As a rabbit owner, keeping your pet healthy and happy is a priority. While there are many things you can do to keep your pet in tip top shape - such as providing fresh food, water, and clean rabbit bedding and rabbit litter - unfortunately there are times that your rabbit may feel under the weather.
One thing that is vital to the health of your rabbit is making sure the hutch is dry and odour free. If your rabbit’s cage is dirty and neglected, this will affect your rabbit’s immune system and make your pet more susceptible to disease. You can help ward off illness with regular clean outs and replenishing your rabbit’s hutch with a fresh layer of rabbit litter and rabbit bedding.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to clean out the hutch is with SmartBedz rabbit bedding and rabbit litter. All you have to do is to scoop out the wet pellets daily, along with any solids, and replace these with new ones in between more intensive weekly clean outs.
Here’s the SmartBedz guide to some of the common rabbit illnesses, or causes of illnesses, and how to spot when your bunny is poorly.
Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
Common Problems in Rabbits
Overgrown Teeth
Rabbit’s teeth can grow very long - in fact they never stop growing - so they need chews or toys that they can nibble on to keep their teeth trim. If a rabbit’s teeth grow too long this can interfere with eating and means your pet can’t groom itself. If you provide your rabbit with things to chew on - such a cardboard Rabbit Castle - this will not only give it something to much on, but also provides stimulation for your pet as they will enjoy exploring it and climbing the floors.
Long Nails
It is important to keep checking your rabbit’s nails to make sure that they don’t grow too long. If your rabbit’s nails are too long they can snag or start to curl into the foot making walking difficult or painful. You can check your rabbit’s nails when you cuddle your pet, or when you refresh the cage with a new layer of rabbit bedding. If your rabbit’s nails do need cutting, you can either do this yourself, or take it to the vet to clip (they will charge a fee for this).
Fur Balls
Fur or hairballs are quite common in rabbits and occurs when they swallow a large quantity of hair during self-grooming. The fur can ball up in the stomach and prevent your pet from eating. One way to stop this happening is to provide your rabbit with a high fibre diet such as a good supply of hay and SmartBedz rabbit litter. If you have a long-haired breed, daily brushing will help prevent this.
Sore Hocks
Sore hocks is a condition where a rabbit’s feet become inflamed making walking painful and difficult. There are a number of reasons for this including wire floor cages, or damp or soiled hutches with dirty rabbit bedding. However, a well cared for rabbit may also get sore hocks and overweight, aged and immobile rabbits may also be prone to this. The vet can treat sore hocks in a variety of ways including supplying antibiotics, anti-inflammatory or pain killing drugs, or providing topical treatments.
Mites
Indoor and outdoor rabbits are prone to fleas, ticks and mites. If you think your rabbit has mites, your vet will be able to provide the best course of treatment. During treatment it is vital to ensure your rabbit’s hutch is thoroughly cleaned to prevent any further outbreaks. Some of the signs to look out for are: itchy ears, frequent shaking of the head, scratching, dandruff, abrasions and crusty skin. It is important to avoid inadvertently introducing mites and other creatures into your rabbit's hutch via untreated bedding such as hay or straw. One way to avoid this is by choosing SmartBedz rabbit bedding which is heat treated to get rid of mites and bacteria.
Snuffles
This is another common infectious disease and is caused by the bacterium Pasteurella. Signs to look out for if your rabbit has this are: watery eyes, nose and sneezing and the bacteria can also cause an ear infection. The vet can prescribe antibiotics for this and may also supply eye and nose drops. It is also advisable to change the rabbit litter often as this will prevent an unhealthy build up of ammonia. Disease spreading bacteria flourish in a soiled and damp environment.
Flystrike
Flystrike is common in both indoor and outdoor bunnies and if left untreated it can be fatal. This condition occurs when the flies lay their eggs on live rabbits and the eggs hatch into maggots which feed on the rabbit’s skin. Even well-cared for rabbits can get flystrike. Signs to look out for include broken skin and sores. Again, cleaning the hutch regularly and supplying your rabbit with a fresh layer of rabbit litter can help prevent this.
Myxomatosis
This is a highly contagious disease and it is fatal to a rabbit as there is no cure. Myxomatosis is spread by insects such as fleas and mosquitoes and can be caught by direct contact with an infected rabbit. The most notable telltale signs are fever and swelling of the eyelids.
Rabbit Litter - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop
Saturday 8 December 2012
Thursday 6 December 2012
Safe Care of Rabbits in Autumn/Winter
Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK (after dogs and cats) and one of the best ways to make sure that your pet has a long and happy life is to keep your rabbit bedding clean and sanitary.
Rabbit Awareness week took place in September, an annual event held together with a number of official organisations and individuals such as vets and the RSPCA. The idea was to raise awareness about how best to look after your pet rabbit to keep it healthy all year round.
Whereas dogs and cats seem to be well cared for whatever the season, rabbits are often neglected in winter. Rabbit bedding is not replaced as frequently and there is less physical contact between rabbits and their owners.
In summer, especially during the school holidays, rabbits are frequently petted by their young owners. They are also given more freedom to use their outdoor run which means rabbit bedding stays fresher for longer.
However, this all changes in autumn and winter. From September onwards rabbits are generally left in their hutches more as the kids go back to school and have less time to look after their pets. Children are also reluctant to go outside when it is cold and dark in the evenings.
As rabbits spend more time in their cages, it is even more important for your pet to have regular clean outs to replace soiled rabbit bedding and rabbit litter.
Your rabbit can live as long as 10-12 years (in some cases even longer) and they need just as much love, care and attention as a dog or cat. To give your pet the best care all year round, there are some steps you can take to make it easier for you - and your rabbit - during the winter months.
The right choice of rabbit bedding and rabbit litter can go a long way to making your pet feel cosy and comfortable whatever the temperature outside. Here we shall look at SmartBedz rabbit bedding and rabbit litter and how it can help you, and your pet, this winter.
Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
The Best Choice of Autumn and Winter Rabbit Bedding
Your rabbit is not a seasonal pet, in autumn and winter it needs just the same care that it had during the summer.
To make it easier to care for your rabbit, it is important to choose the right rabbit bedding and rabbit litter and perhaps switch over to something that is more winter friendly, such as SmartBedz.
SmartBedz rabbit litter is made of pulped straw, so it is a good insulator for the winter months. In addition to this, it keeps your pet dry as it soaks up urine at a rapid rate and can absorb up to four times its volume in moisture, so your rabbit stays comfortable.
Using SmartBedz rabbit litter makes it quicker and easier for you to clean your rabbit’s cage as you can spot clean the hutch in between more thorough weekly clean outs. Just scoop out any solids and wet pellets - which are easily identifiable - and add a few more dry ones.
The best way to make your rabbit snug is to add a layer of SmartBedz rabbit litter/rabbit bedding on the base of the hutch. Make this thicker than you would normally in the summer (around 2cm). Do the same to the sleeping quarters, but also include lots of hay for your rabbit to make a nest out of, so it can be warm and cosy when it is cold outside. At night, put a blanket over the cage for insulation but do make sure that you leave a wide enough gap at the front of the cage to give your rabbit adequate air to breathe.
SmartBedz not only helps keep your pet’s hutch clean and sanitary, it also brings a number of other benefits. If your pet does happen to nibble on it, the rabbit bedding is full of fibre, which allows for healthy digestion and is good for their teeth. However, it is important to note, SmartBedz is not a food supplement so do make sure that your rabbit has access to clean water every day, as well as dried food and fresh greens.
Another way SmartBedz makes life easier for you and your pet, is that it is a universal pet litter, so you can not only use it for your rabbits but also for your guinea pigs, cats, tortoises, chickens and other animals.
SmartBedz is a completely natural product that is biodegradable, so you can dispose of it on your compost heap. So not only does it help keep your pet healthy - but your garden too!
If you do feel you are pushed for time in winter, one option is to move your rabbit’s hutch indoors when the temperature drops. Another solution is to call for outside help. There are some individuals and organisations that not only offer house sitting for dogs and cats, but can also come round during the day to feed and pet your rabbit. This means you can rest assured that your rabbit is well cared for all year round and your family pet never gets bored or neglected.
Rabbit Litter - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
Rabbit Awareness week took place in September, an annual event held together with a number of official organisations and individuals such as vets and the RSPCA. The idea was to raise awareness about how best to look after your pet rabbit to keep it healthy all year round.
Whereas dogs and cats seem to be well cared for whatever the season, rabbits are often neglected in winter. Rabbit bedding is not replaced as frequently and there is less physical contact between rabbits and their owners.
In summer, especially during the school holidays, rabbits are frequently petted by their young owners. They are also given more freedom to use their outdoor run which means rabbit bedding stays fresher for longer.
However, this all changes in autumn and winter. From September onwards rabbits are generally left in their hutches more as the kids go back to school and have less time to look after their pets. Children are also reluctant to go outside when it is cold and dark in the evenings.
As rabbits spend more time in their cages, it is even more important for your pet to have regular clean outs to replace soiled rabbit bedding and rabbit litter.
Your rabbit can live as long as 10-12 years (in some cases even longer) and they need just as much love, care and attention as a dog or cat. To give your pet the best care all year round, there are some steps you can take to make it easier for you - and your rabbit - during the winter months.
The right choice of rabbit bedding and rabbit litter can go a long way to making your pet feel cosy and comfortable whatever the temperature outside. Here we shall look at SmartBedz rabbit bedding and rabbit litter and how it can help you, and your pet, this winter.
Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
The Best Choice of Autumn and Winter Rabbit Bedding
Your rabbit is not a seasonal pet, in autumn and winter it needs just the same care that it had during the summer.
To make it easier to care for your rabbit, it is important to choose the right rabbit bedding and rabbit litter and perhaps switch over to something that is more winter friendly, such as SmartBedz.
SmartBedz rabbit litter is made of pulped straw, so it is a good insulator for the winter months. In addition to this, it keeps your pet dry as it soaks up urine at a rapid rate and can absorb up to four times its volume in moisture, so your rabbit stays comfortable.
Using SmartBedz rabbit litter makes it quicker and easier for you to clean your rabbit’s cage as you can spot clean the hutch in between more thorough weekly clean outs. Just scoop out any solids and wet pellets - which are easily identifiable - and add a few more dry ones.
The best way to make your rabbit snug is to add a layer of SmartBedz rabbit litter/rabbit bedding on the base of the hutch. Make this thicker than you would normally in the summer (around 2cm). Do the same to the sleeping quarters, but also include lots of hay for your rabbit to make a nest out of, so it can be warm and cosy when it is cold outside. At night, put a blanket over the cage for insulation but do make sure that you leave a wide enough gap at the front of the cage to give your rabbit adequate air to breathe.
SmartBedz not only helps keep your pet’s hutch clean and sanitary, it also brings a number of other benefits. If your pet does happen to nibble on it, the rabbit bedding is full of fibre, which allows for healthy digestion and is good for their teeth. However, it is important to note, SmartBedz is not a food supplement so do make sure that your rabbit has access to clean water every day, as well as dried food and fresh greens.
Another way SmartBedz makes life easier for you and your pet, is that it is a universal pet litter, so you can not only use it for your rabbits but also for your guinea pigs, cats, tortoises, chickens and other animals.
SmartBedz is a completely natural product that is biodegradable, so you can dispose of it on your compost heap. So not only does it help keep your pet healthy - but your garden too!
If you do feel you are pushed for time in winter, one option is to move your rabbit’s hutch indoors when the temperature drops. Another solution is to call for outside help. There are some individuals and organisations that not only offer house sitting for dogs and cats, but can also come round during the day to feed and pet your rabbit. This means you can rest assured that your rabbit is well cared for all year round and your family pet never gets bored or neglected.
Rabbit Litter - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
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