Sad things at work...

As you may or may not know I work at a vets, I have seen some sad things and happy things. I feel I am spreading the word of rabbit welfare and several of our clients have got partners for their buns and changed housing and vaccinated due to my preaching
But yesterday a 7yr old bunny (new client) was brought in as he had died in his hutch from heat exhaustion. The owners had gone out and left him in the oven (hutch) for a few hours, when they got back they tried to give him water and put him on wet ground but it was too late. His younger partner was huddled in the other side of the hutch I felt so sorry for the bunny he looked like a real cutie. When I said goodbye to the owners I suggested ice pods and spritzing water onto the ears, I also suggested making the run more predator secure so that remaining bun didn't need to be "put away" in the heat. On a plus side they came in again today asking for rescue centres to get a new bunny from

Today I had to help the vet pick maggots off of a bunny with fly strike, he was a cute little nethie and it was a very distressing sight, I hadn't seen it before and I hope my buns never have to suffer like that! the owners were responsible and did actually use fly guard, the reason being the bun had a mucky bum and after talking to them it was because he was fed muesli so the vet adviced switching (gradually) to pellets to eliminate the mucky bum problem. Can we have vibes for Pom Pom I really hope he pulls through, he was a little fighter

It just makes all these things so very real and I get so sad for the little buns that are suffering.

hugs for you and thoughts for the bunnies. x

Thank you hb hopefully tomorrow will be kinder!!!

(((( vibes )))) for Pom Pom, and hugs for you Rab-bit. It is hard seeing all this stuff. I worked with Rescue Centres for the last 20+ years and the condition of rabbits and ignorance of owners (sometimes with the best will in the world) will always astound me xx

MightyMax said:

ignorance of owners (sometimes with the best will in the world)

Click to expand...

Are they the type who are usually easiest to change? Poor Pom Pom: that's a great name Hope he's OK. My Nethie had a mucky bum because he was too stiff to clean himself properly from about the age of 8, but we never had flystrike and I don't recall cleaning him all that often!

Sending vibes for PomPom and well done for taking the trouble to try to educate rabbit owners. I feed Muesli have done for nearly 18 years with no problems and imo it isn't the Muesli but the amount that is given. Most owners I have met feed too much, no hay, and that's when you have problems.

Hi everyone thanks for the wishes and the vibes for Pom Pom. I tried to speak to them today but no answer but hopefully no news is good news. Thanks Tonibun for the info re muesli it's interesting to know it can be fine if the main part of the diet is correct supplemented by the muesli
We had another bunny today had been in a fight with his brother the owner thought because they were brothers they wouldn't fight - ever, but obviously they reached puberty and fought. Poor bun and a chunk out of his ear and several wounds all over his body. They needed to be sutured but the owners husband went mad at the cost the owner phoned back in tears thinking we would have to pts but the vet glued the wounds having to leave the ear. I gave her an education about the brother myth. This is a good myth for the other thread (can't think who's doing it?!). I also advised her on neutering and bonding (could be a tough one though) she said the breeder didn't recommend neutering or tell her they would fight!

MightyMax said:

(((( vibes )))) for Pom Pom, and hugs for you Rab-bit. It is hard seeing all this stuff. I worked with Rescue Centres for the last 20+ years and the condition of rabbits and ignorance of owners (sometimes with the best will in the world) will always astound me xx

Click to expand...

I don't know how you do it - the sights you must see and the owners sometimes I just want to shake them and say "take some responsibility"!

Rab-bit said:

I don't know how you do it - the sights you must see and the owners sometimes I just want to shake them and say "take some responsibility"!

Click to expand...

Actually I want to do a lot more than that to the owners

The conditions rabbits are kept in defy belief ... It's a wonder they are *still* alive!

Rab-bit said:

Hi everyone thanks for the wishes and the vibes for Pom Pom. I tried to speak to them today but no answer but hopefully no news is good news. Thanks Tonibun for the info re muesli it's interesting to know it can be fine if the main part of the diet is correct supplemented by the muesli
We had another bunny today had been in a fight with his brother the owner thought because they were brothers they wouldn't fight - ever, but obviously they reached puberty and fought. Poor bun and a chunk out of his ear and several wounds all over his body. They needed to be sutured but the owners husband went mad at the cost the owner phoned back in tears thinking we would have to pts but the vet glued the wounds having to leave the ear. I gave her an education about the brother myth. This is a good myth for the other thread (can't think who's doing it?!). I also advised her on neutering and bonding (could be a tough one though) she said the breeder didn't recommend neutering or tell her they would fight!

Click to expand...

Muesli is not fine. It contains grains which promote harmful bacteria leaving the rabbit prone to gastric problems particularly after antibiotics. Anyone who says it is fine is simply defending themselves and is refusing to learn. Likewise defenders of shavings and small hutches. The stuff is purely made to look appealing to humans. A grass based pellet like A&P costs no more but is far better.

*hugs* it is hard when people just won't listen and as for refusing to pay for your pet to be stitched up!!! :evil:

I am still glad i never met my Poppy's previous owner. I was working at a rescue and well known as 'the bunny girl' :lol: so one of my colleagues (who had met with the owner to sign Pops over) just came and found me and handed me a grumpy, matted, and covered in poop bundle of grey fluff... apparently her old owner had 'tried' to clean her but she was 'vicious' :evil: no... she was unspayed, stuck in a stupid little hutch and with terrible eyesight... no wonder she lunged at people! But instead of working with her or finding out if they could help her they just left her locked up in her prison before offloading her onto a rescue :evil: I have almost had her 2 years now and she hasnt lunged in well over 18 months :roll: so much for vicious!!!

doorkeeper said:

Muesli is not fine. It contains grains which promote harmful bacteria leaving the rabbit prone to gastric problems particularly after antibiotics. Anyone who says it is fine is simply defending themselves and is refusing to learn. Likewise defenders of shavings and small hutches. The stuff is purely made to look appealing to humans. A grass based pellet like A&P costs no more but is far better.

Click to expand...

Thank you Doorkeeper, personally I would always recommend switching diets to pellets and wouldnt feed muesli but I guess if Tonibun hasn't had any problems with it then she will continue to use it.
Again I totally agree with the wood shavings and understand it is bad for the respiratory system but some people are adamant it is the only thing that works and when you try to tell them any different they look at you like your and idiot and I guess that's because wood shavings are sold for rabbits and other small flurries. How exactly do you undo decades of misrepresentation?? Same goes for the hutch.., we know it's wrong but other people are not willing to listen or learn.

doorkeeper said:

Muesli is not fine. It contains grains which promote harmful bacteria leaving the rabbit prone to gastric problems particularly after antibiotics. Anyone who says it is fine is simply defending themselves and is refusing to learn. Likewise defenders of shavings and small hutches. The stuff is purely made to look appealing to humans. A grass based pellet like A&P costs no more but is far better.

Click to expand...

Some rabbit specialists have recommended Muesli and people on here feed their rabbits Muesli - Rabbit Royale I believe. Horses for courses - there are differing opinions based on circumstances ...