Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit

Did you know rabbits can live on average between 6 and 10 years? Therefore when considering a rabbit as a pet, you must think of it as a long term commitment.

If you are thinking of adding a bunny to your home, take a moment to read the following before you do so and take some time to prepare for your new arrival.

When looking for a rabbit companion, ensure their eyes and nose are clean, the rabbit has a good covering and you cannot feel its backbone. Check the rabbit has a nice clean bottom. If possible, have  a look in the rabbit’s mouth to see if the teeth are broken or overgrown. If you are looking at an adult rabbit, ask whether or not it has been neutered. This can be done any time after 6 months of age. In addition, ask if the rabbit has been vaccinated and what it has been eating. It is important not to change the diet too quickly as this can cause stomach problems.

House rabbits are a lovely pet and are easily trained to a litter tray. However, be careful as rabbits love to chew and will not realise the danger of chewing through electric cables! Both indoors and out, rabbits must be kept out of drafts, away from direct sunlight and have a place to hide, so a hutch with 2 separate areas is ideal. Size wise, the rabbit must be able to stand comfortably on its hind legs and hop at least 3 times consecutively. Your rabbit must also always have access to a grassy area, secure from predators ie cats, dogs, foxes etc.

You must remove any wet bedding every day and fully clean out your rabbit at least twice a week, using a suitable disinfectant on the hutch. Good hygiene is particularly important during warmer weather, so check your rabbit at least twice daily for any matted fur or maggots around its bottom. If you see maggots, take your rabbit to the vet immediately.

In the winter, a lovely thick straw bed and blanket over the hutch is the best way to protect your rabbit from hypothermia. Don’t forget to check your rabbit’s water often as it could freeze in winter.

Regarding your rabbit’s diet, hay and grass should be freely available. There are many different rabbit mixes on the market, but we would recommend using nuggets to prevent selective feeding and ensure your bunny gets plenty of fibre, essential for a healthy gut.

You must also feed your rabbit a variety of green foods, such as celery leaves, carrots, cabbage, parsley, watercress, broccoli, basil, chard, beet tops, chickory, endive, choy and raddichio. Do wash them before feeding though.

To help keep your rabbit’s teeth trimmed, you can provide twigs or tree branches such as pear, apple, hawthorn and plum.

You must also regularly vaccinate your rabbit against the potential fatal illnesses myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD), even if your rabbit is a house rabbit.

WADARS often have rescue rabbits looking for a new home, some of which are pictured here. Call them on 01903 217788 to enquire.

Until the end of May, Grove Lodge is offering a free examination with the vet as part of Rabbit Awareness Week, which we have extended to run through the whole of May. Please call your local branch to book an appointment.

To buy or not to buy?

When buying a car, most people will take time to research their decision carefully. They will get brochures and investigate different makes and models. They might think about fuel efficiency, safety features, appropriate size to accommodate their needs and maybe speed if they like an adrenalin rush! Getting the right car is often a big decision and people will take the trouble to ensure they buy the right one.

When many people buy a puppy, they buy the cutest or perhaps most fashionable and take it home, having bought a bed and some food from the supermarket.

Too often, that’s where the research begins and ends for potential dog owners.

However, unlike a car, a dog is a living creature and a great deal of time and care must be taken when choosing which dog is right for you and your family.

OK, you say, so what should be I be doing then?

Well, there are many, many things to consider before adding a dog to your family, some of which are more obvious than others. The general rules when you are looking at puppies are as follows:

1. A puppy should not leave its mother until at least 8 weeks of age.
2. Always see a puppy with its mother and preferably both parents. This is essential. If the mother is not available for viewing, walk away. Never, ever buy a puppy where you cannot meet at least one of the puppy’s parents. Sadly, puppy farms are still much too common and it is more than likely if someone shows you a puppy without its mother, it comes from a puppy farm. If you are in any doubt about how awful puppy farms are, check out the Dogs Trust website.
3. Ensure you see the rest of the litter and do not accept being shown the puppy without its litter mates.
4. Ensure you can handle the puppies.
5. Remember, if you are in any doubt about the puppy’s health when you view or collect it, walk away. This is often easier said than done, but in doing so you could be preventing unscrupulous breeders from continuing their cruel trade.
6. If you buy a puppy from a puppy farm, you are helping to finance these dreadful places, so be extremely wary about adverts in the paper or puppies in pet shops.
7. NEVER, EVER, EVER buy a puppy over the telephone and allow the breeder to deliver it to your door. Goodness knows what condition the poor mother is in, if the ‘breeder’ even had the mother at all. These puppies are often taken from their mother in other parts of the country when far too young and ’shipped’ down to unsuspecting members of the public. They often come from unsanitary conditions and are carrying parvo virus, which is usually fatal and extremely expensive to treat.
8. A good breeder will often have given the pup its first vaccination and 6 weeks free insurance.
9. If you are buying a large breed, eg Labrador or German Shepherd, a conscientious breeder will also be more than happy to provide you with copies of the parents’ eyes/hips/elbows scores, proving the breeder has done their utmost to ensure healthy pups.
10. It is better to buy a puppy from a home rather than a kennel as they will get more socialisation and access to day to day experiences.
11. The breeder should be following a good worm and flea programme and you must ask what they have been using.
12. The breeder should be using a good quality puppy food and offer you a supply of what the puppy has been eating to ensure as little disruption to its digestive system as possible.
13. Remember also that being a Kennel Club registered breeder does not guarantee they are a reputable breeder. You must do your homework.

There are also important considerations when choosing the right breed for your lifestyle. For example do you really want a Great Dane if you live in a one bedroom flat with no garden?! OK, that is a slightly extreme example, but think about how much time and energy you have to offer your dog for the next, if you are lucky, 15 years.

If you are out at work for any length of time, is it fair to have a dog at all? If you have a busy family life making demands on your time, is it appropriate to get one of the more intelligent, working breeds that needs lots of exercise and mental stimulation, for example a German Shepherd or Border Collie?

Spend time being really honest with yourself about how much time you have for exercising and training your dog. Both these activities are an essential part of having a happy, healthy dog who is a pleasure for people to meet rather than an under stimulated, untrained dog who is much more difficult to be around.

Read as much as you can about the different breeds, their requirements and possible health issues. Think also about how long they are going to live and the ongoing costs for all those years. Flea and worm treatments must be used regularly and vaccinations annually, so think about the regular, preventative treatments too.

Unless you have savings to cover any unexpected events, it is also vital to insure your pet. We cannot recommend individual insurance companies, but we can say get a lifelong policy rather than an annual policy and always read the small print!

Getting a puppy is a lifestyle choice – make sure your lifestyle is suitable for a puppy and you will enjoy many years with a wonderful companion. Neglect to do your homework and you are setting yourself up for heartache.

Please talk to our Practice Nurses if you need any further information. You can call them direct on 01903 223137 or call the main Hospital on 01903 234866. You can also check out our website and the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation for further guidance. All the puppies in these pictures are from reputable breeders and are now happy, healthy adult dogs.

Cats Protection Quiz

On Saturday 27 February 2010, the Grove Lodge team joined dozens of other folks at Ferring Village Hall to take part in the Cats Protection Quiz to raise money for Worthing Cats Protection.

The Quiz is always a great night and this one was no exception, with quirky questions – “Who invented the cat flap?” (answer at the end!) – a fabulous raffle and delicious buffet.

A fun time was had by the team, consisting of David Constantine, Lorraine Constantine (special guest), Abigail Corcoran, Debbie Dunk, Lynne Watson (special guest) and Sue Winder. Special thanks go to Lorraine and Lynne who both stepped in at the last minute as Di and her husband were unexpectedly unavailable.

The team was, as usual, exceptional and the final score was incredibly close between first and second – with DC’s team coming second (darn it!) by a tiny half a point to a team led by Nikki and Sam from Tarring. Congratulations to them and looking forward to the rematch!

(and it was Sir Isaac Newton who invented the cat flap for his cat and her kittens!)