|
With this article, we hope to establish a standard for bunny "wellness". Wellness activity to a bunny owner is the same as preventive maintenance to an auto owner -- Check the belts & hoses, check the tires, change the oil every 3-5000 miles, with regular tune-ups by your mechanic. |
|
We've spent a lot of time singing the praises of bunnies (and we'll continue), and we've impressed a lot of people with how hardy the Lagomorph metabolism is. While this is a good thing, it does not mean that your bunny is "bullet-proof". Our "Standard of Bunny Wellness" is divided into two sections, Personal and Veterinary. Personal: Inspect your bunny every time you touch it. If you do not touch your bunny often, start a new habit! Regular inspection establishes what is "normal" for your bunny. Obviously, if you know what looks right, you can see if something's wrong. There are six major points of inspection: 1. Teeth: Don't just look them in the face, but lift their lips and inspect! You'll probably get an argument, but the more you do it, the more forgiving your bunny will be. Look at the gums and back teeth also. Look for white abscesses in particular. 2. Ears: Don't just glance, but peer down the canal with a light, if necessary. Just as you like to "snuggle down deep" when you get in a warm bed, so do ear mites and bacteria. 3. Eyes: See the trees instead of the forest. Look for redness and weeping, especially. It's not as romantic in this case, but "the eyes are the window to the sinus". Weeping eyes may also be a precursor to Wry Neck. 4. Anal vent area: Look for any unusual discharge, formations and general cleanliness. This is obvious, but most often not done - sometimes because the bunny is never picked up and sometimes for something like "ooo, that's where they have sex" or "ooo, that's where they pee". 5. Physical form: Gaining/Losing weight, hair loss, etc. Overall inspection, while easy, is also very easy to not do. When you go to the doctor, you get mad if they don't poke and prod - like you're not getting your money's worth. Give your bunny a real overall inspection. Feel all over - particularly, feel for lumps. 6. Litter Box: Biologists study animals as much or more by what they leave behind as by studying the animal, itself. You can do the same. Actually inspect the bunny's droppings every time you empty its litter. If your bunny is loose, you're job is a little harder, but it must be done. Look for "necklaces" (pellet droppings linked by hair), diarrhea, or other abnormalities. As "yucky" as it sounds, you should sniff the "potty box" for odd aroma. Veterinary: We've heard it said before that "... since bunny doesn't require vaccinations, I don't need to take it to a vet." It's a shame, but it often does take a law to force us to do the right thing. We advise folks to remember the "Fram Man" commercial. He said, "You can pay me now ... or pay me later." The exact same thing can be said by your veterinarian. Regular check-ups are much cheaper than major surgery. We advise a minimum once-a-year check-up - twice a year is twice as good. The reason is that your bunny IS so healthy. As we mentioned in the beginning, the Lagomorph metabolism is so strong that a bunny can harbor a disease or an infection for a long, long time (sometimes years) without exhibiting any symptoms. When you go to the vet ... along with your check-up ... 1. You need to take some fresh droppings to float test. 2. You need to ask for a bacterial culture test. A blood "work-up" is better yet. None of these tests are expensive, but should they prove positive for anything, you won't be thinking of the cost. You'll be thinking about the future problems you saved your bunny AND the drain you avoided in your pocketbook! You'd be paying about the same for an annual visit (required by law) for a dog or a cat. Your bunny - a family member - deserves as much. |
