| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Kholran
Site Admin
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 784
|
 Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Not making a word of it up. I worked for a year and a half in an animal shelter specifically with the rabbit population (we had over 60 within the shelter system at any given time). In that time, I got a lot of education from the on-site veterinary staff regarding the rabbits, as well as numerous "rabbit people" who had been keeping rabbits and doing research on them for years. I also got a certificate through VSPN (Veterinary Support Personnel Network) for course completion in Rabbit Behavior and Physiology and worked very closely with the House Rabbit Society (which is one of the leading authorities on proper rabbit care in the United States).
The problem is that people think rabbits are not as important as dogs and cats, and so the information available about their needs ranges from mildly inaccurate to downright wrong. Most cat/dog veterinarians are NOT qualified to treat rabbits, and know almost nothing about them. The vast majority of small-animal vets can't even differentiate a male rabbit from a female. The information that they DID get in vet school, unless they attended VERY recently (within the last 5 years), is mostly wrong and outdated. Unless you've spoken to a qualified "exotics" vet (one that is also qualified to treat snakes, rats, ferrets, birds, and other less common pets), I would take what they say with a grain of salt.
Rabbits are one of the most misunderstood and mistreated pet species there is BECAUSE of all the bad information out there (coincidentally, they are the third most surrendered pet to shelters behind cats and dogs, and most rabbits entering shelters are euthanized because they don't have the facilities or knowledgeable staff to deal with them). Don't just buy into everything your 4-H leader says...do your own research. There's plenty of resources out there.
Actually, reading through ARBA's FAQ...there's a lot of false information there. Not a site I would ever give to anyone as a good reference. You'll find a lot more accurate information at http://rabbit.org which puts together the latest information straight from vets and behaviorists. True, in some cases, there is no "right way" or "wrong way". But in other cases, there definitely IS, and for your rabbits' health and happiness, I do hope you take them into consideration. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
LouLou07
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 4178
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Kholran wrote: | The problem is that people think rabbits are not as important as dogs and cats, and so the information available about their needs ranges from mildly inaccurate to downright wrong. Most cat/dog veterinarians are NOT qualified to treat rabbits, and know almost nothing about them. The vast majority of small-animal vets can't even differentiate a male rabbit from a female. The information that they DID get in vet school, unless they attended VERY recently (within the last 5 years), is mostly wrong and outdated. Unless you've spoken to a qualified "exotics" vet (one that is also qualified to treat snakes, rats, ferrets, birds, and other less common pets), I would take what they say with a grain of salt.
Rabbits are one of the most misunderstood and mistreated pet species there is BECAUSE of all the bad information out there (coincidentally, they are the third most surrendered pet to shelters behind cats and dogs, and most rabbits entering shelters are euthanized because they don't have the facilities or knowledgeable staff to deal with them). Don't just buy into everything your 4-H leader says...do your own research. There's plenty of resources out there. |
My vet was mainly a cat/dog vet so only knew general stuff about rabbit health like vaccs and general health checks. We now have another vet at our practice who seems to know more. I don't think there are that many rabbit vets around my area  I guess not many people train to be rabbit vets because they don't think they are that important or need treating as much.  Although there are lots of things that can happen to bunnies.
I went to a college once for a taster day last year for an animal management course and ended up appalled at the end of the day. As all the rabbits were in pretty small enclosures (about 3 foot by 2foot) and they rarely had time to run around. They were also on loads of pellets (about 2 to 3 big scoops). There hay was cheap rubbish stuff and they looked really unhappy. We had a booklet for all the different animals we looked at and in the rabbit one there was the question "What should 80% of the rabbits diet be made up of?" "A. straw, B. Pellets or C. hay" all the people in my group were numpties and didn't know so I told them that it was hay. When the instructor went through the answers she said it was pellets  and i was sat there literally doing this Those poor bunnies 
I think the main problem is that many people don't think that rabbits are complicated animals but I would say that they take a lot more looking after than cats and dogs. They have such different personalities and require so much looking after and can be hard work.
I have 6 very very spoilt bunnies. 5 of which were rescued rabbits  One was being sold for greyhound meat before he was rescued. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kholran
Site Admin
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 784
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| LouLou07 wrote: |
My vet was mainly a cat/dog vet so only knew general stuff about rabbit health like vaccs and general health checks. We now have another vet at our practice who seems to know more. I don't think there are that many rabbit vets around my area I guess not many people train to be rabbit vets because they don't think they are that important or need treating as much. Although there are lots of things that can happen to bunnies.
I went to a college once for a taster day last year for an animal management course and ended up appalled at the end of the day. As all the rabbits were in pretty small enclosures (about 3 foot by 2foot) and they rarely had time to run around. They were also on loads of pellets (about 2 to 3 big scoops). There hay was cheap rubbish stuff and they looked really unhappy. We had a booklet for all the different animals we looked at and in the rabbit one there was the question "What should 80% of the rabbits diet be made up of?" "A. straw, B. Pellets or C. hay" all the people in my group were numpties and didn't know so I told them that it was hay. When the instructor went through the answers she said it was pellets and i was sat there literally doing this Those poor bunnies
I think the main problem is that many people don't think that rabbits are complicated animals but I would say that they take a lot more looking after than cats and dogs. They have such different personalities and require so much looking after and can be hard work.
I have 6 very very spoilt bunnies. 5 of which were rescued rabbits One was being sold for greyhound meat before he was rescued. |
That's exactly it. Rabbits are actually MUCH harder to care for properly than a cat or dog. Hands down. But then you get a string of misinformation... Someone had some vet training a decade ago, and then passes that bad information on to clients, who pass the bad information on to THEIR contacts and so on and so on, and people take this as 'expert advice' when in reality it's SO outdated and wrong that it can actually do the animal harm. The vast majority of CORRECT information has come out in the last 5-10 years...although it's really not being taught because of what I just said. People think they already know the right way, and so don't bother keeping up with new research.
Good on you for rescuing though...there are SO many abandoned rabbits out there, both in shelters and people who just "let them be free". Can get great companions in animal shelters and save two lives at the same time  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daisy Rabbit Mae
Joined: 17 Jan 2009
Posts: 1970
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I acctually think rabbits are very easy to take care of,all you have to do is love and want ur rabbits to live. All it takes is a little motavation. so if your getting a rabbit then it is a lot of responsebility but they are awesome very fun, cute, and adorable! (My opinion) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kholran
Site Admin
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 784
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Unfortunately, the best INTENTIONS are not enough. You can love an animal as much as you want, but in the end, if you don't have the knowledge to care for it properly, you will end up causing it more harm. Animal care is not just hugs and kisses...if you think that's all it takes then please do the animals a favor and give them to someone who will actually do what is needed to keep them healthy. And that's MY opinion. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LouLou07
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 4178
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | I acctually think rabbits are very easy to take care of,all you have to do is love and want ur rabbits to live. All it takes is a little motavation. so if your getting a rabbit then it is a lot of responsebility but they are awesome very fun, cute, and adorable! (My opinion) |
They really aren't! They need worming, claws trimming (impossible on black claws not easy seeing red through black!), cleaning out everyday, brushing (everyday if long haired or maulting) or (once a week if not), hay topped up probably 3-4 times a day (very important that they have lots of hay), vaccinations, regular check ups on general health and knowledge on the illnesses and diseases of rabbits (especially the early signs of stasis)
Maybe I find it hard work because my rabbits are split into pairs. 2 of the pairs have sheds and 1 pair has the run of my conservatory (which isn''t small) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daisy Rabbit Mae
Joined: 17 Jan 2009
Posts: 1970
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| LouLou07 wrote: | | Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | I acctually think rabbits are very easy to take care of,all you have to do is love and want ur rabbits to live. All it takes is a little motavation. so if your getting a rabbit then it is a lot of responsebility but they are awesome very fun, cute, and adorable! (My opinion) |
They really aren't! They need worming, claws trimming (impossible on black claws not easy seeing red through black!), cleaning out everyday, brushing (everyday if long haired or maulting) or (once a week if not), hay topped up probably 3-4 times a day (very important that they have lots of hay), vaccinations, regular check ups on general health and knowledge on the illnesses and diseases of rabbits (especially the early signs of stasis)
Maybe I find it hard work because my rabbits are split into pairs. 2 of the pairs have sheds and 1 pair has the run of my conservatory (which isn''t small) |
O well I don't have to clean my cage, my cage is outside and wire, it is literally 3 stories high and 9 ft tall so they are safe and if your in 4-H they do vaccinations and worming and stuff all you have gotta do is study diseases which I enjoy because I am a vet in training so thats why. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kholran
Site Admin
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 784
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | LouLou07 wrote: | | Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | I acctually think rabbits are very easy to take care of,all you have to do is love and want ur rabbits to live. All it takes is a little motavation. so if your getting a rabbit then it is a lot of responsebility but they are awesome very fun, cute, and adorable! (My opinion) |
They really aren't! They need worming, claws trimming (impossible on black claws not easy seeing red through black!), cleaning out everyday, brushing (everyday if long haired or maulting) or (once a week if not), hay topped up probably 3-4 times a day (very important that they have lots of hay), vaccinations, regular check ups on general health and knowledge on the illnesses and diseases of rabbits (especially the early signs of stasis)
Maybe I find it hard work because my rabbits are split into pairs. 2 of the pairs have sheds and 1 pair has the run of my conservatory (which isn''t small) |
O well I don't have to clean my cage, my cage is outside and wire, it is literally 3 stories high and 9 ft tall so they are safe and if your in 4-H they do vaccinations and worming and stuff all you have gotta do is study diseases which I enjoy because I am a vet in training so thats why. |
If you are a "vet in training", I have to wonder why you would subject your animals to such a crippling disease as bumblefoot. No vet I know of (or in fact ANYONE who had any concern for their animal's welfare) would purposely keep their animals in a harmful situation like that when it's something that's so easy to prevent (by creating a smooth floor). You sound VERY young, and VERY naive about the whole thing...and it sounds like you're just doing what you're told, whether or not it's right. So I do hope for your animals' sake that you start doing your own research and fix their living conditions. Otherwise, they're not going to be seeing that 8-12 year lifespan, and that would be a terrible waste of life. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LouLou07
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 4178
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | LouLou07 wrote: | | Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | I acctually think rabbits are very easy to take care of,all you have to do is love and want ur rabbits to live. All it takes is a little motavation. so if your getting a rabbit then it is a lot of responsebility but they are awesome very fun, cute, and adorable! (My opinion) |
They really aren't! They need worming, claws trimming (impossible on black claws not easy seeing red through black!), cleaning out everyday, brushing (everyday if long haired or maulting) or (once a week if not), hay topped up probably 3-4 times a day (very important that they have lots of hay), vaccinations, regular check ups on general health and knowledge on the illnesses and diseases of rabbits (especially the early signs of stasis)
Maybe I find it hard work because my rabbits are split into pairs. 2 of the pairs have sheds and 1 pair has the run of my conservatory (which isn''t small) |
O well I don't have to clean my cage, my cage is outside and wire, it is literally 3 stories high and 9 ft tall so they are safe and if your in 4-H they do vaccinations and worming and stuff all you have gotta do is study diseases which I enjoy because I am a vet in training so thats why. |
Do they not even get straw to stand in? That must be awfully uncomfortable for the rabbits. And must be filthy, covered in poos etc. You must have to clean it out. All mine have lino flooring (makes cleaning up so much easier) and carpets in the sheds plus a hutch area covered in straw. As well has 1 or 2 litter trays (no litter or special bunny litter), which they are very good at using. The conservatory bunnies have all carpet plus a opened up cage where their litter tray and eating area is.
Just wondering how many rabbits do you have and are they all living together? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cecelia
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 1487
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Rabbits do need a flat surface in their cage at all times or atleast a thick layer of bedding over the wire so they do not harm their feet. There is a ton of wrong information out there about rabbits I have been told that you can put in as many pellets as you want for them and they will eat only what they need. That is just one example of ignorance in the rabbit world. If you don't have a litter box for each rabbit already I strongly suggest that you get some. Most rabbits do their business in one corner anyways so litter training them is normally not difficult and makes their cages a ton easier to clean! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daisy Rabbit Mae
Joined: 17 Jan 2009
Posts: 1970
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| most of their home is covered with hay but where they go to the bathroom i don't have it covered, also I shovle out once every like what? 4 months. I have two rabbits and yes they live together, Daisy is having babies a lot to but they all died because its too cold and Daisy isn't very responceble. I sound like a bad owner don't I? but my rabbits are very happy with their living space. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kholran
Site Admin
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 784
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | most of their home is covered with hay but where they go to the bathroom i don't have it covered, also I shovle out once every like what? 4 months. I have two rabbits and yes they live together, Daisy is having babies a lot to but they all died because its too cold and Daisy isn't very responceble. I sound like a bad owner don't I? but my rabbits are very happy with their living space. |
...Most of what I would like to say to that would get me banned from the forums. Yes, only a bad owner would first let their animal reproduce and then allow the offspring to die of hypothermia. That is one of the most irresponsible, cruel things I have EVER heard, and working in a shelter, I have heard a LOT of bad excuses. You either need to separate them in the winter so there ARE no offspring, or create a heated shelter and get proper vet care for the mother so that she doesn't lose her babies. As the owner, that is YOUR responsibility. YOU allow your animals to have offspring, YOU need to care for them. That means HAND REARING if the mother abandons them. I don't know how anyone could just sit back and watch life after life die and do nothing about it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daisy Rabbit Mae
Joined: 17 Jan 2009
Posts: 1970
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Kholran wrote: | | Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | most of their home is covered with hay but where they go to the bathroom i don't have it covered, also I shovle out once every like what? 4 months. I have two rabbits and yes they live together, Daisy is having babies a lot to but they all died because its too cold and Daisy isn't very responceble. I sound like a bad owner don't I? but my rabbits are very happy with their living space. |
...Most of what I would like to say to that would get me banned from the forums. Yes, only a bad owner would first let their animal reproduce and then allow the offspring to die of hypothermia. That is one of the most irresponsible, cruel things I have EVER heard, and working in a shelter, I have heard a LOT of bad excuses. You either need to separate them in the winter so there ARE no offspring, or create a heated shelter and get proper vet care for the mother so that she doesn't lose her babies. As the owner, that is YOUR responsibility. YOU allow your animals to have offspring, YOU need to care for them. That means HAND REARING if the mother abandons them. I don't know how anyone could just sit back and watch life after life die and do nothing about it. |
You know what? I don't care what you think!!! Ok!!! This offends me more than ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! You should be banned anyway!!! It's not my fault many babies before died because I messed with them so now I'm NEVER touching the babies again no matter what!!! Any body in their right mind that calls me a bad owner should be banned!!! I have a very warm place to keep the babies!!! I have an all wood box and blankets, and fur!!! I don't sit back and watch them die either!!! I just promise myself I will never ever touch them because I don't want to keep going through the same thing over and over again!!! If you know anything about rabbits you would be saying not to touch them!!! I've hand raised before and that is just more upsetting for me and them!!! they won't live anyway if you hand raise them!!! They don't get the right nutreunts and they eventually die and that is not a good thing to see!!! And just because a vet told you the info doesn't make everything true!!! Usually vets just want you to buy their medicine!!! enless they are homopathic vet!!! And most vets don't know what they are talking about!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LouLou07
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 4178
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | most of their home is covered with hay but where they go to the bathroom i don't have it covered, also I shovle out once every like what? 4 months. I have two rabbits and yes they live together, Daisy is having babies a lot to but they all died because its too cold and Daisy isn't very responceble. I sound like a bad owner don't I? but my rabbits are very happy with their living space. |
You really should have where they wee covered in hay or straw with newspaper underneath as rabbits love eating while they are weeing and if you don't they are sitting in wee thats been there for 4months. 4 months really isn't often enough, once a week is pretty bad but 4 months is unacceptable really. That is really unhygenic and can lead to all sorts of problems which can be pretty nasty. I once was looking after someones rabbits who had problems because of being sat in poo and wee. The poor things were in a lot of pain and had poo stuck to their feet which we couldn't get off because it was so deep. To tell you the truth I think you should have them spayed and neutered as soon as poss. You clearly aren't upto breeding the rabbits and are probably going to give wrong information to anyone buying any of the babies. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LouLou07
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 4178
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Daisy Rabbit Mae wrote: | | You know what? I don't care what you think!!! Ok!!! This offends me more than ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! You should be banned anyway!!! It's not my fault many babies before died because I messed with them so now I'm NEVER touching the babies again no matter what!!! Any body in their right mind that calls me a bad owner should be banned!!! I have a very warm place to keep the babies!!! I have an all wood box and blankets, and fur!!! I don't sit back and watch them die either!!! I just promise myself I will never ever touch them because I don't want to keep going through the same thing over and over again!!! If you know anything about rabbits you would be saying not to touch them!!! I've hand raised before and that is just more upsetting for me and them!!! they won't live anyway if you hand raise them!!! They don't get the right nutreunts and they eventually die and that is not a good thing to see!!! And just because a vet told you the info doesn't make everything true!!! Usually vets just want you to buy their medicine!!! enless they are homopathic vet!!! And most vets don't know what they are talking about!!! |
This shows that before you started breeding you didn't even do any research into breeding rabbits. I really think you should have them spayed and neutered as the poor female will be feeling really stressed and upset from all this. To me you sound like an irresponsible owner who cannot be bothered paying to have the rabbits spayed and neutered. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
Search Forum & Players
Memberlist
My Farm
Log in to check PM
