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My Bunny is Sneezing, and her eyes are runny. What is wrong with here and what do i
do?
First it need to be taken to a vet as soon as possible. Make sure that the vet has treated rabbit before and know what they are doing. He/She will probably listen to the chest and
do a nose swab. They will be looking to see if it is an upper respiratory infection or possible pasturella ( not common). Depending on what they find you will be given antibiotics to treat the infection which will have instructions on how often to administer.
. Make sure to ask the vet if you need to give beneficial bacteria to you rabbit because the antibiotics can sometimes wipe out the flora and fauna in the gut.
My Degu is Losing Fur on its Legs and Stomach. I am Giving it the Proper Food and the Bedding is Right. What Else Could be Wrong?
This could be a couple of problems. The first one to look for is if it has mites. These are a tiny microscopic bugs that can lead to mange and fur loss. The vet will probably do a skin scraping to tell if it is. The next thing it could be is a case of fighting for dominance if there are more then one degu together. If it is a female they probably wont be fighting too often but it is more common in boys. Keep an eye on them to see if one
is being picked on. When the Dominant degu mounts the submissive one they can sometimes nibble or bite the one they've mounted which will result in fur loss.
The next possibility is it could be diabetic. This will need to be checked by a vet asap as it could go into shock. It will also be partnered with weight loss and an ruffled coat as well as lots of water consumption.
The final possibility is that it could have a tooth abscess or some kind of injury in the mouth. This will also need to be checked by a vet. It would be losing its fur because it is pulling it out from the stress and because of pain. The vet will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and it will need to be hand feed because it will be too painful to chew.
I
Just Bought my Rat from a Pet Store and it is Sneezing and has Discharge from
its Nose. What is Wrong?
It probably has an
upper respiratory infection. Unfortunately this is quite common in pet
stores as the care is not adequate. It needs to be seen by a vet asap
because it can become quite serious. The vet will probably do a culture
and listen to the chest and prescribe antibiotics. It can usually be cured
and there will be a recheck in a couple of weeks. Please visit the
Small Animal Disease Section for more information.
Do
I Need To Groom My Rabbit?
Rabbits are similar to cats in that they do a lot of
self-grooming. A rabbit spends considerable time licking its coat, as well as
its paws to wash its face. It even goes so far as to grab an ear and slide it
through its licked paws to clean there, too.
Self-grooming aside, owners
still need to help out. Long haired breeds, such as angora rabbits, need daily
brushing to keep shedding under control. Shorter-haired breeds need weekly
brushing, with daily brushing during particularly heavy shedding periods. In
addition to keeping stray hairs off your clothing and furniture, frequent
brushing prevents a rabbit from ingesting large amounts of hair during
self-grooming, which could possibly lead to gastrointestinal blockage. Grooming
includes trimming nails about every six to eight weeks. Overgrown nails are
uncomfortable and can catch on cage flooring, rugs or carpet, which may tear the
nail. Baths are usually unnecessary for bunnies and can cause stress for a
rabbit. If your rabbit is soiled, dab the area with a wet cloth. If your rabbit
is infested with fleas, consult a veterinarian for specific treatment options.
Flea treatments designed for cats and dogs may not be safe for rabbits. Please
visit the Rabbit Grooming
Section.
Why Should I spay or
Neuter My Rabbit?
Rabbits are notorious breeders. If your plans don’t
include a warren of rabbits, spaying or neutering prevents unwanted pregnancy if
two or more rabbits of the opposite sex are kept together. Spaying is generally
thought to reduce a doe’s (female rabbit’s) risk of uterine and ovarian cancer,
as well as occurrences of mammary tumors. Neutering a buck (male rabbit) is
often done to reduce hormonal behavior like spraying, urinating, dropping fecal
pellets, aggressiveness and mounting behavior. Spaying also decreases similar
hormonal behavior in female rabbits. Spaying and neutering have the added bonus
of significantly increasing the chance of litter training success. Please
Click
here to find out more about fixing your
rabbit.
How
Long Will My Rabbit Live?
With proper care, a rabbit can live an
average of six to 10 years. Like most prey animals, they spend very little of
this time as babies (called kits). Don’t adopt a rabbit until it has been
weaned, which is after around 8 weeks of age. Rabbit adolescence peaks around 4
to 8 months old, depending on the breed. Adolescents are even more curious and
energetic. Rabbits are considered seniors after the age of 5 or older, depending
on the breed. Once your rabbit becomes a “senior,” annual vet checkups become
even more essential to keeping your rabbit healthy in its golden
years.
How
Can I Tell If My Rabbit Needs To Be Seen By Vet?
If your rabbit stops
eating or drinking, it needs to go to the vet. Rabbits are grazers (eating small
amounts of food several times a day), so a dramatic decline in eating should
raise a red flag that something is wrong. Aside from obvious injuries caused by
mishaps (bleeding, broken bones), many more subtle symptoms warrant a visit to a
rabbit-savvy veterinarian.
- Discharge around the eyes
- Abnormal hair loss (bald spots) not
attributed to shedding
- Excessively scaly or scabby
skin
- Swollen joints, feet or body
surfaces
- Bloody urination
- Loose stools
- A decrease in the size of stools
- Nasal discharge and/or sneezing
- Tooth grinding and/or abnormal tooth
formation (grinding teeth can indicate stomach pain)
- Anorexia for more than 24 hours
to see a vet immediately.
How Do I Pick Up My Rabbit?
Rabbits are prey animals and, for some shy
and skittish bunnies, being picked up often triggers a flee response. Have
control over your rabbit’s body, especially its hind legs, before lifting it up.
Picking up a rabbit as it attempts to run away or not holding a rabbit securely
can lead to serious injury, such as a broken back. Never pick a rabbit up by its
ears — this is a sure way to traumatize your bunny and cause undue pain. Never
grab a rabbit by its midsection because it can injure its back if it
kicks. Instead, lift the rabbit up in a calm matter, with one hand under
its belly and the other holding the back of its rump (not under it). Then
support the back half of the rabbit’s body with one hand, and support the front
half, under the belly, with your other hand. For additional support, hold the
rabbit close to your body. In households with young children, have the child sit
on the floor, and then gently place the bunny on his or her lap.
How Do I Bond With My
Bunny?
Start by trying to see the world from your rabbit’s point of
view: You’re a prey animal, perhaps in a new, unfamiliar environment, and sudden
movements, loud noises and creatures towering above frighten you. To
minimize your rabbit’s fears, let it explore a small, rabbit-proofed room. Lie
down on the floor, and simply watch your bunny. Rabbits are curious, and yours
will eventually come over to you. Let it approach on its own terms. Once it has
come by a couple times to check you out, see if it will accept some gentle head
petting or a treat. Don’t force petting or grab your rabbit. Make this a daily
session. Gaining a rabbit’s trust may take a day or months, so
patience truly is a virtue. Your rabbit will become more and more comfortable
with you, and start to view you as a friend instead of a foe. One clear sign
that your rabbit has accepted you is if it nudges your hand or hops on your lap
— a rabbit’s way of saying, “Pet me, please.”