Small Furries Workshop
Hello Nayana, Thank you for the Small Furries Workshop! It was really great! I’m just working with two bunnies who have re-occurring chronic Pasteurella, where the antibiotics never cleared it. I just have a few questions if that’s ok!
1.) They are constantly sneezing when they eat, the hay they are currently on is a local organic hay from a farm which seems of high quality, but we will try ordering some hay from your recommended list as well to see if there is a difference. Would you ever recommend dampening the hay for the bunnies to reduce dust/ sneezing?
2.) The guardian is looking into putting some air vets into their indoor cabin, in case they are not getting enough fresh air, would you recommend this?
3.) The bunnies get annual 3 in 1 vaccinations (myxo, rhv1 &2), is this necessary for bunnies? As I understand, for dogs and cats, annual vacs are not recommended and they can get titer testing if the guardian is concerned. I am just wondering if this can be done for bunnies as well, or are their annual vacs needed?
Thank You!
All the best,
Maire xx
- 7 Replies
Hi Maire, 1. slightly damping hay to keep dust down is ok, you can mist with a spray bottle for instance. But definitely a good idea to try to change the hay too.
2. Air flow is always good as long as it’s not draughty.
3. I don’t know about vaccinations for bunnies, but now I will have to find out. Apparently it’s only a ‘thing’ in the UK. I will ask people with more info on the subject to respond here too.
Thank you Nayana! I will share the info with their guardian. xx
Hello Maire, Susy here from West Cork. I have a very small rabbit and guinea-pig sanctuary. I do have incoming bunnies vaccinated as they often have little natural immunity to the outside world, especially if they have been bred by pet shops which mostly means they have been indoors 24/7 since birth, and do not have a terribly natural diet. I am advised by my vet that it is not necessary to boost every year, certainly in my situation where they live outside and are adjacent to wild rabbits in the fields, with a diet including the local plants and homegrown herbs. The feeling is that they will have built up immunity. This may not be the case so much if the rabbits are isolated from other rabbits/hares, (and have a diet that is not so varied), but it also that means they are not in so much danger. Mixy is generally thought to be carried by a Mosquito, RHV caught from another animal. I am happy to chat anytime. Good luck with them.
Hello Susy, Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate your help. Your sanctuary sounds amazing. West Cork is so beautiful! I am based in Dublin, but my partner’s family is from Reen, West Cork so I go over there as well! Would you have any recommendations for exotic vets, rabbit hay/ herb suppliers or other rabbit related recommendations in Ireland? These bunnies live in County Meath, but their guardian is really great and would be willing to travel to a good vet with them. Thank you! xx
Hello Maire, sorry for delay, I’ve only just got back on to this page. Do come and visit when you are in West Cork. The best vet I have come across for rabbits is Pat O’Doherty at Gilabbey Vet Hospital in Cork City. Expensive but when the chips are down he really knows his stuff with exotics. He is the vet for Fota Wildlife Park. I had a serious abscess problem which wasn’t going anywhere with my local vet, just as the first lockdown started, Pat saved Vincent’s life and his leg. He also works with you on the natural side of things, doesn’t diss anything, thinks it through with you. As far as hay goes, no I don’t have a special supplier, I use a local farmer and buy it by the bale, I also have donkeys and sheep so use a fair bit. I’m in the country so have a lot of fresh grasses around me most of the year, haven’t needed to go into that arena. I use Shanbally herbs for buying in dried herbs. Only problem is they come in 500g packs, a lot for an individual owner. I have a fair selection growing here for my own use but as yet am not growing enough to send much out to others.
Thank you so much for all this info Susy! Sorry just seeing this now.
Great info Susy, thanks 🙂
