The Duchess
Wise Old Thumper
Today I took some of the Lymington bunnies up to Wood Green who have very kindly taken quite a number of rabbits from the rescue of 68.
Just to make the point, the rabbits, especially the younger ones actually on the face of it look quite healthy and you would only know upon close inspection that there was anything untoward. Now these bunnies were bound for pet shops and if you went into a pet shop to buy one, would you ask to check the teeth, feel the gut, look closely in the eyes or check the bum? Probably not but we have and whilst looking soft and fluffy, some of the older rabbits have got issues. One of the male lops today appears to either have bleeds or the beginnings of glaucoma/cataracts, the mum of the 4 babies also had eye issues too and the dutch bunnies were desperately nervous.
So when you get a rabbit from the pet shop and you have no idea of the place where they were reared, think about the fact that the seamingly healthy rabbits may, be like these, where the fact they've apparently never seen a vegetable, don't appear to know what to do with hay, may well in due course suffer from major dental disease and gut issues. Not to mention possible skeletal problems from being in such cramped, disgusting conditions.
Many people think that by going to a pet shop they will get a 'new' rabbit with no issues, when in fact this is so often not the case. You are more likely to get a rabbit whose health has atleast been assessed if you go to a rescue and get a second hand one.
This particular mum and babies (there are 5 rabbits in this 3ft hutch) have gone from this.........
To this....
These bunnies were given a short while out in the run whilst their rescue place was set up - being careful not to let them exercise too much too soon as their skeletons won't be used to lots of running around.
Just to make the point, the rabbits, especially the younger ones actually on the face of it look quite healthy and you would only know upon close inspection that there was anything untoward. Now these bunnies were bound for pet shops and if you went into a pet shop to buy one, would you ask to check the teeth, feel the gut, look closely in the eyes or check the bum? Probably not but we have and whilst looking soft and fluffy, some of the older rabbits have got issues. One of the male lops today appears to either have bleeds or the beginnings of glaucoma/cataracts, the mum of the 4 babies also had eye issues too and the dutch bunnies were desperately nervous.
So when you get a rabbit from the pet shop and you have no idea of the place where they were reared, think about the fact that the seamingly healthy rabbits may, be like these, where the fact they've apparently never seen a vegetable, don't appear to know what to do with hay, may well in due course suffer from major dental disease and gut issues. Not to mention possible skeletal problems from being in such cramped, disgusting conditions.
Many people think that by going to a pet shop they will get a 'new' rabbit with no issues, when in fact this is so often not the case. You are more likely to get a rabbit whose health has atleast been assessed if you go to a rescue and get a second hand one.
This particular mum and babies (there are 5 rabbits in this 3ft hutch) have gone from this.........
To this....
These bunnies were given a short while out in the run whilst their rescue place was set up - being careful not to let them exercise too much too soon as their skeletons won't be used to lots of running around.