Scamp sitting on a grass mat, just outside his warren entrance (cardboard tunnel).
This is Scamp’s Christmas present, he really likes it! How can I tell? Not because three weeks post Christmas it’s still in one piece (usually the opposite is true for rabbits – the more they like it the quicker it is shredded). I know because he has shifted his napping spot 9″ to the left so that he can sit on the mat whilst napping. Rabbit’s really like routine, so I know he really likes his mat because he’s changed his habits to use it. In case you think I’m a bit mean, I haven’t moved the mat 9″ to the right as that would be under the sink, and I don’t think natural fibre mats appreciate having water dripped on them.
It’s a big responsibility being a pet owner, he had no way of saying: “Hey, I really wish I had something just about here to sit on’. We have to try and anticipate our rabbit’s wants and needs. Any else found something their your bunny really likes that maybe isn’t one of the basics (food/water/litter tray etc.)?
Happy new year – I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays.
If I wrote new years resolutions, they’d basically be ‘get on with the stuff on your to do list’, but that’s boring and mostly not at all rabbit related, so I thought I’d help everyone else with theirs instead. Here are my five resolutions for rabbit owners. Hopefully you’ll be able to tick off a few of them straight away.
1. Make 2012 the year your rabbit eats hay
There is pretty much nothing as important to a rabbit’s health as eating hay, and yet a worrying number of rabbits don’t get it or don’t like it. It can feel like trying to persuade a child to eat sprouts but don’t give up, give it another try an see if you can get your rabbit eating even if it’s just a little each day.
2. Find an emergency vet and write the number down
It’s 1am on a bank holiday, your bunny has stopped eating and is looking miserable, who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! Nope, you need an emergency vet. Do you have a number to hand? If not, go find it now and write it somewhere you won’t forget.
In recent years many vets have swapped from having a vet on call to using a dedicated out of hours service which might not be at your normal practice, so not only do you need a number, you need an address too. It’s also a good idea to think about how you would get there, if you usually get a lift from a friend or use public transport – will that option always be available? If not how about adding an envelope with enough cash to cover a taxi to your pinboard next to the number.
One final thing, once you get there, the vet is going to want paying, if you don’t already, think about putting a little away each week to cover unexpected vet bills, or get some insurance quotes.
3. Keep your rabbit busy
We don’t just want healthy rabbits, we want happy rabbits! Be inspired by the RSPCA Happy Bunnies and make sure your rabbit has plenty of fun things to do. See if you can think up a new toy or activity every week – you can rotate toys so you don’t have to come up with limitless ideas. Here are some to get you started:
Rabbit’s are complicated little fluff balls and knowledge about how to best care for them in continually being updated, see if you can find something new to learn this year whether it’s watching a webinar, reading a book, chatting with your vet or checking out the latest articles on websites like House Rabbit Society or Rabbit Welfare Association.
If you are reading this I guarantee you know at least one or two things about rabbits that someone else doesn’t. So tell them. It doesn’t even have to be someone with rabbits. Mention you just dropped £250 on your rabbits vet bill to a colleague and perhaps when their friend’s nephew demands a bunny, they’ll remember an mention how much they cost. Or you could be a bit more blatant and pop up some posters or strike up conversation with someone next time your in a pet shop about how pellets are so much healthier than mix. It’s an easy way to help contribute to improve welfare for all rabbits.
So there you go, I hope that helped with your new year planning. Before you go, while we’re talking about planning, I was wondering if there is anything you’d like me to write more about? More pics of Scamp getting into trouble, activities to do with your bunny, growing things, or do you like the science stuff – should I put poop under the microscope? What would you like to read about?
There seems to be bright lights and sparkly things everywhere, anyone would think it was almost Christmas or something! If it’s snuck up on you and the idea of braving the shops for last minute presents sends you into a panic, this is for you…
Christmas Bunny Treats!
They are easy and inexpensive to make, healthier than most shop bought treats and make wonderfully tasty Christmas presents for your rabbit.
Just take these instructions for making homemade rabbit treats and adjust the flavour to your rabbits taste. This time Scamp tried out Carrot & Banana…
Take two handfuls of pellets (crushed), two handfuls of rolled oats, 1 banana, 2 medium carrots
Finely grate the carrot, chop up the banana, crush the pellets and mix it all together.
Roll out the mix with a rolling pin and then use your favourite cookie cutters, we had squares, stars and Christmas Trees. Then poke a hole in them – don’t forget this step if you want to hang them up!
Bake on a low heat for a couple of hours until they are completely dry. And tada, Christmas bunny treats:
Please remember to remove the ribbon, or swap it for something more bunny safe like sisal before letting your bun lose on them!
A Time for Giving
Our bunnies are a luckily lot, I’m sure they are treated and cuddled all year around. Sadly, there are many bunnies that don’t have a slave to spoil them this Christmas, so if you have spare treats, have time to make some bunny toys, or have odds and ends like bottles, bowls, bin bags, brushes, towels, unwanted toys, even a bag of spare bunny food then please pop them along to your local rescue and make their day with something for the not so luckily bunnies. There is a surprise parcel already winging its way to a rescue from me and my family.
When I was looking for a proofreader for my book, I wanted someone that knew about bunnies as well as grammar. I found Chandra Beal, a bunny owner and proofreader – the perfect combination. Chandra is also the author of The Relaxed Rabbit: Massage Techniques for Your Companion Rabbit, and she very kindly sent me a copy of her DVD a few weeks ago so I could give it a try with Scamp. She’s also offering you the chance to win a copy (scroll down for details).
I had a couple of questions for Chandra first…
What gave you the idea to perform massage on rabbits?
I actually started by learning energy work. I used to sit near or touching my first bunny, Maia, and over time I noticed a palpable energy exchange between us that left us both feeling happy and relaxed. This intrigued me and I began learning many healing arts, starting with Reiki, which I practiced with Maia and with foster and shelter rabbits. I enrolled in human massage school and learned the fundamentals of Swedish massage, and later Thai massage and a host of different techniques. I practiced these, too, on Maia, and began to adapt bodywork for her anatomy. I saw a real difference in her body over time, and compared to rabbits in other situations (for example, a shelter). I thought that if I approached it with the same responsibilities as human massage, such as avoiding contraindications and working safely with a rabbit’s body, that bunnies could enjoy massage, too! I set out to formalize my techniques and instruction in a book and DVD so I could share it with others.
Do rabbits really enjoy massage?
Oh, yes! Although we all know that rabbits can be quite fierce when they want to, they are generally “yin” animals who are receptive to energy and touch. Rabbits regularly touch each other through grooming, and just imagine the close quarters of a warren. They are sensitive creatures who appreciate the sensual side of life. My guys get a massage just about every day, and they are the ones who ask for it by appearing on our “massage” rug. I know they’re enjoying it because they chatter their teeth, fall asleep in my hands, and totally surrender themselves. Plus I usually get a ‘thank you’ kiss. And from a massage therapist’s point of view, I can feel their muscle fibers actually lengthening and letting go, and observe signs of relaxation.
How about owners?
Absolutely! All those sensations I experienced with Maia now have scientific support. There are many documented studies now showing that touching a pet, or even just being around a pet, can lower blood pressure, increase self-esteem, lower anxiety… In massage we talk about entrainment, the synchronization of two life forces, which can happen through the rhythm of strokes or through music. When that happens, it’s just bliss. You can also increase the human-animal bond by interacting with your rabbit in a trusting and supportive way. It’s win-win, really.
Sounds good, I admit, I was a little hesitant about the odds of Scamp sitting still long enough for a massage but we were up for having a go. My first impression of the DVD was that there is actually a lot more on it than just massage techniques. There is excellent explanation of rabbit’s physiology – how their bones and muscles fit together – did you know there are 16 bones in a bunnies tail? Chandra also talks about rabbit behaviour, the benefits of the contact that massage encourages and reading feedback signals from your bunny.
Scamp learning rabbit massage techniques
The massage techniques were just as interesting. Some parts I was nodding along to thinking “well, that explains why bunnies like being stroked there so much” and others were completely new things to try out. Scamp’s idea of ‘relaxing’ is dropping (flopping) to the floor for five minutes in between binkies but he did let me try out a few new things and I’ll continue to introduce them slowly. One of the things I was surprised at was how much he seemed to enjoy the rocking, he blissed out for ten minutes or so on the back of the sofa as I gently swayed him side to side – for him that’s a long time to stay in one place!
The production of the DVD itself is brilliant, it’s really professional. Sorry Chandra, but I think you were completely upstaged by Gilligan. He’s a beautiful dutch bunny/assistant that demonstrated how to be massaged, and he looks completely relaxed throughout the whole DVD.
If you want more information or to get your hands on a copy, visit Chandra’s website or it’s available at Amazon.
Win a Copy of The Relaxed Rabbit DVD
For a chance to win your very own copy, just leave a comment answering the question: how many bones in a rabbit’s tail? before December 10th. Chandra will draw a winner and I’ll announce it here on the 11th.
UPDATE: Chandra drew Diana Moll, from the QI Papers as the lucky winner – congratulations Diana, I hope your bunnies enjoy the massage!
