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Scruffing rabbits
- Thread starter MichG
- Start date
Snow-White
Mama Doe
Its how theyre caught by predators in the wild.
It
causes them a great deal of stress
It
causes them a great deal of stressIts how theyre caught by predators in the wild.It
Whenever I've seen wildlife programmes and a bunny has been caught by a fox, the fox has simply grabbed it around its middle and not by the scruff, so I disagree with your statement I'm afraid. I'm not saying you are wrong; I'm just saying some predators may just happen to grab that way but the ones I've seen on TV haven't. Logically speaking it's best that they don't either, as grabbing a bunny by its scruff if the bunny struggled enough it could get free; it wouldn't be able to free itself if it were being held around its middle.
My vet handled my rabbits by their scruff (supporting their bottoms too) and they seemed fine; no extra large eyes with shock/horror. I have picked them up by their scruff too, but don't now because of my long nails - I wouldn't want to hurt them. I generally pick them up with my hands under their front legs/chest and bottom and then cuddle them into me. They don't like it but I do :lol:
loppy ears
Warren Veteran
Cats don't either they hold them around the neck not by the scruff it can cause nerve damage to handle kittens/cats by the scruff.
Elena
Wise Old Thumper
Oh ok, know nothing about cats!
stoats kill rabbits by attacking and biting the back of the neck. don't watch this unless you really want to know http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNbqvqf3-14 . i only know about the video because some of my lower attaining pupils are working on uk wildlife as part of their religious education.
what's that to do with r e?
who made the animals? how should we treat animals?
what's that to do with r e?
who made the animals? how should we treat animals?
KB
Mama Doe
FYI RWAF policy on scruffing of buns at the bottom of the page in this link -
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/?section=policies.html
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/?section=policies.html
cpayne
Warren Veteran
Wow that's interesting as I went to see the nurse for Doughnut's health check yesterday and she showed me how to pick her up and this was to scruff her neck while supporting her bum with the other hand. When she put her down Doughnut didn't flick her legs or stamp her foot like she sometimes does. She said that's the best way.
When I've seen another vet he's told me to place my hand over her two front legs area, so one hand is on top and then the other I support her bum again. This is the same as the bunnery guy did, he sort of flattened her a bit with his hand over her two front legs then supported her bum with the other hand.
I wouldn't be able to put my hand underneath her chest and the other underneather her bum as she's too quick!
