Question:
Have you ever heard of a rabbit grinding their teeth? I am worried that I am hurting my rabbit because when I pet him he makes a grinding sound! Is my rabbit okay?
J.
Answer:
Hi J!
You have nothing to worry about! This is actually a sign of contentment in rabbits and is similar to how a cat purrs when they are happy. Your rabbit is making this noise because he is happy you are petting him!
The extremely talented Cammilla sent us a surprise today! A little while ago she had asked if I could send her a few photos of Ollie because she wanted to sketch him. Then the other day I had this waiting in my inbox! She captured Ollie perfectly and I think this is such a beautiful piece of artwork! Thank you so much Cammilla and thank you for allowing me to share this with our readers!
Submitted By: Shelby
Meet the adorable Pennie and Buddie! Pennie and Buddie are approximately 1 1/2 years old and while Pennie is a lop, Shelby says Buddie’s breed is unknown as he was a discarded Easter bunny who Shelby rescued. Pennie is the ultimate Princess who loves to give you the evil eye if things don’t go her way while Buddie is a complete Momma’s boy enjoying snuggles, cuddles and being lazy.
Thanks Shelby!
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Question:
BudgetBunny,
I’m getting my rabbit neutered in a few weeks and was wondering if it’s okay for them to resume everyday activities afterwards or does there need to be some recovery time?
A.
Answer:
Hi A!
After the surgery the most important thing to do is get your rabbit eating. Provide lots of hay, pellets and his/her favourite treats and veggies! Now is not the time to watch their diet, you want to ensure they get their gut moving as soon as possible. Rabbits who go without eating can easily go in to g.i. stasis which completely shuts down their system and can cause death. Sometimes offering small amounts of really sweet foods like banana or apple can help as well. You can also offer a small amount of apple or pineapple juice (no sugar added). In extreme cases you may have to resort to force feeding Critical Care until your rabbit begins eating on it’s own again. It’s okay if your rabbit just nibbles here and there the first few days as they have just undergone a major surgery and may not be up to eating much. The important thing is to make sure that they are indeed eating.
You’ll also want to keep your rabbit caged for about 7-10 days and block off access to any ramps/levels in the cage. The more they stretch, hop and move, the more likely it is that they will put pressure on the wound and could rip or tear their stitches. The incision needs time to fully heal before bunny becomes too active again.
To prevent anything from getting trapped in the incision, remove any litter or shavings from the cage and/or litterbox and replace with sheets of newspaper. Change these twice daily to keep the living area nice and clean as you don’t want to cause an infection. This is a great time to check how much your rabbit is pooping. The more he’s pooping, the more he’s eating.
Finally spend lots of time with your rabbit. He’s been through a lot and will want the comfort of his owner to know that he’s going to be okay. If your vet has sent him home with antibiotics make sure to give them as per your vet’s instructions. Continue to monitor how he’s looking. Is the incision clean? Does it look like it’s healing well? Is he eating and drinking? Are your rabbit’s eyes clear and bright? If there is anything that is worrying to you about how your rabbit is acting please seek the advice of your vet immediately.
Usually Mondays are a day where I blog about the bunnies but as our family dog peacefully went to the Rainbow Bridge this past Friday, I wanted to dedicate today’s post to her.
Maggie was a lovely miniature schnauzer who came in to my life when I was 13 years old. We have had an amazing 15 years together that’s included numerous hikes, vacations at the cottage, snuggles, laughter and tears.
In her later years she lost most of her ability to see and hear as well as many of her teeth. Although this may have slowed her down Maggie still had her bursts of playfulness where she’d chase my sister’s dog, throw a bone in the air or just start bouncing around giddily.
Maggie suffered from what the vets believe was a stroke Friday morning that left the back half of her body paralyzed. Although she seemed alert and free of pain we decided this was her body’s way of saying that it was time.
I feel so blessed to have had such a lovely dog in my life and Maggie, know that your family loves you and will always have you in our hearts.
xox
Submitted By: Camilla
This is Raion, a 1 year old mixed breed who has alway been very tame but is only just discovering how awesome a good snuggle with her mom is! She also loves to sleep on her favourite pillow and destroy anything noisy that crosses her path!
Thanks Camilla!
For more sweet rabbit photos check us out on Facebook!
Want your rabbit to be Bunday Sunday’s featured Bun? E-mail your pics to info@budgetbunny.ca!
Please read our disclaimer under Submissions before sending us your photos!
Question:
Hi BudgetBunny!
Can bunnies have dust baths? I got a rabbit care sheet from a pet store that had a shopping list attached and one of the supplies it recommends is a dust/sand bath.
Thanks!
A.
Answer:
Hi A!
Rabbits are fastidious groomers and are constantly washing themselves. They do not require dust or a bath given by humans to keep clean. In fact giving a bath to your rabbit can be extremely stressful so I wouldn’t recommend it unless it’s absolutely necessary. Generally it is small rodents and chinchillas that use dust or sand to aid in their bathing ritual. Many pet stores add unnecessary items to their shopping lists so you will purchase more from them. The fact that dust is on the list may suggest they are also wrongly classifying rabbits as a rodent. Unfortunately many pet stores sell products that do not actually have the intended pet’s well-being in mind.
Alternatively, some rabbits do enjoy digging in sand. You can purchase play sand from your local hardware store which is perfectly safe for rabbits. Many people create a digging box for their rabbit by filling a container with this sand. Some owners have reported that their rabbit enjoyed a good roll in the sand as well but sand is definitely not a requirement for owning a bunny.
Interesting question!
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