tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64508377377017867852024-03-19T06:13:00.475-04:00The Rabbit AdvocateAnimal shelters around the country are overflowing with abandoned rabbits due largely to misconceptions about their behavior. Here I attempt to clarify and explain the intricacies of rabbit behavior.The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-59880023622771674722013-06-14T13:30:00.002-04:002013-06-14T13:30:43.513-04:00Rabbit Housing Series: The Litterbox<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i>The third and final installment in the housing series
focuses on the most important feature in the rabbit pen: the litterbox. </i>
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Many rabbits spend a lot of time in their
litterboxes, and use it not solely for elimination and hay consumption, but also view
it as a comfortable place to take a nap, groom, or just hang out. </div>
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Accordingly, the
box itself needs to be spacious enough to allow the rabbit to move around comfortably.
For a medium-sized single rabbit, a cat litterbox, such as <a href="http://www.target.com/p/boots-barkley-cat-litter-box-l/-/A-11195263" target="_blank">this one from Target</a>,
works perfectly. For a larger breed, or for a bonded pair or trio, invest instead
in a <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-2.7-Quart-Latch-Box-Set-of-6/20699631" target="_blank">large plastic container</a>.
They are large, cheap, and easy to clean. With multiple rabbits, I
recommend having multiple litterboxes to increase chance of good habits.
Multiple litterboxes are a good idea also if the
rabbit-proofed area is large or encompasses several rooms. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This plastic container is spacious enough for two.</td></tr>
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Litterboxes should be cleaned frequently, about every three
days, especially to avoid the buildup of ammonia that can cause respiratory issues when it becomes too
concentrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">White vinegar is a safe and effective cleaner. </span></td></tr>
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<b>Setting up the Litterbox </b></div>
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I recommend lining the box with newspaper before adding a
few inches of rabbit-safe litter. Carefresh and Yesterday’s News are great
options for odor absorption and wood stove pellets are a great economical
option. Some people like aspen shavings, but be sure to avoid pine or cedar chips as
those have been linked to health issues. Additionally, avoid any clumping or dusty cat litters. </div>
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Place a large amount of quality grass
hay on one side of the litterbox and make sure the hay is replenished
frequently. There should always be a generous portion of hay in the box, as it is <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/11/importance-of-hay.html" target="_blank">integral for a rabbit's well-being</a>. Rabbits tend
to eat the hay from one side of the box and use the other side of the box for
elimination purposes. </div>
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<b>Common Litterbox Problems</b></div>
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<i>Tipping over the box</i></div>
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If your rabbit is repeatedly tipping over his or
her litterbox, switch to a larger and more substantial litterbox. You
can also try switching to a heavier type of litter (wood
stove pellets, for instance, are heavier than Carefresh, etc). For the
really persistent rabbits, you can secure the box to the side of the
cage/pen with some heavy duty zip ties. This problem,
like most others, usually stems from boredom, so <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/11/question-from-audience-bunny-boredom.html" target="_blank">addressing the root of the problem</a> is also integral. <i> </i></div>
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<i>Digging in box</i></div>
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Nothing is more infuriating than coming home to an empty
litterbox with the contents spread all around the floor next to it. A <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/10/quick-tip-litter-box-trouble.html" target="_blank">homemade </a>or purchased grate can stop this problem easily. </div>
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<i>Not using box</i> </div>
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A rabbit who suddenly refuses to use a litterbox
could be suffering from a medical issue, such as a urinary tract
infection or stones, or even a neurologic
or orthopedic problem preventing physical entry into the box. A young
rabbit messing up previously perfect litterbox habits usually results
from an increase in hormones as he or she enters <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2009/01/question-from-audience-bunny-slipper.html" target="_blank">puberty</a>. All these warrant a visit to the veterinarian. </div>
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Lack
of proper litterbox habits could be behavioral as well. Is the
litterbox too dirty to be
appealing? Does the rabbit prefer another type of litter? Is the box
large enough to be accommodating? Some rabbits may need to be <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-litterbox-train-your-rabbit.html" target="_blank">re-trained</a> to use the litterbox. <br />
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<i>Urinating next to box </i></div>
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Your rabbit is using the litterbox and yet you find
urine
next to or under the box. This is an indication she may be urinating
over the edge of the box. Watch closely the next time she urinates and
you’ll notice her
raising her hind end ever so slightly prior to urination. If the edges
of the
box are too low, your rabbit could accidently be missing the box. Try a
box with a
higher edge, one that is larger, or even a covered cat litterbox. </div>
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Are there any other problems I haven’t covered? Leave them
in the comments section and I will address them as I can!</div>
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The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-18803316852054597712013-06-08T15:44:00.002-04:002013-06-08T15:44:34.524-04:00Help for Jeni-BunPlease check out this story of a rescued rabbit, Jeni-Bun down in Tennessee. <a href="http://www.cloverpatchsanctuary.com/" target="_blank">Clover Patch Sanctuary</a> is trying to raise funds for her surgery and medical treatments. See <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-for-jeni-bun/65010" target="_blank">here </a>for more information and <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-for-jeni-bun/65010" target="_blank">donate </a>if you can, and share this brave little girl's story!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/klQ5Fu4PyTo" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-83110208985394249442013-03-30T13:22:00.000-04:002013-03-30T13:22:25.662-04:00Annual Easter Reminder!Spread the word about keeping bunnies out of Easter baskets. Rabbits are not toys; they are a 10 year commitment! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx5E6BK03bVV_mPs_iYj7IgppCjYmyeRTSrfQWc8u6O-0q12X5omaiewib8NDqzO6nBzUvoQfHRcABkZIsrFUPBNPStqqyBekIevWOtlCg33TQHx6Jmfoh_rLZJuAi256Zrq85mKBl5g/s1600/ReindeerRabbitFlyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx5E6BK03bVV_mPs_iYj7IgppCjYmyeRTSrfQWc8u6O-0q12X5omaiewib8NDqzO6nBzUvoQfHRcABkZIsrFUPBNPStqqyBekIevWOtlCg33TQHx6Jmfoh_rLZJuAi256Zrq85mKBl5g/s400/ReindeerRabbitFlyer.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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And check out this <a href="http://www.dugdug.com/blog/the-easter-bunny-problem/">fabulous article</a> from our friends at <a href="http://www.dugdug.com/" target="_blank">DugDug</a> about rabbits, their care, and their role at Easter time!<br />
<br />The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-16851185997713016252013-03-12T21:49:00.000-04:002013-03-12T21:55:46.444-04:00Rabbit Housing Series: The Rabbit House<i>The second installment in the housing series describes ideas for the rabbit's actual cage/pen set-up. </i><br />
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Cages sold at pet stores for rabbits tend to be very small
except for the tiniest of rabbits, therefore invest instead in a large dog
crate, or better yet, a puppy exercise pen. The pens allow more freedom, are
easier to clean, and easier to manipulate, move, and store. They are versatile
in the spaces they can fit, too.<br />
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When setting up the rabbit’s living area, feel free to get creative. However, certain rules should be followed to ensure the safety and needs of the animal are met.<br />
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First, the floor of the living quarters should be solid,
that is, not wire-bottomed. Rabbits can develop “sore hocks” (ulcerative
pododermatitis) from standing on wire all day. The bottoms of rabbit feet are
covered in fur only and can get traumatized from uneven surfaces. Some breeds
are more predisposed to this than others (for instance, the Rex breeds). For
messier rabbits, I like to line the bottom of the pen with a vinyl floor
protector (<a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Vinyl-Protector-Runner-Clear-24-x-72/19592864">like this one, available from Walmart</a>). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most rabbits appreciate having a soft carpet
to lie on as well. </div>
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The cage or pen needs to be large enough so that the rabbit
can comfortably hop around and stand up on her hind legs without hitting her
head. The bigger, the better. </div>
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The rabbit’s house should include a large litterbox and
bowls for food and water. I also recommend having an assortment of toys such as
tunnels, cardboard boxes, cardboard rolls stuffed with hay, hay twists, stuffed
animals, and a hidey box. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4AqjEoAkBiUh9n8jH0oN3ahQwcZCNsPPOUDi7U9zC5oEd0CAFXT_1OHK7Yx4XrA98uWtFOMmybQ9G0Qag2sOH_QlMNNLY5I0Ls-RBE5bPqfaHDRHd9YYhAQdASvh8ZE6iin0bcGk2nI/s1600/chris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4AqjEoAkBiUh9n8jH0oN3ahQwcZCNsPPOUDi7U9zC5oEd0CAFXT_1OHK7Yx4XrA98uWtFOMmybQ9G0Qag2sOH_QlMNNLY5I0Ls-RBE5bPqfaHDRHd9YYhAQdASvh8ZE6iin0bcGk2nI/s400/chris.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A prime example of a rabbit house. The pen door is easily opened to allow the rabbits to run around and explore.</td></tr>
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The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-76045316428769573822013-02-20T21:11:00.000-05:002013-02-20T21:16:50.325-05:00Rabbit Housing Series: Housing PossibilitiesThe first of three installments in the <i>Housing Series</i> deals with variations in housing possibilities.<br />
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I’m often asked about the best way to house rabbits. Of course, <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2009/01/house-rabbit-is-happy-rabbit.html">indoor housing</a> is a must. But once inside, should a rabbit be caged? Penned? Allowed free-range?<br />
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While many bunny owners allow their rabbits to live in a free-range environment 24/7, this decision should be influenced by a variety of factors.
First, consider the available space: is there an entire room that can be closed off and completely <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/09/essentials-rabbit-proofing.html">rabbit-proofed</a>? If not, then keeping your rabbits penned up while you're gone may be a safer option.<br />
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Consider also the naughtiness level of the rabbit in question. Some rabbits are less inclined to chew and dig, and these guys are prime candidates for a free-range situation. In others, these behaviors are deeply ingrained and keeping them in some sort of containing structure (dog crate, pen) while they are unsupervised is highly recommended. As long as you allow your rabbits several hours of out-of-cage time daily, using a pen or large dog crate is perfectly acceptable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8satsyK9ZP9mpHjNDJ0F_dq4mMUeSQPpa3s1evXW9Te1kHmLPnifBvMAsvJB6L13v_GhPnSjdEqxTdkfwcTE85HfoiwZXEwMjRxtZnyKsqJ5-GHl8w1VJdlfAwY8yvUu6xo51BpWsQ9U/s1600/graysie_on_couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8satsyK9ZP9mpHjNDJ0F_dq4mMUeSQPpa3s1evXW9Te1kHmLPnifBvMAsvJB6L13v_GhPnSjdEqxTdkfwcTE85HfoiwZXEwMjRxtZnyKsqJ5-GHl8w1VJdlfAwY8yvUu6xo51BpWsQ9U/s400/graysie_on_couch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naughtiness Level: High</td></tr>
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Picking the area of the house to place the pen should be thoroughly planned out. It’s important that your rabbit be kept in a relatively high-traffic area of the house, such as the living room. This keeps the animal from becoming isolated and bored, and also makes giving the rabbit out-of-pen time easier. You should not have to pick up and carry your rabbit to a room where he or she can lounge—the constant chasing around and picking up is not conducive to a harmonious relationship.<br />
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It is much easier to keep the pen in an area of the house where you spend the most amount of time, and simply open the pen and let your rabbit out when you're home. When it’s time to pen her up, <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-train-your-rabbit.html">train </a>her to hop to her pen for a treat. This is much lower stress, and with rabbits, the lower the stress, the better for everyone.<br />
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Stay tuned for the second installment in the <i>Housing Series</i>, in which we will explore setting up the perfect rabbit pen!
The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-91461221437332745872011-07-10T14:50:00.003-04:002011-07-10T15:11:33.698-04:00Bunny Lessons from Amy Sedaris<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ev-5T3xEe9k?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Thanks to comedienne Amy Sedaris and HRS Educator Mary Cotter for this excellent video!The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-2489562423595244972011-04-17T21:14:00.011-04:002015-07-27T21:37:08.464-04:00The Easter Bunny Isn't Real<div class="MsoNormal">
I know all of us bunnyparents look forward to the Easter holiday season and the sudden availability of all imaginable rabbit-shaped objects that comes along with it. But while we’re enjoying the bunny cards and figurines, we need to realize that Easter is also a terrible time for many rabbits. Year after year, unsuspecting parents buy real baby bunnies to put in their children’s Easter baskets alongside jelly beans and chocolate eggs. Weeks later, these rabbits are dumped at shelters or (even worse) released into the wild, when the family slowly realizes that rabbits are not perfectly behaved inanimate objects. </div>
As you and I know, rabbits are not toys, and they’re certainly not appropriate gifts for young children. Help spread the word to people in your area by writing in to your local newspaper, putting up posters at obliging shops/malls/grocery stores/veterinary clinics, or simply talking to friends and family about the commitment involved in owning a rabbit. Shelter and rescue volunteers have already begun spreading the word all over the country and I urge you to reach out and educate your local town or city about choosing toy rabbits for Easter, and adopting real rabbits for life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YMWT0kz7ogPNaNl4MFbnWMZZdZwnHuTgGI3AIWC5INmIWP5NCfESMDWMo5rgkCrDzYkGsY8IRj_Rr53bqZqJevj5yP3SRdLMgPSp_MUqhUNv_dmj2ohr2Zpolqf197vJ6nHcGj2Cw8g/s1600/The+boys_RA.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596736826852031666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YMWT0kz7ogPNaNl4MFbnWMZZdZwnHuTgGI3AIWC5INmIWP5NCfESMDWMo5rgkCrDzYkGsY8IRj_Rr53bqZqJevj5yP3SRdLMgPSp_MUqhUNv_dmj2ohr2Zpolqf197vJ6nHcGj2Cw8g/s400/The+boys_RA.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">While Peanut (left) and Jimmy may look like toys, these 3 lb. dwarf rabbits are real-life bunny brothers, adopted for life by Caroline and Matt in Boston, MA.</span></span><br />
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To read more about a national Easter awareness initiative, check out the House Rabbit Society’s <a href="http://www.makeminechocolate.org/">Make Mine Chocolate</a> campaign.</div>
The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-49043170913393781942011-03-15T08:29:00.005-04:002011-03-15T08:29:00.479-04:00And the Winner of the Adoption Story Contest is......Kelly S. in Boston, MA!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17n1BhYhe0vNWBCYVWdENNBdQ1k9tq0hE8H-bDDeosxrW4groytq_yRJlWNakNygx48lTa2ByhcTHwAilctjMg-9e_ZMDcgoM-P9M3k0rqFFDlfE_lubtxlJxMbZPM3dcxMpl15zf3E4/s1600/bun2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17n1BhYhe0vNWBCYVWdENNBdQ1k9tq0hE8H-bDDeosxrW4groytq_yRJlWNakNygx48lTa2ByhcTHwAilctjMg-9e_ZMDcgoM-P9M3k0rqFFDlfE_lubtxlJxMbZPM3dcxMpl15zf3E4/s400/bun2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584118505118776050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"As a small animal volunteer at the local shelter, I’m always fighting the urge to adopt. “Our apartment is too small,” “my boyfriend would never agree to adopt a rabbit,” and “how would our cats react?” were typical thoughts that reminded me I was not in a position to adopt a small animal. However, everything changed when Bunnicula, a large New Zealand rabbit, was brought to the shelter. The sign on the window of her cage stated that her previous owners no longer had time to care for her. I opened the door to her cage that first day and Bunnicula hopped right over to me, giving my hand a little nudge to let me know she wanted attention. I remember thinking that she was so calm and gentle, despite her large size. As the months went by, I saw many of the smaller rabbits get adopted, but Bunnicula remained at the shelter. Maybe people we intimidated by her size, or her white fur and bright pink eyes. But to me, she was perfect, and I knew it was time to give this wonderful bunny her forever home. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zHF3A_msSxfVcaqMXDs4R-72N_GXfUp-jDNdE6FelrgMiWr564dSjeHqSCHu1NQI7CigaeD3airB8RZ35FdY6-3PZcZF6DISQWzxvfGzoCeX2usKUjd7ZCGUGEWJBikgi6w9_PHtJg0/s1600/bun3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zHF3A_msSxfVcaqMXDs4R-72N_GXfUp-jDNdE6FelrgMiWr564dSjeHqSCHu1NQI7CigaeD3airB8RZ35FdY6-3PZcZF6DISQWzxvfGzoCeX2usKUjd7ZCGUGEWJBikgi6w9_PHtJg0/s400/bun3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584120544648561602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bunnicula (or Boo as we like to call her) is the perfect addition to our family. I found out that our apartment could easily handle a rabbit, my boyfriend has a soft spot for bunnies, and that cats and rabbits can be best friends. We couldn’t imagine our family without our Boo!</span>"<br /><br />What a wonderful story! And it has a great moral too-- to never judge a book by it's cover. When choosing a pet for adoption, sometimes we can get really caught up in certain looks or specific breeds that we imagine for ourselves. Kelly and Boo remind us that personality and character are what really matter when picking a best friend. New Zealands generally have laid-back, outgoing personalities but can have trouble finding homes because of their large size or red eyes (personally, I think they look like beautiful rubies). In honor of Petfinder's "<a href="http://www.petfinder.com/info/adopt-the-internet">Adopt the Internet Day</a>" and Boo's story, here are a handful of Petfinder profiles of available New Zealands in the midwest:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18845033">Whitley</a>, in Brownsburg, IN, via <a href="http://www.earps.org/Site/Home.html">EARPS Exotic Animal Rescue<br /></a><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17568150">Louie</a>, in Louisville, KY, via <a href="http://www.indianahrs.org/news-details.aspx?newsId=200">Indiana HRS</a><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17568162">Mo</a>, in Louisville, KY, via <a href="http://www.indianahrs.org/news-details.aspx?newsId=200">Indiana HRS<br /></a><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18709978">Rosey</a>, in Urbana, IL, via <a href="http://www.cuhumane.org/">Champaign County Humane Society</a><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/16535495">Angel</a>, in Madison, WI, via <a href="http://www.wisconsinhrs.org/">Wisconsin HRS</a><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/16943965">Floyd</a>, in Plymouth, MI, via <a href="http://www.rabbitrr.org/">Midwest Rabbit Rescue and Rehome</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/index.html">Petfinder.com</a> is so great because you can see pictures and read descriptions of animals' personalities, allowing you to find the perfect match for your family. Hoppy 15th birthday <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/index.html">Petfinder</a> and congrats to our contest winner!The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-13427050297117513482011-03-03T21:26:00.012-05:002011-03-03T22:58:53.804-05:00Celebrate Petfinder's Birthday by Sending in Your Adoption Story!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/info/adopt-the-internet?utm_source=adopt-the-internet&utm_medium=adopt-the-internet&utm_campaign=adopt-the-internet"><img src="http://www.petfinder.com/images/adopt-the-internet/rabbit-banner.jpg" alt="Petfinder Adopt-the-Internet Day" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />March 15, 2011 will be <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/index.html">Petfinder.com's</a> 15th birthday! This revolutionary website has not only helped unite hundreds of thousands of homeless pets with their adoptive parents, it also tirelessly works to educate and entertain the public with their blog, message boards, library of articles on pet health, behavior, training, and much more. To celebrate this exciting milestone, <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/index.html">Petfinder.com</a> is staging a <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/info/adopt-the-internet">takeover of the Internet</a> on March 15. This will entail a massive awareness explosion about adoption and shelter animals by numerous participating pet-centric blogs.<br /><br />In honor of this momentous occasion, here at <a href="http://www.therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/">The Rabbit Advocate</a>, I am hosting a rabbit adoption story contest. <a href="mailto:TheRabbitAdvocate@gmail.com">Send</a> in a picture and story (up to 100 words) of how you and your bunny friend found each other and I will post a winner here on March 15th. Let's all get to writing!The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-53043733435160767162011-02-03T12:53:00.009-05:002011-02-03T13:32:58.223-05:00There's no better time to spoil your bunnyToday is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWTd0BMdtvg">National Carrot Day</a>, apparently. And with it being February, which has been declared "<a href="http://www.petfinder.com/blog/2011/02/01/happy-tail-february-is-adopt-a/">Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month</a>," and the year 2011, which is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_%28zodiac%29">Year of the Rabbit</a> in Chinese astrology, I dare say the stars are aligned for indulging your rabbit(s) with an extra piece of carrot this evening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVWW0zjFTHzfjbw8vqEnG8TaApmYSMbVLdiBBWPpK-pmTfF9QMdekbWHfHeVlj300LBG29_F6PG6at1-F1mid7vQ0i9Dm0WUMMs6guvJo8f1qC_C3oIv-gLGzmfJD1DHoo8HlSzU5pcs/s1600/16564_526487952913_115200139_31405676_476965_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVWW0zjFTHzfjbw8vqEnG8TaApmYSMbVLdiBBWPpK-pmTfF9QMdekbWHfHeVlj300LBG29_F6PG6at1-F1mid7vQ0i9Dm0WUMMs6guvJo8f1qC_C3oIv-gLGzmfJD1DHoo8HlSzU5pcs/s400/16564_526487952913_115200139_31405676_476965_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569529571972404546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >This message brought to you by Daisy and rabbits around the world. </span>The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-52599287971014600522010-11-14T19:35:00.012-05:002010-11-14T20:41:22.605-05:00Tips on Saving Bunny MoneyMost owners know that rabbits are not cheap pets-- their medical care as exotic animals can add up, and they seem to love chewing on your most expensive items (clothes, furniture, equipment, etc.). However, there are several easy ways to reduce the costs of their daily care and manage your rabbit expenses more effectively.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hay</span><br />Buying small bags of hay from commercial pet stores can get expensive fast! Buying hay directly from a farmer (<a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2010/08/farm-fresh-hay-database.html">check out or contribute to the national hay database</a>) can cut costs way down. Ordering hay in 50 lb boxes online from farms is already a bargain compared to the small bags from pet stores, but taking a trip to a local farmer to buy a bale is really the way to go. A bale of Timothy hay, which can last several months, typically costs about $10.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vegetables</span><br />Ask your local grocery store to collect their vegetable scraps for you. Grocery stores throw away tons of perfectly good veggies, including carrot, beet, and radish tops, or the outer layers of lettuces, cabbages, and other greens. Farmer's markets are also a fantastic source for free vegetables. Be sure to never use vegetables that look wilted or old and wash everything extra carefully. Another idea is to try growing your own mint (which grows like a weed), parsley or other herbs in your garden.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Litter</span><br />A little insider knowledge here can save you some big bucks! If you use Yesterday's News, buy the bags in the cat litter section, as they tend to be much cheaper per pound than the bags sold in the small animal section. Another economical option is to buy wood stove pellets from a hardware store (like Lowe's). A 40lb bag can cost you around $6, depending on where you live. Wood stove pellets are similar to Feline Pine litter, and work just as well, but are up to three times cheaper.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Litterbox</span><br />A litterbox is really just a plastic box, so why pay extra money for a fancy cat litterpan from a pet store, when you can grab a shallow plastic box from Walmart for half the price?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Toys</span><br />There are a lot of expensive bunny toys available, but it seems more often than not, rabbits just love playing with old fashioned toys that don't cost a cent, like cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay, and cardboard tunnels or castles. Buying baby toys (like plastic keys on a ring, etc.) can be cheaper than a similar product sold in a pet store. Just make sure that the plastic is hard, and not the "teething" kind, which can be chewed and ingested.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And one thing not to skimp on... </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Pellets</span><br />There's a wide variety of pellets available, with a wide variety of price tags. You don't need to go for the most expensive bag out there, but you do need to make sure the first ingredient is Timothy hay, as opposed to Alfalfa. Alfalfa-based products tend to be cheaper, and you might have to pay noticeably more for the high-quality Timothy-based ones, but with all the money you've saved with the other techniques, this should be a fair trade off!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFt3qrPz0iCuFmy0FGxPASFb5Eu_mXzAh3pbpXqQjFuOCXaraTjEe8zaPUywVG_L4Z9P-JwFF2e7N5p_yBtKQrkXZR1EDP7LkZ5Q2DEJTZfurLTptcLOetgg2mSZRf1BkHM3PeUr_SFug/s1600/033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFt3qrPz0iCuFmy0FGxPASFb5Eu_mXzAh3pbpXqQjFuOCXaraTjEe8zaPUywVG_L4Z9P-JwFF2e7N5p_yBtKQrkXZR1EDP7LkZ5Q2DEJTZfurLTptcLOetgg2mSZRf1BkHM3PeUr_SFug/s400/033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539581078384700306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Graysie contemplating the various aspects of personal finance. </span>The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-75021414259737117412010-09-13T23:11:00.017-04:002010-09-14T00:14:16.564-04:00Maloccluded No More.. An Update on Charley<a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2009/11/health-special-malocclusion-in-rabbits.html">We met Charley back in November 2009</a>, a young bunny at a shelter, days away from euthanasia due to his dental condition. His case taught me not only about rabbit malocclusion, but also about maintaining hope in a desperate situation, and more specifically, about the importance of giving every shelter animal a fighting chance, despite medical setbacks.<br /><br />It occurred to me today that you all might want an update on his whereabouts and even see a few pictures of him in his new life.<br /><br />Believe it or not, Charley was adopted by an amazing woman who already owned a toothless rabbit, Pedro, (and a fully-toothed one as well, Rico)-- both of whom had also been adopted from the <a href="http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/">House Rabbit Network</a>. She sends me regular updates and pictures of him and his brothers. Suffice it to say, he is one lucky rabbit. I'll leave it to the pictures for the rest of the story.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeWn96uSBK1Jf2GFwUIts4tat5pPxjLmNKoL-8U_Gmzu_p4oyrRgGWfkRk_717ntN8Wtp6yQ_K-jQwrc4b9zUxENrpwe3XMlf_nQE1sXb_9cFu6TlGzT4VoNyr9lOalY6gBy6qkgErr4/s1600/Charley_1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeWn96uSBK1Jf2GFwUIts4tat5pPxjLmNKoL-8U_Gmzu_p4oyrRgGWfkRk_717ntN8Wtp6yQ_K-jQwrc4b9zUxENrpwe3XMlf_nQE1sXb_9cFu6TlGzT4VoNyr9lOalY6gBy6qkgErr4/s400/Charley_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516612044013864850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3hnaYp7h53tt80h1M9PxeORzHzKtU53GUQnmqtBO0lPwg6R_zhfywSkssv62ZagolC-ILzaANm-zQHUvyYX9yf0skMs1dT5VF8fb4VMpujUdGRGgQxWSYmHkf-CR4juw_oQNWFN0OQY/s1600/Charley_7.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3hnaYp7h53tt80h1M9PxeORzHzKtU53GUQnmqtBO0lPwg6R_zhfywSkssv62ZagolC-ILzaANm-zQHUvyYX9yf0skMs1dT5VF8fb4VMpujUdGRGgQxWSYmHkf-CR4juw_oQNWFN0OQY/s400/Charley_7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516611661454026242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8koFO1rubWJ26OsxhzyeW0X9Xcf9qCexiGeMq6aGMYTbx3dFNaK66ml8VjjE1y4f4s3EafxvL4HUpTSBtOdDCfFIaDUflayx15APZucvxrzw11GI7gjOmCUkCUNxwo0qp8iXPjQpO4fQ/s1600/Charley_5.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8koFO1rubWJ26OsxhzyeW0X9Xcf9qCexiGeMq6aGMYTbx3dFNaK66ml8VjjE1y4f4s3EafxvL4HUpTSBtOdDCfFIaDUflayx15APZucvxrzw11GI7gjOmCUkCUNxwo0qp8iXPjQpO4fQ/s400/Charley_5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516610856438350594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe2bBlut9YWywx74Ukosxg5bTUEl_KHUtSrfqfxo-VEvkwTCUXrORgQOdlNcoq93GI3iY3lczCQdOpfsNRx93kcvh_h08t-XqHPlf51sM6xqOzcAZxKPtCwKeNrCXKY2VcyQQgtdmZ6Q/s1600/Charley_6.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe2bBlut9YWywx74Ukosxg5bTUEl_KHUtSrfqfxo-VEvkwTCUXrORgQOdlNcoq93GI3iY3lczCQdOpfsNRx93kcvh_h08t-XqHPlf51sM6xqOzcAZxKPtCwKeNrCXKY2VcyQQgtdmZ6Q/s400/Charley_6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516611581747312466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSg2kkOpvabGNYcT9WDCE59mRb8ERopsBC5tuIoHG_A4L7VMdOGZCYbgH-a29Ee7o3O74soA6Legpa59pQLT41UOh3adQRdh1nesAX5PFmk846ca9HGuFsC9ir24uiUjpVkFaEbi3Nb8/s1600/Charley_4.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSg2kkOpvabGNYcT9WDCE59mRb8ERopsBC5tuIoHG_A4L7VMdOGZCYbgH-a29Ee7o3O74soA6Legpa59pQLT41UOh3adQRdh1nesAX5PFmk846ca9HGuFsC9ir24uiUjpVkFaEbi3Nb8/s400/Charley_4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516610782992778370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNuJ81ChA3zVt1WkOKGGR57u97SmFlOgsc7ORjUhyphenhyphent1lDrrnUN9-2KMFF3Zy5xwVOy-i-QBhbRhyphenhyphenXxpDXJ5C9ukFqs9sk_5WGevCr7_BiymtyklinNUIDC0RXvconmtFc1CVtPp7p_88/s1600/Charley_3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNuJ81ChA3zVt1WkOKGGR57u97SmFlOgsc7ORjUhyphenhyphent1lDrrnUN9-2KMFF3Zy5xwVOy-i-QBhbRhyphenhyphenXxpDXJ5C9ukFqs9sk_5WGevCr7_BiymtyklinNUIDC0RXvconmtFc1CVtPp7p_88/s400/Charley_3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516610699989197250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfh1iF49wmzZoohVp9KGJr8Zt6zxB7ADc3Bm_TvP2VnTi8xJ_LOm4VX4zkpgP9MEvk8jxl3EvhjxcvpMmyVmw8MI5st5cC0nXsc0Z6KY_ZGuWjIzV7VKO13_DWlnzePoPgPUSs_54oiU/s1600/Charley_2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfh1iF49wmzZoohVp9KGJr8Zt6zxB7ADc3Bm_TvP2VnTi8xJ_LOm4VX4zkpgP9MEvk8jxl3EvhjxcvpMmyVmw8MI5st5cC0nXsc0Z6KY_ZGuWjIzV7VKO13_DWlnzePoPgPUSs_54oiU/s400/Charley_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516610618562505954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Charley has a happy ending. I hope these pictures remind you of what each animal deserves and what each animal loses when they are denied a chance at life. Shelters are overcrowded and euthanasia for space purposes is still a relevant reality. Remember the direct link between adoption and overpopulation. Spay and neuter your pets. Talk to others about the importance of spaying and neutering. Volunteer. Fundraise. <a href="http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/sponsor.shtml">Donate</a>. Educate. Inspire those around you. And perhaps most importantly, don't lose the meaning of "one by one." When in doubt, remember what that "one" means to Charley.The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-66332078383483111172010-08-22T22:51:00.002-04:002010-08-24T12:50:37.798-04:00Farm Fresh Hay DatabaseAs dedicated owners, we all know by now the vast importance of <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/11/importance-of-hay.html">hay</a> in our rabbits' diets. And while many of us have realized the advantages of bypassing the retail pet-superstores and going directly to local farmers selling bulk quantities of high quality, organic grass hays, it's true a good hay source isn't always easy to find. Many rural farms don't have websites or advertise in traditional media; news of their products and services tends to spread solely by word of mouth. Thus, those new to rabbit companionship, or even new to an area, may not be in the know about quality hay sources in their cities or towns.<br /><br />I experienced this recently when I relocated from Boston, MA to Lafayette, IN, and was forced to find a new hay source. After weeks of unhappily buying miniature bags of tough, straw-like hay from a nearby pet store, I found out (due to sheer luck) about a local farmer selling organic timothy hay. Sure enough, the next day I brought home a fresh bale of organic second-cut timothy hay, all for a grand total of seven dollars. It's clear-- cutting out the packaging and shipping costs simply results in a better product at a cheaper price. What's not to love?<br /><br />As I've been talking to other rabbit owners in the Lafayette area also seeking quality hay sources, I realized how helpful a nationwide (or even international!) database of organic grass hay farmers would be. The plan here at <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/">The Rabbit Advocate</a> is to start a user-contributed database of farmers in all parts of the world selling quality grass hays. So, now it's up to you. Please <a href="http://www.blogger.com/TheRabbitAdvocate@gmail.com">send in your local farmer's contact information</a> (with their consent) including name, website (if available), address, and phone number (if applicable). This way, others can find out about great hay sources in your area, and rabbits around the world will have ample quantities of delicious hay to munch on. I'll add them into the below database as they come. Those that have websites are linked. Hopefully we can make this as comprehensive a list as possible. Thanks in advance for your contributions!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UNITED STATES</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Indiana</span><br />Dotson Farm and Feed: 2919 North 9th Street Road, Lafayette, IN 47904. Hay pickup call first (765) 742-5111<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New York</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.farmerdave.biz/servlet/StoreFront">Farmer Dave</a>: 28 Fox Meadow Court, Orchard Park, NY 14127</span>The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-11071662094912771202010-06-11T17:28:00.004-04:002010-06-11T23:36:46.329-04:00Keeping Cool in the SummerJust because their wild cousins don’t have access to air conditioning, doesn’t mean our domesticated rabbit companions are also fine on their own during the summer. Not only are domestic rabbits a distinct species, they also don’t have the ability to burrow in the ground to spend the sweltering hours of a summer day in cool underground tunnels. But I’m sure most readers already agree on the importance of <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2009/01/house-rabbit-is-happy-rabbit.html">indoor housing</a> for our rabbits.<br /><br />Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean we can ignore the dangers of heat and humidity entirely. Upstairs levels of houses/apartments and sunrooms tend to concentrate warm air and negate wind to form greenhouse-like containers of extreme heat and humidity. If <span style="font-style: italic;">you </span>are feeling uncomfortable inside, put on a giant (faux) fur coat to see how your rabbit feels. And it’s not just a matter of comfort-level; it’s a relevant medical concern—heat stroke is one of the top killers of the domestic rabbit. Temperatures above 80 degrees are dangerous, especially when dehydration or environmental stressors are also present.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tips to keep your rabbit cool on a hot day:</span><br /><br />1. A window air conditioning unit is your best friend and absolutely worth the investment. (I only bought an air conditioner once I had my first rabbit.) It's the easiest way to safely cool down you and your bunny's environment.<br /><br />2. Fans can be helpful, but at a certain point they only serve to circulate warm air. Coupling a fan with an air conditioner can lower energy costs by reducing the needed strength and length of use of the AC unit, while maximizing cooling efforts.<br /><br />3. A hot rabbit does not want to lie on carpet, so allow her onto an alternate surface or provide a ceramic tile block to lie on. Put the tile in the fridge for an hour for an even cooler surface!<br /><br />4. A frozen water bottle can make a cool cuddle buddy on a hot summer day.<br /><br />5. Since rabbits radiate heat from their ears, rubbing an ice cube or dabbing a little cold water on the outside of their ears can assist their cooling down efforts. Applying some water to the back of their necks can increase the evaporative cooling effect too. Avoid getting water into the ear canals though, as this can lead to irritation or even infection.<br /><br />6. Frequently brush or manually remove loose fur to keep the coat at a minimum density. If you have a long-haired rabbit, such as an Angora or Jersey Wooly, consider trimming their fur with electric clippers (have your vet show you how) for the summer months. In fact, it’s a good idea to keep the fur short year-round to prevent matting and excessive fur ingestion.<br /><br />7. As with people, adequate hydration is an important part of avoiding heat stroke. Provide a large bowl with fresh, chilled water and serve your bunny's daily veggies extra moistened.<br /><br />8. If you have the option, a rabbit-proofed, finished basement can be a great place for a rabbit in the summer months, as they are usually the coolest part of the house. Basements tend to also be low-traffic, so make sure you spend adequate time downstairs so your rabbit doesn't get lonely or bored. Move your computer or the TV (don't forget to hide the wires!) to the basement so you can continue spending quality time together. Or allow your bun the opportunity to willingly come upstairs for some socializing when the mood strikes. This may involve helping her understand stairs and how to properly use them.<br /><br /><br />Most importantly, always be cognizant of the temperature and carefully note any changes in your pet's behavior or appetite. An overheated rabbit will be inactive and could also stop eating, further jeopardizing her health. Take the issue of heat seriously and be proactive at helping your fur friend stay cool. In the event of a heat stroke, wrap ice packs around your bunny and get her to a r<a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/12/importance-of-rabbit-savvy-vet.html">abbit savvy vet</a> as fast as possible.The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-76181142443910546792010-01-28T13:02:00.003-05:002010-08-19T21:42:35.549-04:00Question from the Audience: Location, location, locationA question from Nancy F. in Boston, MA:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q</span>: I have two male Newfoundland Dwarf rabbits I adopted at the end of this past summer (Douglas and Andrew are their names). Currently they stay in their 'pen' in the basement.<br />Here is my issue: when I get home from work I like to bring them upstairs in their carrier and I have a heck of a time getting them to go into said carrier to bring them to the upper floor where they basically have the run of the place (they are litter box trained). Andrew generally seems to be more amenable to going upstairs, but Douglas will squeak and hide and run away when I try to get him to go in so I don't force him (I don't want to upset him). This usually means Andrew gets playtime upstairs and Douglas doesn't. On the occasions when I can actually get them up to the first floor they run and jump and hide and generally have a wonderful time.<br /><br />I don't try to pick them up b/c they clearly don't like it but I talk to them and pet them whenever I can. How can I 'corral' (if you will) my rabbits in to the carrier more easily? Sometimes it can take up to an hour to return them to the basement and if it's been a long day I can't always afford to invest that much chasing time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>: I have a suggestion regarding your situation, and I think this one minor change will actually make a huge difference. You say you keep the rabbit cage in the basement; if you kept the rabbit's cage in your living room, the situation would improve drastically. This way Douglas and Andrew would be able to come out of their cage easily and comfortably whenever you opened the cage door. This would save you a ton of time and stress too-- instead of corralling them into carriers (I can only imagine how long that would take!), all you'd have to do is open the cage door and let them out. Since this is easier on you, I'm sure the bunnies would get more time out of their cages as well.<br /><br />You're right that most rabbits don't like to be picked up, but they also don't like to be confined in carriers and carried about for similar reasons--it is scary! They experience a full range of stress every time they have to go in and out of their carriers, and this stress would be easy to cut out by keeping their cage upstairs. Furthermore, since they are currently unable to see/access their cage (an area of safety) from the living room, they could be experiencing stress from this as well.<br /><br />If their cage is upstairs in your living room, then you'll no longer have to corral them back into carriers when you want to get them back in their cages; it's much easier to coax a rabbit into a cage than a carrier. Try calling Douglas and Andrew's names and offering them a treat once they've gone inside.<br /><br />You'll be surprised how much you enjoy having them up there and interacting with you more; they'll become more socialized and you'll also have an easier go of allowing them their out-of-cage run around time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">***UPDATE from Nancy 2/18/2010***</span><br />I wanted to give you an update and thank you for your very sound advice. Douglas and Andrew moved into our back hall in a large dog crate last week. They have supervised reign of our kitchen when we’re home and they seem so very happy with the new set up. I can’t tell you how much fun it is for me to sit on the floor and have my coffee with them in the morning. So, thanks very much for your suggestion of moving them upstairs, we’re all a lot happier (Douglas hardly squeaks at me anymore – just a tiny bit if he doesn’t want his cheeks rubbed or he’s scared). Now on to training them to go into their cage upon command!The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-40521020946786988582009-12-29T21:42:00.007-05:002009-12-29T22:05:52.766-05:00Hoppy Holidays from The Rabbit AdvocateMy good friends Kelly and Eric adopted Bunnicula from the <a href="http://www.mspca.org/">Boston MSPCA</a> about two years ago. She is a prime example of the underestimated tenacious, comical and entertaining side of rabbits.<br />Hope you enjoy as much as I did, and hope you all have a hoppy New Years!<br /><object width="412" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yTd-n6aLh8Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yTd-n6aLh8Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="412" height="250"></embed></object>The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-47624216897013045192009-11-12T17:13:00.013-05:002016-05-19T12:51:30.901-04:00Health Special: Malocclusion in Rabbits<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Malocclusi<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">on, referring to the misalignment of teeth, is a common ailment of the house rabbit. As with dogs bred to have “cute” smushed-in faces, certain breeds of rabbit, like the dwarf varieties, are especially prone to congenital deformities of the mouth. What makes malocclusion so serious for bunnies, however, is that rabbit teeth grow continuously. Normally, their teeth match up perfectly, so they’re kept ground down by the action of chewing. (Just one more reason giving your rabbit unlimited </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/11/importance-of-hay.html" style="font-family: georgia;">hay</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is so important!) Since maloccluded incisors don't match up, the teeth don’t file down and instead continue growing endlessly. As the incisors become overgrown, eating and drinking become harder and harder for the rabbit, all the while causing significant discomfort inside and outside the mouth as the teeth grow into the roof of the mouth and dig into the surrounding skin of the face. Untreated, this malformation can cause a slow and painful death.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Trimming teeth is not recommended because microfractures, a common sequelae, can lead to tooth root abscesses. Grinding down the teeth every two months or so is sometimes the only viable solution for the cheek teeth; but maloccluded incisors can also be extracted, fixing the problems permanently. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Recently, a rabbit with malocclusion and severely overgrown incisors arrived at the local shelter. Due to his complicated and chronic medical condition, he was slated for euthanasia. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I, on the other hand, wasn’t ready to give up that easily. After consulting with some fellow rabbit experts at <a href="http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/">House Rabbit Network</a>, I learned that extracting the rabbit's incisors could give him a chance at being healthy, and therefore, adoption. It seemed simple enough—the defective six front teeth would be removed, and after the mouth healed, he would learn to use his lips to pick up food and use the rest of his 22 teeth to grind his food. I spoke with a fantastic veterinarian at the <a href="http://www.vcahospitals.com/wakefield">VCA Wakefield Animal Hospital</a> who explained that the surgery was relatively straightforward, the recovery was minimal, and, she said, the rabbit would be as good as new when it was over. In fact, he would even have a slight advantage over rabbits looking for homes—with no front teeth, rabbit-proofing would be a breeze!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I immediately brought the rabbit, who I had named Charley, home. He was severely underweight and malnourished from weeks of eating difficulties, so I spent a couple days feeding him a high-calorie, high-fiber, easy-to-chew diet, which included Critical Care, oatmeal, canned pumpkin, vegetable medley baby food, chopped strawberries, collard greens and cilantro, and even timothy hay broken into small, bite-sized bits. He chowed down for two days straight, and proved his will to live by bouncing all over my house and spending hours sleeping in my lap. Fortunately, House Rabbit Network had offered to foot the bill for the surgery, so after he had regained some strength, we were ready. On an early Wednesday morning, we drove up to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Wakefield</st1:place></st1:city> and Charley had his six front teeth pulled (he was also neutered at the same time). I picked him up that evening, and he was, though drugged, already acting a little feisty. By the next morning, he was eating Critical Care and pumpkin mush and three days later was eating entire bowls of pellets, chopped up greens, and even his hay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He’s now a happy, rambunctious little guy, and might I add, perfectly adoptable. I hope this story inspires other owners and shelters with rabbits with dental problems to consider this alternative. As Charley sprints around my living room like a maniac, I can say with full confidence, that incisor extraction is a fantastically helpful surgery, a procedure we would both recommend to anyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Charley Before</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Charley After</span></div>
The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-55016543088503231242009-06-14T18:50:00.001-04:002009-06-15T11:05:08.828-04:00Question from the Audience: Paw FlickingA question from Elsie C. in Manchester, UK:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q</span>: My one year old house rabbit keeps flicking his front paws, one at a time. It is a kind of flick/shake. Any idea why? He is also quieter than normal instead of running around.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>: Rabbits usually flick their paws right before they plan to groom their faces or ears. Is he flicking his paws for a few seconds and then grooming himself? Is so, that is absolutely fine. If he is just flicking his paws repeatedly, then it would be worth it to have a closer look at his paws (is there something stuck to them? does he have a splinter or something of the sort? are they hurting? are they numb? do his nails need to be trimmed/getting caught in the carpet?). If you can't determine anything off about his paws, it might be a good idea to have a vet take a closer look at them.<br /><br />I'd actually be more worried about him being "quieter than normal." Rabbits, being prey animals, really work to hide their symptoms. Once a rabbit is exhibiting unusual behaviors, you really want to pay close attention. Is he eating the same amount? Bathroom behaviors changed/droppings look the same? Acting depressed? Listless? If you said yes to any of these four questions, then don't wait to make an appointment with a rabbit-savvy veterinarian. These are surefire signs something is not right with your bunny, and when it's reached a stage with any of these symptoms, things can go very fast.The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-52568358998410006092009-06-08T18:36:00.004-04:002009-06-08T19:13:22.653-04:00A Free and Easy Way to Help a Shelter BunnyOne thing that always arrives with summer is the appearance of farmer's markets. And one thing that always comes with farmer's markets are leftovers! Ask a vegetable stand at your farmer's market about donating their unsold veggies, scraps, or even unusable parts (carrot, radish, beet tops) to your local shelter's rabbits. All you have to do is transport the goods to the shelter, as often as you like. It's an easy way to give a shelter bunny a healthy meal for free. Make sure to relay <a href="http://www.rabbit.org/care/veggies.html">which veggies are okay</a>, and which to avoid (ie tomatoes, beans, potatoes, rhubarb; and use carrots, bananas, (anything with high sugar) sparingly).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.atlasfarm.com/">Atlas Farms</a> has been donating their delicious organic vegetables to the Boston MSPCA for a few weeks, and it's turning out great for everyone involved. See pictures below for proof! (All of these bunnies are available for adoption through the <a href="http://www.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aboutus_acaclandingpage">Boston MSPCA</a>; click on their names for additional information.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrxhyj6xszKxMw9inhF3lCQ8eIw1tfu4WQ98MDn1BHaQZU0X6_MKKdjKwb4_CrUlLlVy4QFdhC9PEh7HSu9m3ILOKV6xQytonMpkhE3X81Dp9PwHZzEe1JZmvHmsp_xa-XaB4RVPTjjk/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrxhyj6xszKxMw9inhF3lCQ8eIw1tfu4WQ98MDn1BHaQZU0X6_MKKdjKwb4_CrUlLlVy4QFdhC9PEh7HSu9m3ILOKV6xQytonMpkhE3X81Dp9PwHZzEe1JZmvHmsp_xa-XaB4RVPTjjk/s200/026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345086390561384178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13881353">Miss Bunny</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5u6IShTqueYDzfDOXusINGreRbKwRI6oHDvaFdAh6IrwCdaTHl2x6Th3kMimmz0pm5KQ8psHffQLUeV09G9VaFNwJTnDUEAK3-PYTz2iZCCy_tRXNzvji48D4dB-rE7kSJZPN0YMWGo/s1600-h/043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5u6IShTqueYDzfDOXusINGreRbKwRI6oHDvaFdAh6IrwCdaTHl2x6Th3kMimmz0pm5KQ8psHffQLUeV09G9VaFNwJTnDUEAK3-PYTz2iZCCy_tRXNzvji48D4dB-rE7kSJZPN0YMWGo/s200/043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345086245351582066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13888135">Oreo</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiX8krgOusqGOaHUSx2Df6r0FKPVhEnI_IPqBYwqBNDgaW04oGm4Lb0O84Jrabe3Y0dehIYXXfM3-Ide-jJpdiMA6wEggu1Pm_gu_JElI3c5YblrVjgadqwH9pTlIx003KbdjCAaNKlg/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiX8krgOusqGOaHUSx2Df6r0FKPVhEnI_IPqBYwqBNDgaW04oGm4Lb0O84Jrabe3Y0dehIYXXfM3-Ide-jJpdiMA6wEggu1Pm_gu_JElI3c5YblrVjgadqwH9pTlIx003KbdjCAaNKlg/s200/040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345086155926140386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13870197">Dottie</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjLJ09B7c-IsMMpqvTDyhC0E_gNEC9rHpTAdbUHJZS5g9stFRnL4rl33YLkef_91GOQMPq9YfomsSmv9Cg_XXwUXnpsWX4oiKSDUIzonpFy7iKcjRBHeFr_Mv2dOvCm1feJzyghM5i-I/s1600-h/037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjLJ09B7c-IsMMpqvTDyhC0E_gNEC9rHpTAdbUHJZS5g9stFRnL4rl33YLkef_91GOQMPq9YfomsSmv9Cg_XXwUXnpsWX4oiKSDUIzonpFy7iKcjRBHeFr_Mv2dOvCm1feJzyghM5i-I/s200/037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345086062420970018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13477735">Eddie</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq1KGOtHICXvISHnYpdnudDxCx4SwWk1Lzd3od3LiUkzbN39ZPbPTsXh3fhUuaQ8q2EBI0MDMOgD-s3Bi3bAeuYitBiB0yu2SlmfdJiMIsy5MkA0zNCnpgW6SaCgc8p8ExmLCFaYQx6s/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq1KGOtHICXvISHnYpdnudDxCx4SwWk1Lzd3od3LiUkzbN39ZPbPTsXh3fhUuaQ8q2EBI0MDMOgD-s3Bi3bAeuYitBiB0yu2SlmfdJiMIsy5MkA0zNCnpgW6SaCgc8p8ExmLCFaYQx6s/s200/035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345085940753561250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13082341">Neil</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVWpSydj62XkFbTYbsUA6VqpR8VM_dROqcaV_-XizyI0k-L8bratX3FrbL6F5rkxokky5bQGe3W-ggy-ITOmT82zq3TzqdEsJ-BeVc71KQl42P3EeEi7XejHoDvdwVpUz793cSoWAOCI/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVWpSydj62XkFbTYbsUA6VqpR8VM_dROqcaV_-XizyI0k-L8bratX3FrbL6F5rkxokky5bQGe3W-ggy-ITOmT82zq3TzqdEsJ-BeVc71KQl42P3EeEi7XejHoDvdwVpUz793cSoWAOCI/s200/034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345085872644291570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13522428">Sneezy</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sK3sjP0eidV2rDSI9ZSy8Bmvey2xCDsXED6yySRA_HlM9ik2CqN5vPiXepAiWXMf0YD9V6QPCiIW2egiEaA8VcVO_yqWQh3cJ6okl7u58O8lvYnZVVfMSwR9lAr-RPNcYVfOmX5J4r0/s1600-h/033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sK3sjP0eidV2rDSI9ZSy8Bmvey2xCDsXED6yySRA_HlM9ik2CqN5vPiXepAiWXMf0YD9V6QPCiIW2egiEaA8VcVO_yqWQh3cJ6okl7u58O8lvYnZVVfMSwR9lAr-RPNcYVfOmX5J4r0/s200/033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345085780678848034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13477737">Chris</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOjswEEv-YivYfDkbHqjfrKlcoXPiqY1DyFZLSv_rnbenb0zDKfdxUuOL433Ck6OmjAD7h9RWjOSw-41aCyg_KXcqd_9fK8eAf3vl33hjIXVwJCpCfN3Y5v6vYIV83e__fpN1jzDc0Kc/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOjswEEv-YivYfDkbHqjfrKlcoXPiqY1DyFZLSv_rnbenb0zDKfdxUuOL433Ck6OmjAD7h9RWjOSw-41aCyg_KXcqd_9fK8eAf3vl33hjIXVwJCpCfN3Y5v6vYIV83e__fpN1jzDc0Kc/s200/030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345085685847523906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13846968">Barney</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAT4_C5dRtW5tcGCFS9GW5ehnARyhDdALZ9_wOlm42yBU16bMN2TxWIzajMPaDNK0Fu28dfhp6NJvmIN86iwDTwYlesAvY0_3CtU0TgYR3kANhFBxk7eVID_m78U5BLSe3elhiu0bf44/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAT4_C5dRtW5tcGCFS9GW5ehnARyhDdALZ9_wOlm42yBU16bMN2TxWIzajMPaDNK0Fu28dfhp6NJvmIN86iwDTwYlesAvY0_3CtU0TgYR3kANhFBxk7eVID_m78U5BLSe3elhiu0bf44/s200/029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345085582508493762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13385807">Wabbit</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4JqRsn7hXeCEBfsUvpLPMfh_s6mVShBx64MZwTOxvYed1Um2wM-c3uk2koPnbnUbXFwvqwFn6GMpOdZ5TGBNr_v6bapZ5CwbFBB44IUnelT4S0ao3iKmPapYWqZ16iUr9rBgTOmPAAU/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4JqRsn7hXeCEBfsUvpLPMfh_s6mVShBx64MZwTOxvYed1Um2wM-c3uk2koPnbnUbXFwvqwFn6GMpOdZ5TGBNr_v6bapZ5CwbFBB44IUnelT4S0ao3iKmPapYWqZ16iUr9rBgTOmPAAU/s200/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345085459268114818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13846971">Cheesey</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURwpEZxu_rCUO9hSt4ZKusC8T28cMPm6V9n3Hci-GF_ZIScAnGG9u9FYN9lwqVGI8r5Hff2f7LuqaBMcOner31aUyzcPK5GrAhuNOREsutsBiYKYwuow46sDSp9xfN5_r4HzvV9pbdIQ/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURwpEZxu_rCUO9hSt4ZKusC8T28cMPm6V9n3Hci-GF_ZIScAnGG9u9FYN9lwqVGI8r5Hff2f7LuqaBMcOner31aUyzcPK5GrAhuNOREsutsBiYKYwuow46sDSp9xfN5_r4HzvV9pbdIQ/s200/027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345086325673056050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13854612">Piper</a> & <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13854613">Widget</a> (Guinea pigs need greens too!)<br /><br /><br /><br />Another idea: If you're baking/cooking with strawberries and have a ton of strawberry tops, save them in an airtight container and take them to your shelter. Strawberry tops make for a delicious treat!<br /><br />Thanks for thinking of helping out a shelter or rescue in your area!The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-43466405626636895292009-05-12T20:01:00.004-04:002009-05-21T11:48:28.393-04:00Are You Rabbit-Ready?So you're thinking about getting a rabbit... Great! Rabbits make terrific pets, but they do require some specialized care and attention. As with any pet, you're going to want to do some preliminary research to figure out beforehand exactly what you're getting yourself into. Rabbits can live 8-10 years and are not low-maintenance pets, so it's especially important to know the specifics of their care before bringing one into your home.<br /><br />Some facts about house rabbits:<br /><br />1. Rabbits eat a highly varied diet. While they can eat a small amount of pellets daily, they must have unlimited access to a fresh grass <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/11/importance-of-hay.html">hay</a> and an assortment of fresh <a href="http://www.rabbit.org/care/veggies.html">vegetables</a>. Feeding a rabbit is definitely not as simple as throwing some dog or cat food in a bowl every morning.<br /><br />2. Rabbits need to be seen by a <a href="http://www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html">rabbit-experienced vet</a>, which is usually termed as an "exotics" vet. Exotics vets can charge more than regular dog or cat vets, so rabbit health bills <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>add up. While rabbits do not need vaccinations, they should be seen at least once a year by a rabbit-savvy vet.<br /><br />3. Rabbits should be <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2009/01/house-rabbit-is-happy-rabbit.html">housed indoors</a>, and this creates the need for <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/09/essentials-rabbit-proofing.html">rabbit-proofing</a>. You will need to purchase a large <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/11/question-from-audience-before-adopting.html">dog cage</a> or x-pen in which to house the rabbit while you are away or sleeping. While you're around, you can let the bunny out to explore--but certain dangers, such as poisonous plants or materials, electrical wires, and expensive furniture, must be moved, covered up, or protected.<br /><br />4. It's strongly recommended that your rabbit be <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2009/01/question-from-audience-bunny-slipper.html">spayed or neutered</a>. This makes a huge difference in <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-litterbox-train-your-rabbit.html">litter-training</a> and in curbing various behavioral and health issues.<br /><br />5. As aforementioned, and now should be evident, rabbits are not low-maintenance pets. They require specialized care, daily attention, and a considerable amount of supervision. Rabbits also do not make good "starter" pets for children, as they are highly sensitive physically and mentally.<br /><br />Before acquiring a rabbit, strongly consider all the factors. And if you do decide to get one, always <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-find-your-new-best-friend.html">adopt</a> from a shelter or rescue--never buy from a petstore!The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-4892628156725973252009-04-04T10:34:00.001-04:002009-04-04T10:34:00.693-04:00The Easter Bunny's Important MessageEvery year, around June and July, animal shelters around the country are seemingly instantly flooded with rabbits that are no longer wanted. Countless well-meaning families buy cute baby bunnies as Easter presents for the children, only to realize a few months down the line what complex creatures these are, what complex care they require, and what a bad combination a skittish, unneutered rabbit and a rambunctious child can be. Read <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/12/question-from-audience-rabbits-and-kids.html">this article</a> on why rabbits don't always do so well with children and vice versa and read <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2009/01/question-from-audience-bunny-slipper.html">here</a> about the importance of spaying and neutering.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Buying a rabbit as an Easter present is a time-tested bad idea. Sure, baby bunnies are ridiculously adorable, but they also require a varied diet, not inexpensive vet care, a spay/neuter surgery, daily attention and playtime, and intricate rabbit-proofing (which in turn requires a watchful eye and sometimes infinite patience). Rabbits are excellent pets, but only in the right circumstances, which includes knowing full-well what you're getting into. And if you've done the research and still think you're ready to get a rabbit, don't ever buy from a pet store! Instead adopt from a shelter or a rescue and save a life!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwI2iyf00BeKHCSAMudP_2Z-6U7TP4K4hu1mp4TuXVpEv4Ok2KgV1kcJeNPSVZ19Y4XOzltVHARr7GjgbzIXteGOzZhzPe7S4uLjjqVlVr9GI8b-QgjbRcPuPyLWHkRCkcDef5a4jjZmg/s1600-h/stuffedbunny.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwI2iyf00BeKHCSAMudP_2Z-6U7TP4K4hu1mp4TuXVpEv4Ok2KgV1kcJeNPSVZ19Y4XOzltVHARr7GjgbzIXteGOzZhzPe7S4uLjjqVlVr9GI8b-QgjbRcPuPyLWHkRCkcDef5a4jjZmg/s320/stuffedbunny.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318714885930188258" border="0" /></a>Buy a toy rabbit for Easter-- adopt a real rabbit for life!<br /></div>The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-35448543237696858582009-04-01T16:22:00.003-04:002009-04-01T21:14:02.106-04:00Question from the Audience: Hiccups?A question from Travis J. in Long Island, NY:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q</span>: I have a 5 year old Dwarf Rabbit. She is in great health- she is spayed, has a healthy diet and goes in regularly for check ups with her exceptional vet. Every so often, usually after jumping out of the cage and running around a bit, when she sits down or relaxes for a moment- she begins to twitch (her entire body). It looks similar to when someone has the hiccups. Its usually about 10 twitches lasting about 15 seconds. If I walk to her and pet her during the twitches, she stops twitching. Sometimes she will continue twitching the moment I take my hand off of her. Have you ever heard of this?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>: You correctly identified this weird twitching behavior as hiccups, although it is strange because when a hiccuping rabbit is touched, she does stop twitching (suggesting the behavior is voluntary to a certain degree). It can be scary to see, especially the first few times, because it looks somewhat painful or like a seizure, but it's just regular old hiccups.<br /><br />As usual, make sure your rabbit is eating and drinking normally, in case the hiccups are being caused by disturbances in the GI tract. Other than that, it's most likely nothing to be worried about!The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-69605925496358269922009-03-21T17:50:00.004-04:002009-03-21T17:51:19.732-04:00A Reflective Look at the Importance of Adoption and Spaying & NeuteringHere is a poem by <a href="http://www.rabbit.org/">House Rabbit Society</a> Educator Amy Espie that is a poignant reminder of the importance of spaying and neutering our pets and adoption instead of purchasing animals from breeders, pet stores, etc.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Saying Goodbye Every Day</span> by Amy Espie<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sunday. A friend and I take our dogs for a run<br /> in the park. The late-afternoon sunlight is<br /> pure gold, and a fresh breeze rustles the tall<br /> grass. A family approaches us on the trail: a<br /> man, woman, and two small boys. They are<br /> accompanied by a large tan dog with the<br /> distended nipples of motherhood and an adorable<br /> pup who looks just like his mom. The pup<br /> pesters his mom, taking five steps for every<br /> one of hers. She patiently tolerates his<br /> rambunctiousness.<br /><br />It's a heartwarming scene that totally<br /> depresses me.<br /><br />What has happened to me? I love dogs. I love<br /> puppies. And yet the sight of puppies makes me<br /> sad. Every time I see or hear of a litter of<br /> kittens or pups, I also see cages full of<br /> homeless ones and the bins full of dead ones at<br /> the shelter where I work.<br /><br />Monday. It's 8 PM, time to go home. I walk past<br /> the cages in the Stray Cat Room. A calico cat<br /> and her two kittens sit quietly on the shelf in<br /> their cage. The mother grooms one of the<br /> kittens. A pink card attached to the cage tells<br /> me it's time to say goodby to these three. I<br /> feel the familiar mixture of sadness, anger,<br /> and bitterness.<br /><br />A huddled gray ball of fur in an adjoining cage<br /> catches my eye. In the farthest corner of her<br /> cage, a bedraggled cat hides her head under a<br /> sheet of newspaper. I peer between the bars.<br /> "Hi, Kitty," I say softly. "Are you totally<br /> miserable? I don't blame you." I chatter on,<br /> more for my own benefit than for hers. I put<br /> some treats into her bowl and leave.<br /><br />Tuesday. A small, frightened black rabbit is<br /> rescued from a cellar by one of our Humane<br /> Officers. That evening she gives birth to five<br /> babies. Four days later, when her stray period<br /> is up, the babies are injected with sodium<br /> pentobarbital. A few seconds later, they are<br /> dead. The mother is put up for adoption.<br /><br />Gray Cat clings to her corner, still facing the<br /> wall. I notice that she's eaten the treats I<br /> left, which encourages me. I talk to her again.<br /> "I know it's hard to believe, but actually<br /> you're pretty lucky. Decent food, a clean<br /> litterbox, people who care about you; and, with<br /> a little luck, one special person to appreciate<br /> and adore you forever." Gray Cat is not<br /> impressed.<br /><br />Wednesday. I talk to the people in my<br /> dog-training class about spaying and neutering.<br /> "Of the ten million dogs and cats who are<br /> killed every year at animal shelters in the US,<br /> nearly three million are purebreds," I explain.<br /> "And the other seven million had a purebred in<br /> their very recent past. Stand at our front<br /> counter any day of the week and you will hear<br /> the same stories again and again: 'We're<br /> moving'; 'The landlord says no'; 'He barks and<br /> the neighbors called the cops on us'; 'She<br /> messes in the house.' An expensive dog with a<br /> behavior problem is just as disposable as an<br /> all-American mutt.<br /><br />"Spend a day at the shelter and you'll also<br /> hear the repertoire of reasons people give for<br /> not having their animals spayed or neutered:<br /> 'We want the children to experience the miracle<br /> of birth'; 'Neutering is unnatural'; 'It's<br /> cruel'; "I wouldn't want anyone to do it to<br /> me'; 'My cat is from champion stock'; 'We've<br /> already got homes lined up for all the babies.'<br /> But try to explain these reasons to a loving,<br /> beautiful animal (or even an ill-tempered,<br /> homely one) whose time is up, who is receiving<br /> a death sentence when his only crime is that<br /> some human let him be born instead of facing<br /> the reality of the overpopulation disaster.<br /> I've never heard a rationalization that didn't<br /> fade into nothing in the face of even one<br /> death."<br /><br />On my way out, I stop at Gray Cat's cage again.<br /> "Hi, Gray C. Still memorizing that bit of wall,<br /> I see." A miracle! She turns and looks at me.<br /> Her emerald eyes size me up. Maybe I'm being<br /> too optimistic, but she seems a little less<br /> frightened, her body a shade more relaxed.<br /> "Listen," I tell her, "you've probably met some<br /> pretty unevolved humans out there. We're not<br /> all like that. Give us another chance, okay?"<br /> She blinks dubiously. This is progress.<br /><br />Thursday. The animal care technicians at the<br /> shelter are the bravest people in the world. I<br /> watch them scrub kennels and clean litterboxes.<br /> I see them take a moment to play with a kitten<br /> or hold a lonely pup. I hear them calm the<br /> frightened ones with a gentle word. And every<br /> now and then I force myself to witness what<br /> they must face every day. That same dog who<br /> they cared for, petted, and talked to must<br /> finally be given the only thing we have left to<br /> offer: a gentle, respectful death. What have we<br /> come to when the best we can do is to kill them<br /> kindly?<br /><br />Jim puts a leash on the Labrador retriever. She<br /> cowers in the back of the kennel, tail between<br /> her legs. He tugs on the leash. She whimpers<br /> and crouches down lower. He kneels beside her.<br /> "It's okay, pup. Don't be scared." She stops<br /> whimpering but won't move. He scoops her up in<br /> his arms and carries her to the Euthanasia<br /> Room. She's been at the shelter for two weeks.<br /> She's so frightened that all she does is lie in<br /> the corner. No one wants her. Now she will die.<br /> Carol holds her while Jim shaves a small patch<br /> of fur from her leg. She is quiet and<br /> trembling. Jim continues to talk to her. He<br /> gives her the injection. She slumps onto the<br /> table. Carol carries her body to the Chill Room<br /> and adds it to the pile.<br /><br />In the Cat Room, Gray Cat is sitting in her<br /> usual corner, but she's not facing the wall<br /> today. The room is noisy. Adorable kittens fill<br /> row upon row of cages. Friendly adult cats come<br /> forward, asking for attention. I open her cage<br /> to give her a treat. "It isn't fair," I tell<br /> her. "You have every right to distrust people,<br /> but if you don't act adoptable, how can you<br /> compete with all these other cats?" I reach my<br /> hand closer to her. I touch her. She lets me! I<br /> thank her.<br /><br />Friday. At home, a veterinary clinic calls me<br /> to find out if I have room for another<br /> unwanted. The owners brought a young mini-lop<br /> in to be euthanized. Why? They're moving out of<br /> state. They don't want to take the rabbit. They<br /> haven't found any friend who will take him, and<br /> they don't want "a bunch of strangers" coming<br /> to their house to see the rabbit.<br /><br />When I get to work, Gray C. is not in her cage.<br /> I look everywhere. I try not to be too hopeful.<br /> I tell myself, Don't pursue it. I ignore my own<br /> good advice. I go to the Chill Room. She is<br /> there, in one of the bins, her body curled up<br /> against that of a terrier. I touch her, for the<br /> second and last time. Her body is getting cold.<br /> She is gone. I mourn her. But who will mourn<br /> the calico kitten underneath her, and the<br /> angora rabbit in the next bin? Who will mourn<br /> all ten million of them, one by one?</span> <br /><br /><br />Please remember this poem the next time you think of buying that cute little puppy/kitten/bunny at the pet store. Adopting means saving a life!The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-25162181683392431872009-03-08T13:02:00.009-04:002009-03-10T12:42:21.027-04:00The Importance of a Positive MeetingInitial interactions are crucial in establishing a rapport with your house rabbit or a bunny you're meeting for the first time. Because many people instinctively approach a rabbit as they would a cat or a dog--by placing a hand right in front of their noses for them to sniff--they are getting started off on the wrong foot, er, paw. As polite of an animal introduction as this would seem, rabbits are actually offended by this gesture, mostly due to their limited <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/10/essentials-approach.html">vision</a> in front of their faces. Such offensive gestures often elicit fearful or aggressive responses, which leads the human to dismiss the rabbit as unfriendly, jumpy, or a bad pet. Instead, try coming down from the top and petting her forehead or scratching behind the ears. Or, you can even do as the rabbits do, and get down on their level and touch noses. With only your head in their field of vision, you suddenly don't seem so large and intimidating.<br /><br />The differences between interacting with dogs/cats and rabbits don't stop there. While most dogs and cats love belly rubs, the stomach area is an exceptionally sensitive area for rabbits and very much off-limits. T<span style="">his makes sense considering as prey animals they must fiercely protect such vulnerable areas, whereas predatory pets--like cats, dogs, or even ferrets --might not be so sensitive about vital areas. R</span>abbits also prefer not to be touched on their paws, chin, chest, sides, tail, and genital region. But this is not to say that rabbits don't love being pet; they very much do! Spots that are just about universally enjoyed by rabbits include the top of her head, cheeks, ears, neck, shoulders, and back, though of course every rabbit is different. Try a nice relaxing massage for your bunny: move your hand slowly, with the an open palm, from the nose, over the forehead, over the ears and neck, and all the way down to the lower back, applying the slightest bit of pressure. Continue down both sides of the spine gently, but without applying direct pressure on the backbone, and note which spots she seems to particularly enjoy and which seem to be less than pleasant (if she stiffens). Repeat over the areas she seems to like. Most rabbits will flatten down, close their eyes, and even <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/12/rabbit-talk-bunny-noises.html">grind their teeth</a> in ecstasy.<br /><br />Positive interactions can set the tone for how a rabbit views you--whether she learns to trust you or avoid you. Conversely, it can also affect how a person will view a rabbit, or even rabbits as a species. A miscommunication during introductions can lead a human to fear rabbits or view them as unpredictable or aggressive creatures. And we, as devoted rabbit owners, know just how inaccurate this assessment can be, as long as we learn to communicate with them on their own terms and in their own language.The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450837737701786785.post-87764217756425736692009-03-05T21:47:00.002-05:002009-03-06T13:54:46.359-05:00Question from the Audience: Blood in the Urine?A question from Trish M. in Marion, OH:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q</span>: I am noticing that when I change my rabbits' litterboxes that there is a brownish tinge to it, almost looks like old blood, but I am wondering if this is due to the urine and pebbles mixing or if it could be something else? Does this sound familiar? I put down newspaper and pine chips, but then it has a grate over that so they don't get to the chips or anything. Any suggestions?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>: While it can be very troubling to see little puddles of dark reddish urine in your rabbits' litterbox, this is not necessarily anything worry about. Certain vegetable pigments can turn a rabbit's urine to a bright red, dark brown or even a dark yellow color. However, if the change in urine color is accompanied by a change in litterbox habits, a change in behavior (acting sluggish or depressed), or a change in dietary habits, then a <a href="http://therabbitadvocate.blogspot.com/2008/12/importance-of-rabbit-savvy-vet.html">vet</a> visit is definitely warranted. A veterinarian can test for the presence of blood in the urine and check for kidney disease, reproductive cancers, etc. <br /><br />On a sidenote, you do mention that you use pine chips as the litter. Despite the prevalence and availability of these litters in pet stores, pine chips and other wood shavings have been shown to cause liver damage in rabbits. Switch to a pelleted paper litter, such as <a href="http://www.petco.com/product/3050/Purina-Yesterday-s-News-Paper-Based-Cat-Litter.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch">Yesterday's News</a> and add a generous layer of timothy hay on top. (Yesterday's News, while being perfectly safe, also has unbeatable absorbency, odor control, and is environmentally friendly as it's made from recycled newspapers). The good news is that any sustained liver damage from the shavings can clear up once the litter is switched. And with using a safe litter, you'll no longer need a grate to cover the ever-so-fun-to-dig-in litterbox. The Rabbit Advocatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13807627880604043635noreply@blogger.com1