Bella is around 7-8 now although her exact age is unknown due to her being dumped at a car boot about 7yrs ago and me bringing her home.
Bunnies moving into old age is something very new to me and I am looking for advice please on future care. I have always used dust extracted shavings with my buns and have never had any problems BUT I feel I need to move onto something else now as I think Bella may have a little arthritis (from reading up on the tell tale signs). She isn't quite able to reach her botty from watching her and as I type she has a clump of dried cecotropes which I am going to have to get the nurses at the vet to clean and clip her fur. The reason I say that is because she isn't used to being picked up, never has in fact. If you could have seen me chase her around the house just to get a towel around her to put drops in her eyes you would laugh yourselves stupid at me. I have never been confident in picking her up which stems from my little boy Cookie (whom I lost). He was a very skitty Dutch and whenever I tried he always made a real fuss and I was so paranoid and clutzy at handling him, I was scared he would hurt his back by kicking out so I gave up trying after a while.
I have recently started to use cotton towels in her hutch, which she isn't keen on because she isn't used to it and spends lots of time moving them around; in a nutshell making a real mess . What do other elderly bunny mums use and what tips would you give me please?
If a mucky bottom is going to be a regular thing I will HAVE to make a concerted effort in picking her up to clean her because of the dangers of flystrike. How do other mums pick their bunnies up that arn't used to it? I pretty much know how to do it but I just don't find it easy. When she is at the vets and scared out of her wits, then I can do it really easily because she doesn't move or struggle.
In general her health has been really really good and (touch wood) I have never had any real health issues with her apart from the odd dental WHICH instead of say once a year has suddenly changed to three months. She had spurs on the back in January and moderate ones again last month. I know how things to change so quickly with bunnies when there are problems and I am always right on top of it in seeking vet help, let's just say I am a bit of a worrier when my pets are concerned.
I have a supply of Meloxidyl on standby which my vet gave me which helps her now and then
Her diet is fine and she eats well, I have been weaning her back onto fresh grass the last few weeks and she is up to date with her jabs. She is currently indoors since her last dental because I didn't want her outside in the cold on her own (which made her depressed) and probably didn't do her arthritis any good as I noticed she couldn't be bothered to come out of her hutch for days (even with her heating pads).
She has plenty of the mixed hays (Vitakraft) and also your bog standard hay from a local pet shop. She has a small amount of the Science Selective pellets most days with small amounts of fresh veg/apple some days, fresh grass and dandelions.
Is there any form of supplement she can have for the arthritis? Do I need to change her diet in any way (her weight is perfect).
Are there any other general changes I should make that I haven't mentioned?
Bunnies moving into old age is something very new to me and I am looking for advice please on future care. I have always used dust extracted shavings with my buns and have never had any problems BUT I feel I need to move onto something else now as I think Bella may have a little arthritis (from reading up on the tell tale signs). She isn't quite able to reach her botty from watching her and as I type she has a clump of dried cecotropes which I am going to have to get the nurses at the vet to clean and clip her fur. The reason I say that is because she isn't used to being picked up, never has in fact. If you could have seen me chase her around the house just to get a towel around her to put drops in her eyes you would laugh yourselves stupid at me. I have never been confident in picking her up which stems from my little boy Cookie (whom I lost). He was a very skitty Dutch and whenever I tried he always made a real fuss and I was so paranoid and clutzy at handling him, I was scared he would hurt his back by kicking out so I gave up trying after a while.
I have recently started to use cotton towels in her hutch, which she isn't keen on because she isn't used to it and spends lots of time moving them around; in a nutshell making a real mess . What do other elderly bunny mums use and what tips would you give me please?
If a mucky bottom is going to be a regular thing I will HAVE to make a concerted effort in picking her up to clean her because of the dangers of flystrike. How do other mums pick their bunnies up that arn't used to it? I pretty much know how to do it but I just don't find it easy. When she is at the vets and scared out of her wits, then I can do it really easily because she doesn't move or struggle.
In general her health has been really really good and (touch wood) I have never had any real health issues with her apart from the odd dental WHICH instead of say once a year has suddenly changed to three months. She had spurs on the back in January and moderate ones again last month. I know how things to change so quickly with bunnies when there are problems and I am always right on top of it in seeking vet help, let's just say I am a bit of a worrier when my pets are concerned.
I have a supply of Meloxidyl on standby which my vet gave me which helps her now and then
Her diet is fine and she eats well, I have been weaning her back onto fresh grass the last few weeks and she is up to date with her jabs. She is currently indoors since her last dental because I didn't want her outside in the cold on her own (which made her depressed) and probably didn't do her arthritis any good as I noticed she couldn't be bothered to come out of her hutch for days (even with her heating pads).
She has plenty of the mixed hays (Vitakraft) and also your bog standard hay from a local pet shop. She has a small amount of the Science Selective pellets most days with small amounts of fresh veg/apple some days, fresh grass and dandelions.
Is there any form of supplement she can have for the arthritis? Do I need to change her diet in any way (her weight is perfect).
Are there any other general changes I should make that I haven't mentioned?