Discussion
I've not posted in the thread before, but last week, we very sadly lost our rabbit, Buddy.
Buddy was a 'rescue rabbit' inherited from our neighbours just before they moved house. They had asked us to look after him one weekend they went away, and whilst he was well cared for, he was a little under stimulated given their children had all grown up and moved away. We rarely saw him running around or out the hutch, and after our kids fell in love with him my wife suggested to them that we take Buddy on. They agreed and he became ours in November last year.
When we got him, they told us he was over 10 years old having been born in Springtime, so we knew we were on borrowed time. We bought him a huge new hutch, loads of toys and bunny-proofed the garden. He took some weeks to adapt, but after a while his personality shone through with a mixture of cantankerous old man, vs playful and nosy depending on his mood. He became incredibly mischievous getting in to places and eating plants he shouldn't have.
Around June time he developed Stasis, but my wife caught it early and the vets managed to save him. He made a full recovery and he enjoyed the summer evenings running round our garden playing with the kids. He would regularly forget his years and knacker himself out, having to retire to his hutch for a lay down
Things went well and he was very happy right up until last week, when he got Stasis again. Although my wife caught it early again, it was more far gone and the vet wasn't confident he'd make it. He seemed in quite a bit of pain, so with a very heavy heart my wife made the decision that he shouldn't suffer any more and he was put to sleep. We had had him just under a year.
Telling the kids was awful and I'll happily admit it knocked me for six when my wife told me. We decided it was best to bring him home and he is buried in the garden under the lawn. My wife put some bulbs just under the surface so every Spring (around his birthday) they'll flower to remind us of him.
RIP Buddy
Buddy was a 'rescue rabbit' inherited from our neighbours just before they moved house. They had asked us to look after him one weekend they went away, and whilst he was well cared for, he was a little under stimulated given their children had all grown up and moved away. We rarely saw him running around or out the hutch, and after our kids fell in love with him my wife suggested to them that we take Buddy on. They agreed and he became ours in November last year.
When we got him, they told us he was over 10 years old having been born in Springtime, so we knew we were on borrowed time. We bought him a huge new hutch, loads of toys and bunny-proofed the garden. He took some weeks to adapt, but after a while his personality shone through with a mixture of cantankerous old man, vs playful and nosy depending on his mood. He became incredibly mischievous getting in to places and eating plants he shouldn't have.
Around June time he developed Stasis, but my wife caught it early and the vets managed to save him. He made a full recovery and he enjoyed the summer evenings running round our garden playing with the kids. He would regularly forget his years and knacker himself out, having to retire to his hutch for a lay down
Things went well and he was very happy right up until last week, when he got Stasis again. Although my wife caught it early again, it was more far gone and the vet wasn't confident he'd make it. He seemed in quite a bit of pain, so with a very heavy heart my wife made the decision that he shouldn't suffer any more and he was put to sleep. We had had him just under a year. Telling the kids was awful and I'll happily admit it knocked me for six when my wife told me. We decided it was best to bring him home and he is buried in the garden under the lawn. My wife put some bulbs just under the surface so every Spring (around his birthday) they'll flower to remind us of him.
RIP Buddy
AndrewGP said:
RIP Buddy
Condolences.Congratulations on giving him a good 'back end' of his life. 10+ years is a great innings.
Hopefully he gave you, and your family, a good idea of how great a well kept wabbit can be as a pet
They have the most wonderful personalities.
We have two dogs and 1 rabbit right now. When the dogs' time is up, I think we'll have a break from having one, but I'll always want a rabbit in my life.
Roger only has to walk (hop!) across the living room and he makes me smile.
AndrewGP said:
They'll flower to remind us of him.
PS - you won't be able to forget him if you tried...!Edited by TheLordJohn on Friday 6th October 20:46
Edited by TheLordJohn on Friday 6th October 20:48
axgizmo said:
One is not amused with Frank at the moment. He was rather overzealous with his grooming the other night and she let him
https://youtu.be/UVYt1OkWrps
I can't get over her just letting him pull her hair out... I've had notifications on for the last couple of nights since it happened and haven't seen him do it again but not my girl has a big bolt spot over her eye and the rest of the hair on her head is really thin although it doesn't look bad on the picture (Black bunny photo'd indoors)
They have a good diet, she hasn't got any sores/ cuts on her head, no bugs or mites. I think he just got carried away. Breaks my heart watching it on the camera, it goes on for 45 minutes
Frank has made a right mess of Cinders fur again! I am splitting them up after that, its not fair on her at all https://youtu.be/UVYt1OkWrps
I can't get over her just letting him pull her hair out... I've had notifications on for the last couple of nights since it happened and haven't seen him do it again but not my girl has a big bolt spot over her eye and the rest of the hair on her head is really thin although it doesn't look bad on the picture (Black bunny photo'd indoors)
They have a good diet, she hasn't got any sores/ cuts on her head, no bugs or mites. I think he just got carried away. Breaks my heart watching it on the camera, it goes on for 45 minutes
Tbh I used to pluck the loose hair from my bunny and he would sit there for ages and let me. He would obviously be moulting at the time, I would only do it on areas where new hair was trying to get through but it was easier than brushing him.
Does he rip the hair out or does it come out easily?
Have you looked on the RAWF website for advice or poss even contact them. They may be able to offer some advice on the behaviour and help to reduce it. Could almost be a stress reliever for him but it may not be easy to know why he is getting stressed.
Does he rip the hair out or does it come out easily?
Have you looked on the RAWF website for advice or poss even contact them. They may be able to offer some advice on the behaviour and help to reduce it. Could almost be a stress reliever for him but it may not be easy to know why he is getting stressed.
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 16th January 14:57
bexVN said:
Tbh I used to pluck the loose hair from my bunny and he would sit there for ages and let me. He would obviously be moulting at the time, I would only do it on areas where new hair was trying to get through but it was easier than brushing him.
Does he rip the hair out or does it come out easily?
Have you looked on the RAWF website for advice or poss even contact them. They may be able to offer some advice on the behaviour and help to reduce it. Could almost be a stress reliever for him but it may not be easy to know why he is getting stressed.
Hi Bex, Does he rip the hair out or does it come out easily?
Have you looked on the RAWF website for advice or poss even contact them. They may be able to offer some advice on the behaviour and help to reduce it. Could almost be a stress reliever for him but it may not be easy to know why he is getting stressed.
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 16th January 14:57
it's not loose hair, he is literally pulling or chewing it off of her, the line around her rear end has been done whilst he was humping her head and pulling her fur out at the same time. Sometimes he will just sit next to her then set about pulling chunks out. I have spoken to the rescue I got him from as they know his personality and asked for their advice, they said it could be stress too. I haven't thought about contacting RWAF, thanks I'll do that
axgizmo said:
bexVN said:
Tbh I used to pluck the loose hair from my bunny and he would sit there for ages and let me. He would obviously be moulting at the time, I would only do it on areas where new hair was trying to get through but it was easier than brushing him.
Does he rip the hair out or does it come out easily?
Have you looked on the RAWF website for advice or poss even contact them. They may be able to offer some advice on the behaviour and help to reduce it. Could almost be a stress reliever for him but it may not be easy to know why he is getting stressed.
Hi Bex, Does he rip the hair out or does it come out easily?
Have you looked on the RAWF website for advice or poss even contact them. They may be able to offer some advice on the behaviour and help to reduce it. Could almost be a stress reliever for him but it may not be easy to know why he is getting stressed.
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 16th January 14:57
it's not loose hair, he is literally pulling or chewing it off of her, the line around her rear end has been done whilst he was humping her head and pulling her fur out at the same time. Sometimes he will just sit next to her then set about pulling chunks out. I have spoken to the rescue I got him from as they know his personality and asked for their advice, they said it could be stress too. I haven't thought about contacting RWAF, thanks I'll do that
(and I should always advise a medical check just in case there is a small chance it is a medical reason!)
Our rabbits are loving the snow this week. They were a little puzzled initially but now we can't get them out of it:
I'm glad that I added as much insulation to the hutches when building them as I did; they're holding up well in these temperatures.
Hutch numbers have increased due to family tensions between parents and children. Rebonding efforts continue.
I'm glad that I added as much insulation to the hutches when building them as I did; they're holding up well in these temperatures.
Hutch numbers have increased due to family tensions between parents and children. Rebonding efforts continue.
bazza white said:
Hopefully will snow here in cardiff tomorrow and will try and get ours out in the snow for the first time but when i opened the door the other day he looked out looked at the wet floor and went naaaaaaa back to the living room.
I glade I'm not the only one with a rabbit that's not keen on it, mine looked genuinely unimpressed when I opened the front door and a draft came in, she really isn't that keen on the great outdoors. andye30m3 said:
bazza white said:
Hopefully will snow here in cardiff tomorrow and will try and get ours out in the snow for the first time but when i opened the door the other day he looked out looked at the wet floor and went naaaaaaa back to the living room.
I glade I'm not the only one with a rabbit that's not keen on it, mine looked genuinely unimpressed when I opened the front door and a draft came in, she really isn't that keen on the great outdoors. So i just tried getting ours out. Dusty came to the back door went out with a little persuasion, started making a cuppa to join him but he sprinted straight through the kitchen back under his table.
Ill try again about 4pm when they seem to wake up and go into play mode. Im on nights so they eont get long.
Ill try again about 4pm when they seem to wake up and go into play mode. Im on nights so they eont get long.
RemyMartin81D said:
richatnort said:
I managed to coax Charlie out this morning
Black otter dwarf lop?Looks like my stupendously missed sweep.
Made me smile seeing that photo. God nearly two years since he died has passed so quick. Miss him every day
He's a little sh*t most of the time so cheeky!
Mi little lady Cinders passed over the rainbow bridge in Feb, it was a big shock, she wasn’t showing any signs of being poorly at all. She was fine on the Monday afternoon then by Tuesday morning she was gone. She had been living on her own as Frank kept pulling chunks of her fur out so unfortunately I had to split them up but they were next to each other. I feel awful that she was on her own but I was trying to protect her by splitting them up.
She had 3 husbuns in her short (6 year) life, 2 of which she supported through numerous vet visits & illnesses.
Gareth the lop who had hind leg weakness in his old age and Red who had the snuffles.
Frank is now a lone bun
She had 3 husbuns in her short (6 year) life, 2 of which she supported through numerous vet visits & illnesses.
Gareth the lop who had hind leg weakness in his old age and Red who had the snuffles.
Frank is now a lone bun
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