be careful bathing rabbits as the shock can kill them, I was advised against it by my vet

girlpower

Money_maker wrote: »

On backs worked for us. We used to lay bunny on his back along our legs (sitting down) whilst we cut his teeth. He would almost go to sleep.

Thanks Money maker, will try it in the future. Sounds great if it works with her. Don't want to attempt it till she as seen the vet tomorrow as I don't want to give her any more stress at the moment.

girlpower

chelle230 wrote: »

my rabbit had a dirty back end, and did have to take him to the vets also, he has problems with his teeth so couldn't keep himself clean properly.
you have to be careful bathing rabbits as the shock can kill them, I was advised against it by my vet

Thanks chelle.
I had a look at some forums on rabbit care sites and looks like lots of people bath their bunnies and some even dry them with a hair dryer on a low setting, think that would really stress my little cutie out.
Mine has been a couple of times put her foot in her water bowl when she has been in the house (uses a bottle in her hutch) and she doesn't like getting her foot wet when she does that, treads in the bowl then turns round as if to say who did that to me? followed by shaking her foot a lot.
Certainly would not attempt it if the vet advises against.
Dreading the vets visit tomorrow, can not imagine how they are going to deal with her. The vet we had last time she went for her annual health check & jabs was not very understanding and said I would have to hold her (and should be able to) still and got quite cross with me. The nurse manages her better when she sees her for her nails to be clipped.

moggylover

I used to have this problem with two of my bunnies - the answer is definitely a hay and water diet. I spent quite a bit on tests and so forth at the vets, but in the end someone I know who breed bunnies for food was the one that said that rabbit mix can be too rich for some buns and causes slightly softer poo that sticks to the fur.

I cut the food out for a couple of months, and ensured there was LOTS of hay in a rack not just on the floor and the poo problem cleared up very quickly. Didn't even need to cut out their carrot and greens. Then introduced a very small amount of dry food only and they are fine now.

girlpower

moggylover wrote: »

I used to have this problem with two of my bunnies - the answer is definitely a hay and water diet. I spent quite a bit on tests and so forth at the vets, but in the end someone I know who breed bunnies for food was the one that said that rabbit mix can be too rich for some buns and causes slightly softer poo that sticks to the fur.

I cut the food out for a couple of months, and ensured there was LOTS of hay in a rack not just on the floor and the poo problem cleared up very quickly. Didn't even need to cut out their carrot and greens. Then introduced a very small amount of dry food only and they are fine now.

Thanks moggy lover, getting lots of good advise off this site, she appears a bit better today, the large chunk of poo appears (or at least some of it) to have gone, no idea where as can not see it in the hutch, will get a better look when I clean it out later. At first It looked like it had all gone but on closer inspection there is still quite a bit of poo but definitely not as much as it was hanging down between her legs before. Bless her, she must have tried cleaning herself up. Still going to keep the vets appointment this afternoon, best to get her checked.

As for veg, she doesn't eat much, not even that keen on carrots although if I put some in her bowl she eventually eats it during the night because it has gone in the morning. She loves kale but I can not get that this time of year. She eats small pieces of broccoli. Her favourite treats are raisons (not too often) and Dandelion leaves (again not available in winter).
I know not to give her lettuce and not although she will eat cabbage I don't give her that any more as it gives her an upset tummy.
What other veg do you give your rabbits?

She always has plenty of hay in a hay rack, I was getting quite cheap stuff but changed her hay about 8 weeks ago to Timothy Hay with dandelion and marigold, very expensive but as there are some things she does not get in winter live dandelion leaves I thought that it would be better for her. Now wondering if the change of hay could have upset her although I doubt it was that.

amy104

Hi Girlpower.

Can I ask how much commercial feed you feed your little girl? At her age medium size bunny should only be given a tablespoons worth. Sounds cruel I know but her diet should be 80-90% hay. Too much commercial feed can also attribute to mucky bums so if you feed a fair bit try to cut it down if you can.

Secondly is your bunny overweight at all? Sometimes this can mean they can't clean themselves properly.

Ask your vet to check her teeth as if they are overgrown this could also attribute to her not being able to keep herself clean. If your rabbit wont keep still when the vet sticks the scope in her mouth ask your vet for a towel to wrap her in a help keep her secure.

I hope you sort the problem soon.

I give my buns a variety of veg and herbs, say 3 or 4 different ones a day (Kale, Spring Greens, Brocolli, Parsley, Basil, Carrots, Celery, Bell Peppers, Spinach, Brussel Sprouts, Cucumber, Watercress, Rocket, Baby Sweetcorn, Cauliflower). Some things like spinach, parsley are high in calcium so try not to overdo these as too much calcium can cause bladder probs.

Edited to add:
Also what brand do you feed? Excel has been known to affect some buns in this manner.