Mollyrose
Warren Scout
:wave:
i am in college and as an assignment i have chosen to investigate the back length in belgian hares,
My first belgian hare back in 2008 had to be PTS at 3 years old with a silpped disk in his lower back he lost the use of his back legs paralysing him from the hips downwards. after months of steroid injections and anti inflammatories, unable to clean, hop, and be his beautiful self, he spent his last couple of days tucked in my arms and then the heart breaking decision to let him go seemed the last kind thing we could do.
my second belgian hare had to be PTS at 5 months old, because of an awful skin infection.
i now have three Belgian hares my red buck and b&t doe (both 2yrs old) are still suffering from snuffles which seems to be a constant struggle every year, with injections and oral medications.
my new young buck seems to be the fittest of the lot but i am seriously worried about the length of his back, compared to my other two who seem to have no problems at all flying around the garden. he is only 6 months old and not fully grown yet so im optimistic for the future.
i have heard from various other UK & US breeders that they have encounted the similar problems with the back length in belgian hares, yet European breeders dont seem to have these problems? - could this be due to a shorter back? or maybe bred more slowly, allowing the back to strengthen over time and muscle to develop and strengthen supporting the backs of the hares.
i have also heard from various breeders of belgian hares that housing the youngsters in small hutches stops them from running about and "harming" themselves, and also benefits them because they appear more lean, racey and "typey" for showing, - because they are lacking the muscle on their backs, - could it simply be down to the accommodation in the UK & US that is causeing the problems in our hares.
DISCUSS!! PRETTY PELASE :thumb:
i am in college and as an assignment i have chosen to investigate the back length in belgian hares,
My first belgian hare back in 2008 had to be PTS at 3 years old with a silpped disk in his lower back he lost the use of his back legs paralysing him from the hips downwards. after months of steroid injections and anti inflammatories, unable to clean, hop, and be his beautiful self, he spent his last couple of days tucked in my arms and then the heart breaking decision to let him go seemed the last kind thing we could do.
my second belgian hare had to be PTS at 5 months old, because of an awful skin infection.
i now have three Belgian hares my red buck and b&t doe (both 2yrs old) are still suffering from snuffles which seems to be a constant struggle every year, with injections and oral medications.
my new young buck seems to be the fittest of the lot but i am seriously worried about the length of his back, compared to my other two who seem to have no problems at all flying around the garden. he is only 6 months old and not fully grown yet so im optimistic for the future.
i have heard from various other UK & US breeders that they have encounted the similar problems with the back length in belgian hares, yet European breeders dont seem to have these problems? - could this be due to a shorter back? or maybe bred more slowly, allowing the back to strengthen over time and muscle to develop and strengthen supporting the backs of the hares.
i have also heard from various breeders of belgian hares that housing the youngsters in small hutches stops them from running about and "harming" themselves, and also benefits them because they appear more lean, racey and "typey" for showing, - because they are lacking the muscle on their backs, - could it simply be down to the accommodation in the UK & US that is causeing the problems in our hares.
DISCUSS!! PRETTY PELASE :thumb:
