Doctor What?

Despite the abundance of popcorn, it's clear that the bunnies are not enamoured by Doctor Who.

We were watching the 50th anniversary episode last night, the whole family sitting around the television, but  Mabel & Dijon stayed well away from us all, not at all tempted to come over and try to steal any of our snacks.

Yet, as soon as it was over, and the children had gone to bed, over they hopped as they usually do of an evening, Dijon demanding a stroke, Mabel just investigating.

A Hutch is Not Enough

Too many pet rabbits are kept in inadequate conditions -- cages that are too small, left out in unsheltered housing, fed a poor diet.

The RWAF has a campaign,  A Hutch is Not Enough, that aims to educate owners and potential owners of how to properly provide and care for their rabbits. Here is the video that accompanies a song written especially for the campaign:

The words to the song are:

I'm alone and you can't see me 

Once a day you throw me food

Forgotten here, there is no freedom

I'm invisible to you...

I came from family, now I'm lonely 

A garden ghost, I'll hide away 

This tiny hutch, I'm one and only 

I long for space a friend to play
 

Behind the wire, a world of sorrow 

Your prisoner, in silence waits 

Yesterday, today, tomorrow 

My quiet life will ebb away...
 

Because a hutch is not enough 

Time ran out and then the love 

Interest waned and the novelty wore off 

Because a hutch is not enough 

Oh a hutch is not enough 

I may not cry but I need love 

A little grass and a friend to cheer me up 

Because a hutch, is not enough...
 

I'm alone and you can't see me 

Once a day you throw me food 

Forgotten here, there is no freedom 

I'm invisible to you...

When I hurt I cannot tell you 

When I need I have no choice 

Think of me and be my hero 

You are mine, you are my voice

Behind the wire, a world of sorrow 

Your prisoner, in silence waits 

Yesterday, today, tomorrow 

My quiet life will ebb away...

Because a hutch is not enough 

Time ran out and then the love 

nterest waned and the novelty wore off 

Because a hutch is not enough 

Oh a hutch is not enough 

I may not cry but I need love 

A little grass and a friend to cheer me up 

Because a hutch, is not enough...

© Maria Daines/Paul Killington

Spooked

Don't know what just gave the bunnies the heebie-geebies, but they've just rocketed around the living room in panic, darting all over the place, knocking their boxes left, right and centre, and upsetting their water bowl.

When I tried to sooth Mabel, she was so tense she was solid.

We did check for foxes and cats outside, but the garden was empty. We've closed the curtains on the patio doors, and that seems to have calmed them a little. They're currently licking the dining table's legs...

In Disgrace (Again)

Yes, yet again, the bunnies are in disgrace. Well, one bunny... Mabel.

We were only out of the room for thirty seconds, but that was all it took for her to make another sizable hole in the carpet. This time was different on two counts. First it wasn't a hole at the side next to the skirting; no, this was a nice big hole right in front of the piano. There's no disguising it. The best we have been able to do is cover the affected region with a square of Vet Bed which neither of the terrible two like.

Second, Mabel ate the pile. Not content with ripping it out, she had to make a meal of it. When we returned to the living room, there she was standing in front of the damage, munching happily to herself. Needless to say, she was immediately sent straight back to the cage, where she remained in disgrace (but only until lunch time.)

We are still waiting for an apology.

Protest Song

The bunnies have been unimpressed at the offerings from our garden recently. There are few tasty green bits to be found now that Winter is coming, and with the darker evenings it's even harder to find anything.  I'm sure the neighbours watch and wonder if we're mad, going out in the dark and sometimes rain to pick dandelion leaves... let's face it, they already think we're crazy having rabbits indoors.

Last week I had to apologise for the noisy piano playing (piano is against party wall)... Mabel again. She plays something which sounds like the soundtrack to a horror movie. For such a nervous creature, I cannot understand why she enjoys it so much. She has never batted an eyelid at the thunderous noise she makes as she lands on the piano. She's so sensitive about other things, but seems to enjoy landing on the piano, then hopping up and down the keyboard at her leisure. One of our previous bunnies, Charlie, once leapt onto the piano when he was still a springy little baby. It gave him such a scare that he just sat there and we could literally see him trembling with fright!  He was terrified and had to be rescued. Never went there again!

Dijon just watches - it doesn't particularly bother him, he just sits with a look on his face like "oh no, not again"! It's about the only place he doesn't follow Mabel.

Very Hot Cross Buns

Today was annual bunny vaccination day. As usual, Mabel showed the brains - she spotted the carrier being prepared early this morning, even though it was done discreetly, and she was obviously preparing for a chase. However, first we had a trip to the doctor with our daughter, so the bunnies were sent back to their cage, and when we returned from the surgery Mabel was scooped quickly from cage into carrier. Despite her brief struggle and thumping, Dijon still just ambled stupidly into the carrier to be with her!!

Weight, teeth, claws, vaccinations - everything fine, thank goodness. £70 for the two vaccininations - we had to remind ourselves that previously we would have been paying for 2 separate vaccines, twice a year.

They are now busily washing the stink of that HORRIBLE vet from their fur, and giving us the evil eye.

Metacam to the Rescue

Mabel was unwell yesterday evening. It was very sudden - at lunchtime she was making us laugh by racing so fast around the room, and mid-afternoon, when she was called back to her cage so the living room could be vacuumed, she was happy to eat some treats.

However, at teatime, she was flopped out on her side, showed no interest in her greens, instead hopping into her tray and stretching out on her side. She was panting, and obviously very uncomfortable.

Male servant was sent out on bike to buy Infacol from Tesco, and a dose was given, along with a gentle tummy massage, as we suspected gas. Dijon went crazy over the sweet smell, and seemed to be trying siphon Infacol from her mouth, he was pestering her so much, licking her lips! No change in Mabel though, just lots of changing position to get comfortable.

By the evening she was puffed up, eyes closed, with some grinding from pain. We gave her some Metacam, in the hope that if the pain went she would relax enough for her gut to start moving (again, Dijon was desperate to have some - most bunnies love Metacam).

Within a few minutes, she suddenly went to her cage looking for food. We gave her the tea we'd saved (Dijon still managed to steal quite a bit), then she wanted some Burgess. After that she was back to normal, exploring and having cuddles.

We were wary that the Metacam had simply masked the problem, but today she is fine.

It would be useful to know what triggers these sudden bouts of illness - probably a combination of a heavy moult and consuming too much cardboard/sofa/carpet/paper... had slowed down her gut.

A Break from the Buns

We were on holiday last week, and the bunnies had a couple of well-trusted bunny-sitters come to look after them.

Thankfully, Mabel & Dijon were impeccably behaved, and did exactly as they were told - returning to their cage when called, demanding and accepting strokes, and not causing any damage.

Upon our return, it was clear that they were happy to see us again, especially Mabel who, although not any more pettable than before, was a little more sociable and keen to make presence known.

Of course, it took all of three days fro them to forget that we had ever been away... trying to burrow into the arm chair, incessant attempts at pulling out the pile on the carpet, leaping up on us in an attempt to reach 'Cable Corner'.

Oh yes, they are back

Bun, Sea, and Sand

If you could, would you bring your bunnies on holiday with you? Or would being able to bring them allow you to have a holiday?

We find that we won't take a holiday if the is nobody to look after Mabel & Dijon. Whoever it is has to commit to coming over twice a day at set times in the morning and evening, and staying for a couple of hours each time so that the routine is as close to normal as possible. We don't stressed rabbits whilst we're away.

Wouldn't it be so much easier if you could just bring your bunnies with you, and stay in a place that welcomes and caters for them?  A place that is well bunny-proofed, but with plenty of bunny toys (refreshed for each new bunny visit)...

We certainly think it's a great idea, so why are there no bunny-friendly holidays. There are plenty of places that welcome dogs, but nothing for rabbits.

Bright Spark

We're delighted to report that Dijon's spark has returned. This morning he is acting more like his usual self. Skipping, head shaking, sniffing around as if he means it rather than just going through the actions.

So, the trip to the vet seems to have done the trick.