Winter Update

There has been nothing much to report on the bunny front for the past month or so. Apart from a check-up plus vaccinations a few weeks ago, life has continued as normal. Mabel has kept up with her piano practice and usual mischief (mostly working on changing our carpeted living room to hard flooring), whilst Dijon - with the exception of sudden movement towards food - has mostly slept.

Mountaineering Mabel

Mabel leapt onto the top of the cage again this morning, via the piano, in search of hay.

The hay basket had not been topped up, so she decided to defy the rules of gravity and eat directly from the hay bag.

Ear Thief Strikes Again

Missing: two ears - one black, one yellow. Generous reward offered for any information leading to return of ears.

Poorly Mabel

A few months ago, I took Mabel to the vet because she was sneezing really frequently. At least we thought it was sneezes, but since then - having realised how she sneezes  - I think the sort of quacking noise was probably a cough. Anyway, she was prescribed a 2wk dose of antibiotics, and I removed the hay we were using (which I realised was not dust-extracted) and the sneezes/coughs stopped.

However, since then, we have been aware of her rapid breathing. Maybe it's always been like that, and we only noticed because we were paying more attention, after that problem. Recently it has seemed to be really noticeable though - she doesn't struggle in any way to breath, no flared nostrils, no discharge, eating well, active, happy... just simply the rapid breathing, which is quite visible as it rocks her.

When she and Dijon were sleeping, we counted their breathes for a minute - 38 for Dijon, 90 for Mabel!

We saw the vet this afternoon, who thinks that she has chronic mild pneumonia, something she will probably have to live with, and hopes to manage it by keeping her away from dust, and daily dose of antibiotics - Karidox (Doxycycline) 10mg/ml, 0.08ml per day (should be easy to disguise in food!).

Hopefully this should prevent the coughing/sneezing returning, and the breathing should calm a bit. 

Happy Birthday Mabel!

On Wednesday, Mabel celebrated her 4th Birthday. Her Birthday platter was prepared by her two youngest servants, and she shared it with Dijon. 

Happy Birthday Dijon!

Here is Dijon celebrating his 4th Birthday, by enjoying a Birthday platter prepared by his girl servant. He shared it with Mabel, in the hope that she remembers his generosity next week, when it will be her Birthday!

 

Naughty Bunny Disguised as Pianist

We have become very used to Mabel hopping effortlessly onto the piano keyboard and playing a quick tune before leaping into the hay storage basket on top of the bunnies' puppy crate cage.

Thankfully, I happened to be watching her this morning when she was playing a tune. She stepped on the bass notes, not her usual melody...

She had spotted a hanging branch of the parlour palm plant, which lives 'safely' - and usually out of reach - on the bureau beside the piano...

I caught hold of the pot just as she tugged the branch, toppling the plant. She darted out of the way, but the bureau, piano and carpet were showered with compost, and all the pebbles and pine cones the children have collected and placed in the pot over the years. 

What a mess, and she showed no remorse. Instead came a battle between me and two bunnies, both desperate to sample the spilt contents of the pot. 

Is nothing safe?! Thank goodness for Hetty's extra long tube. 

Wanted: Ear Thief

Mabel says she would like to report an incident of ear theft. First one
was taken, and then the other.

Going... going... GONE!

Mabel and Dijon do their impressions of Ermintrude from 'The Magic
Roundabout'.

A Lazy Weekend

Dijon says it's been a tough week, so he deserves to put his feet up this weekend.

The Dijon Machine

Cylindrical input ▶ Spherical output
(Food pellets ▶droppings)

Amazing! He's a bit like one of those old fashioned food mincers.

The All Ears Podcast

The All Ears Podcast is an audio podcast, available directly from the
website or via iTunes, hosted by Kathy Gillibrand and Sabina Fox. It was
launched in November 2014. Four episodes have been released so far,
covering the changes to best practice in rabbit welfare over the past
ten years, snuffles and stasis, and then, for episodes 3 and 4, Dr Twigs
Way talks about foraging for rabbits and housing for rabbits. Episode 5,
recorded with Jo Hinde, should be released soon, and there are more
equally awesome special guests lined up to talk.

http://www.theallearspodcast.com/podcast/

Fresh supplies, at last!

Just over a week late, the bunnies' supplies finally arrived this
afternoon. We were allowed to keep the 4 bags of hay which had arrived
from the first order, and a whole new second order, so now have 10 bags
of hay! They were also kind enough to pass on a voucher as compensation.

Mabel and Dijon have fresh litter, fresh hay, and some Readigrass as a
treat... they say that all is right with the world, but have warned me
that if I EVER let supplies run so low again, they will carry out their
plan to cause further extensive cable damage in the living room...

Litter Let-down: Update

Several emails and two phone calls later, the mystery is solved and we
have discovered that most of our order has been sent to the wrong postcode.

Goodness knows how they managed to get one parcel to us, and one to an
address just over 250 miles away... just that rather essential first
letter of the postcode! I imagine the recipient was rather bemused, no
wonder they refused to accept delivery. Very few people require 60
litres of litter and 4 bags of hay!

Anyway, we've been told it has now been dispatched, so - assuming it's
addressed with all the right letters in all the right places - we
shouldn't have to endure this terrible bunny wee smell for much longer.
Mabel and Dijon have no problem doing their business on old hay in their
trays instead of litter, but we are noticing the difference!!

Chewing, Grooming, and being the King - or rather Queen - of the Castle

Fresh Air

"What's that, you want me to come in because you are freezing with the
patio doors wide open? Not a chance!"

Mabel enjoys some fresh air most days, whatever the weather. Dijon
mostly sits on the threshold, occasionally poking his nose outside, and
we freeze indoors!

Litter Let-down

Mabel and Dijon have been sadly let-down by their usual supplier, a certain online Supermarket for Pets... they were running low on litter, so asked me to order two large bags of their favourite 'Back 2 Nature' paper-based litter, back on Sunday 18th, to arrive well before the last supplies ran out. To qualify for free delivery, I also ordered some hay.

Three days later a parcel arrived - just 2 of the 6 bags of hay. No litter. I emailed immediately... a response 2 days later informed me that the second parcel had been 'refused collection'. I imagine they had tried to put the 2 heavy bags of litter in the same box, and the courier had refused to take it.

Anyway, despite several emails from me, I've heard nothing since. Very annoying... but, more importantly, we have now run out of litter!

Our local stores don't stock 'Back 2 Nature', or other paper-based litters. Male slave went out yesterday, and bought a small pack of Wilko Wood-based cat litter, but it is labelled 'pine fresh', and I'm reluctant to use it, as I remembered that pine isn't great for bunnies.

In fact, I did a quite check online, and found a couple of really interesting articles, about how the danger is actually the pine aroma, rather than any hazard of ingestion -

Litterboxes and Liver Disease

			Litterboxes and Liver Disease Litterboxes and Liver Disease MARINELL HARRIMAN   In consultation with Marliss Geissler, DVM, and Carolynn Harvey, DVM
			View on www.rabbit.org	Preview by Yahoo

 

The Dangers of Softwood Shavings

			The Dangers of Softwood Shavings The Dangers of Softwood Shavings George Flentke, Ph.D.   The use of pine and cedar as litter for house rabbits should be avoided.
			View on www.rabbit.org	Preview by Yahoo

 

Although these both refer to 'shavings' rather than pellets, I still don't want to risk it. So the poor bunnies now have old hay in their trays, whilst I decide whether to place another order elsewhere for another £30+ (seems standard requirement now for free delivery). I know the minute I do that, my missing items from p supermarket will turn up!!