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15
MAR
2015
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Rabbit owners are delightful people. You know that they are rarely loud and obnoxious (their rabbits would never stand for it); they have plenty of patience (because getting to know a rabbit takes time); and you can be certain that they are full of love and laughter (because that is exactly what rabbits inspire).
So, if you have gotten yourself a pet rabbit, welcome to the club. Your new baby bunny is sure to hop his way into your heart (or thump, depending on how stubborn you are about it). Rabbits are truly easy to love, as long as you give them just a few basics. Bunnies of all ages can be skittish, so avoid loud noises when you can. They also love to keep their feet on the ground, so be prepared to build ramps up to the couch. And, above all, rabbits have a specific diet, which undoubtedly should not be altered as it will affect the health and happiness of your pet.
Feeding Your Rabbit Timothy Hay
Rabbits (and other small furries, including chinchillas and guine.. [More]
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Tags :
Why Is Timothy Hay Important For Rabbits In South Africa , Timothy Hay in South Africa , Rabbit Food South Africa
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11
MAR
2015
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How Often Should You Clean Your Rabbits’ Home?
As with many pets that live in an enclosed area, your rabbits need a visit from housekeeping about once a week. This includes a thorough clean using a pet-safe sanitiser. Typically, you will need to restrict your pets’ movements in one area or another during this time so you can get to every nook and cranny during your cleaning process.
However, you can’t neglect daily chores. Your rabbits need a basic tidy every day. This includes cleaning out any soiled shavings or bedding (as these can lead to the spread of disease). You must also clear out any uneaten food during this time. Cleaning water and food bowls is important on a daily basis and should be done before refilling them.
What Else Do You Need to Know?
When cleaning your rabbits’ living areas, always check for signs of damp or standing water. These conditions make it easy for fleas, ticks and mosquitoes to breed. While these insect.. [More]
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Tags :
Cleaning Your Rabbits’ Living Areas in South Africa , Cleaning Rabbit Cage South Africa
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17
JAN
2015
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There are a number of different plants that are poisonous to rabbits. And, while it is obvious that certain plants should not be kept in the same habitat as your pet rabbits, there are many more plants that you’ve probably never considered. Harmful plants can include certain types of fruit bearing trees, ivies and a host of beautiful flowering plants.
We’ve included here a short list of plants that are poisonous when consumed by rabbits. This list includes plants that are most commonly kept in homes, but there are many more.
For a complete list of poisonous plants, you can refer to the Rabbit Awareness Week Website. Remember, just because you don’t see a plant listed here, it does not mean it’s safe for your pet to consume.
33 Poisonous Plants To Avoid
This list is not exhaustive, but here are some common plants to avoid…
Aloe, Apple seeds, Apricot plants (except the fruit), Avocado leaves, Azalea leaves, Begonia, Cale.. [More]
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Poisonous Plants And Your Rabbits In South Africa
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09
DEC
2014
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The holiday season is finally here! Christmas and New Year are times that can be incredibly fun, but also stressful for both you and your rabbits. We know you’re going to be busy with all your holiday preparations so here are a few tips that will keep your rabbits happy and well during the festive period.
Christmas Plants and Trees
It’s always a good idea to do your research before bringing any sort of plant into your home as it’s important to ensure that they aren’t harmful to your rabbits.
Many people are of the opinion that poinsettia plants are poisonous when actually, this isn’t the case. However, we still wouldn’t recommend that your rabbits eat them as they may cause discomfort to those bunnies with a more sensitive digestive system.
Other holiday plants such as Ivy, Holly and Mistletoe on the other hand can be toxic to your rabbits. To be extra safe we wouldn’t recommend bringing these plants into your ho.. [More]
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Your Rabbits And The Holidays
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06
DEC
2014
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There always seems to be so much going on in your home at this time of year; more visitors come to your door, decorations give it a festive feel, and there is no end of tasty treats! This can be quite a change of surroundings for your house rabbits. Here are our best tactics to ensure your rabbits’ comfort is best prepared.
Although it may be difficult on certain days, try and stick to your rabbits’ routine as much as possible. Even on busy days, put aside time so you can give them plenty of attention, as you will be a friendly point of contact if your rabbits are not used to the changes in their surroundings. If you have a lot of visitors in your home, ensure that you never leave your rabbits unsupervised with others who do not know how to handle rabbits. This is especially the case with children, as it can be easy for an over affectionate child to mishandle or cause stress to your rabbits if left alone with them.
If your rabbit gets scared easily at noi.. [More]
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House Rabbits Over Christmas Period
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20
SEP
2014
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Some animals will do just fine as the only one of their kind in your home (though most do better in a pair or more). Dogs, for example, typically don’t mind being the only one as long as there is plenty of attention and the delicious smells of other dogs on their evening walk.
However, rabbits specifically do not do well when they’re the only one in your family. Indeed they crave the love and attention of other rabbits. And, believe it or not, for such quiet animals, they spend an awful lot of time communicating with their rabbit friends. So, even though you may be tempted to get yourself a single rabbit to “test the waters,” it really should be all or nothing (and you should be fully committed to any pet you bring home before finalising an adoption).
Rabbits Live in Large Groups in the Wild
Although it may seem like it has been ages since you spotted a wild rabbit, it takes a long time for domestication to wear down the habits and norms .. [More]
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Tags :
Your Rabbit Needs A Friend , Pet Rabbits in South Africa
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08
SEP
2014
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You should never feed rolled oats, wheat, crackers, weetbix or any breakfast cereals to chinchillas, rabbits or guinea pigs as it affects their calcium and phosphorus ratio and reduces the absorption of essential nutrients from hay, depleting calcium in their bodies and causing digestive, dental and bone problems.
Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas should have a diet high in fibre, and fairly low in calories (especially fats and starches). And we not referring to Crude fibre because it is poor measure of plant lignin and cellulose, but rather digestive and indigestible fibre, which is only present in high quantities in hay. Over time pellet diets have been sold as the mainstay of their diet, but pellets was originally formulated for non household pets (i.e. laboratory or farmed rabbits and chinchillas).
Some of the problems associated with feeding too much lucerne based pellets are:
Obesity
Dental disease
Soft stools (with norm st.. [More]
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Tags :
Feeding Rabbits , Guinea Pigs & Chinchillas Dry Food in South Africa , Dangers of Feeding Dry Food To Guinea Pigs , Rabbits & Chinchillas in South Africa
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05
SEP
2014
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Sludge in rabbits is a frustrating urinary problem affecting rabbits of all breeds, ages, and both sexes. As a vet it can be difficult to treat, and sadly despite intervention, frequently recurs. Get our 3 essential treatments and 4 ways to prevent.
Signs – rabbits can be presented with sludge in a number of ways, and not all of them together. Check our list to see how many you would spot.
Thick urine – rabbit urine is high in calcium carbonate, and in rabbits suffering from sludge, the sediment is thick and ‘sludgy’. The urine can take on the appearance and texture of thick smooth toothpaste.
Frequent urination – affected rabbits will often attempt to urinate more often, and not always in the same place.
Straining to urinate – the obstruction of the urine outflow from the bladder by the thick creamy deposit can make for difficulty in expression. Constant attempts akin to an animal with cons.. [More]
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Preventing Sludge In Rabbits
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15
AUG
2014
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Gut stasis is the number one motility disorder of rabbits and is a potentially deadly condition in which the digestive system slows down or stops completely. Bad bacteria then builds up in the intestines and releases gas into the system, causing very painful bloating and further decreasing a rabbit’s motivation to eat or drink. This compounds the problem because the rabbit will become more dehydrated and starved of essential nutrients and roughage.
The contents of the digestive tract will become more compact, and the rabbit will have an even more difficult time passing it through. The bacteria can also release toxins into the system which overtax the liver and can cause the organ to ultimately fail.
Motility Disorders - Some essential facts
A rabbit not eating will develop hypomotility
Reduced gut movements will cause anorexia
Gastric stasis causes dehydra.. [More]
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Tags :
Gut Stasis In Rabbits - The Big Challenge , Pet Rabbits South Africa , Rabbit Care South Africa , Rabbit Food South Africa , Online Pet Store South Africa , Online Pet Shop South Africa
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23
JUL
2014
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Are you providing everything your rabbits need to be happy and healthy and live a long life? You may think you are, but do you know for sure? Your rabbits may have a lovely big hutch to live in, and spend their days in a large run with lots of space to exercise and explore, but what about rabbit food? Are your rabbits getting all the right nutrients in their meals? If you simply feed your rabbits a supermarket dry rabbit food mix, you could be neglecting to give your them everything they need. Supermarket mixes may well be deficient in fibre which is vital for rabbits and other small mammals.
Rabbits need a lot of fibre in their diet to keep them healthy. You may be surprised at exactly how much fibre they do need. Hay is a good source of fibre, but did you know that you should be feeding a pile of hay to your rabbit, roughly the same size as his body – each day? If your rabbit consumes this much hay, he isn’t over eating, so you shouldn’t cut down on .. [More]
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Tags :
Meeting The Needs of Rabbits In South Africa , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Rabbit Hay , Timothy Hay South Africa
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