June diary

This month I found myself speaking to a number of people about their bunnies which always reminds me how much I didn't know when Dingleberry first came to live with us back in late 2001.

Our expectations for a rabbit were very low. Both Nimal and I didn't know much about rabbits and all we knew was stereotypical information about lettuce, carrots & hutches. Thank goodness for the US House Rabbit Society's website!! (http://www.rabbit.org/)

I imagine most people who get their first bunny make loads of mistakes... just like us!! This month reminded me how poorly we started out with Dingy. She really is lucky she's still with us! Fortunately for her, she was 8 weeks old when we took her home so she had been weaned from mum. Her younger siblings from the accidental second litter probably didn't have as good a start as Dingy. Unfortunately, we didn't really know what to feed her though. She suffered a terribly icky bottom from all those carrots we gave her, ate her way through several rugs and suffered many phantom pregnancies until we realised we should have her spayed.

Many of our bunnies now have the benefit of all that we have learned from Dingy. After she suffered a life threatening stasis episode in 2004, we started taking our bunny care far mor seriously. We almost lost her and that was a wake up call to us that we needed to find out far mroe about rabbits.

This month we also had a few buns that didn't feel so well. Izzy wasn't so well as she was moulting and went off her food for one day. Fortunately, she bounced back reasonably quickly.

Lulu, on the other hand (pictured above), was quite unwell for a few days. We were very worried about her. She sometimes has trouble going to the toilet and strains. It's very painful for her and she gets very tired. The pain of straining then makes her not want to eat, so stasis sets in. She was on critical care, fluids and pain relief for a few days until finally she passed some faeces. She was so happy after that and we are hopeful that she'll be okay for the next week as she is booked in for surgery to help her with her condition.

The problem is a small lump that sits near her bladder. We're nto really sure what the lump is yet but surgery will help to either remove it or attempt to open it up. The lump seems to cause a blockage at times when Lulu needs to go to the toilet. Of course, we're worried about Lulu and surgery, but if we can fix the condition, it will help Lulu for the future.

May diary

Bunny get together

We were so excited and happy to have so many lovely and friendly bunny lovers over to the Do Hop Inn last month.

Thanks to everyone who came along!! We will do it all again later in the year.

12 month anniversary for farm buns

May celebrates the 12 month anniversary of our farm bunnies being released from their prison and coming to live with us. Poppy, Lulu & Isabelle have been having the best time since coming to stay. One year on and three bunnies who would not be here today, if they had stayed at the factory farm where they were rescued, are now very loved members of our family and we could not imagine life without them now.

Fox reminder

Sadly, May also marks the 12 month anniversary when we lost our Charlotte & Billy to a fox/dog attack. Please use this reminder to check your outside enclosures if your bunnies stay outside overnight. If you can cut the wire with a pair of scissors, a dog/fox can chew through. If a bunny can dig out, a dog/fox can dig in. If there is no roof, a fox/dog or hawk can get in. Please ensure that Charlotte & Billy's memory lives on to help your bunny live a stress free & safe life outdoors.

Bonding disasters

This month we attempted to bond Ally & Molly. They had several dates in person after living next to each other with a barrier between for a few months. The dates went okay but both were never really bonding with each other. They could never be left unattended as they would quarrel and fight. We are not fond of forcing a friendship so if the buns don't like each other, we'll find them a friend that they do like.

April diary

Easter time means quite a few boarding buns coming to stay for the holidays. Some old friends and some new friends coming to stay at the Do Hop Inn. It's always fabulous to see such loved house buns!!

As we were expecting holiday buns coming to stay, there was a need to move some of our own buns around a little to free up space. It turned out to be a good idea! Cleaning up & moving things around was a very therapeutic exercise!!

Molly moved into Ally's room into a new enclosure. Our attempts to introduce Ally & Tinkerbelle doesn't seem to be a great match so Molly's new addition to the room is already making a difference to Ally. I think they might get along in the future!! (fingers crossed xx)

Princess had a room makeover! Her room will never be photographed for a glossy magazine cover but it's looking pretty good (in our opinion) and is much more human & Princess friendly. Kitty's also moved into Princess's room (into a new enclosure) and she loves her new spot (fresh air & sunshine) - so she couldn't be happier!

I thought that Kitty & Princess would be so unhappy living next to each other (even with a heavy barrier between them) but they have been really great. Neither is angry or upset and both lie next to each other. There's been a bit of nibbling of the barrier but I was completely surprised. Both buns, known to be both angry girls, are really enjoying having a neighbour to chat with. I still wouldn't introduce them in person - we sadly know they would tear each other apart!!

Poppy's been on the rampage again chewing a hole in the couch and wreaking havoc on anything else she can find.

Dingleberry has a weepy eye we have been trying to fix for quite a while. It doesn't seem to be anything teeth related but it's her uppy eye (she has a head tilt) so we have to make sure that her good eye stays healthy.