Prince Charming

Move over, William and Harry! There’s a new prince in town, and he’s November’s Bun of the Month. Our Prince doesn’t demand a palace or a staff of servants. A cozy cardboard box and some affection are all it takes to keep this sweet boy happy. 

Prince is a singular rabbit in more ways than one. First is his coloring, a striking mixture of beige and white, making him look like a true dust bunny! Then there are his eyes. A rich dark brown, framed by long lashes, they’re eyes you could get lost in.

Those eyes pose a special challenge for Prince, however. His vision isn’t the greatest, and he has a tendency to run into things. He’ll need a home where his surroundings won’t change. Prince also uses a water bottle instead of a bowl, to prevent accidents.

Would you be willing to give Prince the royal treatment he deserves? We can’t think of anybun better to rule your home! Arrange for a visit, and let Prince charm his way into your heart. Contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.

The Doctor is In

Going to the doctor is nobody’s idea of a good time, but we all know the importance of a yearly physical. Routine annual exams can catch health issues early and nip them in the bud, saving time, money, and stress. The same applies for our rabbit friends. That’s why we encourage you to schedule a veterinary visit for your buns at least once a year, more often if they are over five years old.

You’ll want to keep your rabbit as comfortable as possible throughout the experience, so start by lining his carrier with a fleece pad or thick towel. This will give him a soft surface to lie on, and will absorb any accidents he may have. And plan to arrive as close to your appointment time as possible, without being late. This is to minimize the amount of time your bun will spend in the waiting room surrounded by cats and dogs.

During the exam, you can expect the vet to weigh your bun, and possibly take his temperature. She will ask you about your bun’s diet and health history. Then she will physically examine your rabbit from head to tail. She’ll look for misaligned teeth, waxy ear buildup, fur mites, and unusual lumps or bumps. She will listen to his heart and lungs. Depending on your bun’s age and condition, she may choose to take a blood sample.

You are your bun’s best advocate, so speak up if you have any concerns about the exam or your rabbit’s treatment plan. A good vet will take the time to answer your questions and explain anything you’re unsure about.

Don’t forget to reward your bun for his bravery! Your rabbit deserves a juicy leaf of kale or bit of banana after his ordeal. And just as you appreciate a quiet place to decompress after a long day of work or school, your bun will benefit from a peaceful environment once he gets back home.

Trash or treasure?

We live in a disposable society. If something serves no obvious purpose, out to the curb it goes. Many of us opt to recycle our empty juice bottles and tuna cans, and we might donate our too-small jeans and unused George Foreman grill to Goodwill. But that ratty fraying towel and empty diaper box? They’re headed straight for the landfill.

But decluttering your home doesn’t have to mean cluttering up the environment. Your “useless” household waste can go a long way toward making life a little brighter for our sanctuary animals!

Take those old towels, for example. We go through dozens every day. They clean up our rabbits who need hind end baths, keep our incontinent buns dry, and provide a soft resting spot for our elderly or arthritic bunnies. Our rabbits don’t care if they’re stained or frayed. All that matters is that they are soft and warm.

Your daily newspaper is also vitally important to us. That’s what we use to line the floors of all our rabbits’ pens. But because so many people choose to get their news online these days, we often run short. Newsprint is non-toxic and fun for our residents to chew and dig around in, so if you have extras, we’ll be happy to take them off your hands.

We can use other things you may not have thought twice about pitching, like empty toilet paper tubes. They make excellent bunny toys when stuffed with hay. Cardboard boxes serve double duty, as hidey boxes and climbing fortresses. Plus they’re fun to chew! That collection of stuffed animals your child has outgrown? Our rabbits would love a pal to cuddle up with.

In an upcoming blog, we’ll tell you all about how your unwanted electronics and ink cartridges can benefit our sanctuary, too. When in doubt, throw it out? Not when there’s a rabbit around!

Lagomorph Language

Our bunnies can’t speak, but that doesn’t mean they’re not talking to us. Rabbit communication is a subtle thing. A combination of vocal sounds, ear movements, and postures combine to create a language that is completely unique to your rabbit.

Here are some common behaviors and what they mean:

Chinning—“This belongs to me!” Rabbits have scent glands in their chin. Marking something in that way is a sign of ownership. Your rabbit might even decide to mark you!

Binky—“I’m ecstatic!” If you rabbit runs madly across the room and launches himself in the air, or dances around your feet, he’s a happy bunny.

Dead Bunny Flop—“I am blissfully relaxed.” It looks scary when your rabbit suddenly drops over on her side, but it’s a huge sign that she trusts you and feels comfortable with you around.

Thumping—“Knock it off right now!!” A thumping rabbit is letting you know he is frightened or angry. It’s then your job to figure out why and how to fix it!

Tooth grinding—“Oh, that feels wonderful, don’t stop!” A gentle vibration means contentment. You’ll often feel this while you’re petting your bun. Not to be confused with teeth chattering, a louder variation which indicates pain.

Honking—“I’m hot for you!” A honking rabbit is viewing you as a potential mate. If you haven’t spayed or neutered your pet, this might be a good time to set up the appointment!

Want to know more about your bunny’s body language? Try this site!

Bun 911

We all want our bunnies to be healthy and happy. We feed them nutritious meals, give them plenty of exercise, provide them with toys and soft bedding…but even with the best care, things can go wrong. As prey animals, rabbits are conditioned to hide weakness and illness, so it can be hard for even the most attentive bunny parents to tell when their rabbit is under the weather.

One of the most serious ailments, and unfortunately one of the most common, is G.I. stasis. G.I. refers to the gastrointestinal tract, which works around the clock in a healthy rabbit. Stasis is often called “the silent killer”, because it comes on slowly and causes the rabbit’s digestive system to gradually shut down, often resulting in death.

How will you know if your rabbit is developing stasis? The UK organization Action for Rabbits suggests that you remember the acronym H.E.L.P.

H = Hunched. If your rabbit is sitting in a hunched up position, he may be suffering from painful gas, one of the symptoms of stasis.

E = Eating. Has your rabbit refused food, even his favorite treat? This is always a cause for concern. Just 72 hours without eating can be fatal for rabbits.

L = Listless. A seriously ill rabbit will refuse to move and may not allow you to touch her.

P = Poop. Rabbits should poop as often as they eat, around the clock. If you find an empty litterbox, take action immediately.

Stasis is a medical emergency. If you suspect there’s something going on with your rabbit, listen to your instincts! DO NOT WAIT. Get your bunny to a vet right away. Since our buns don’t always get sick during business hours, know where the nearest animal ER is located and how to get there.

G. I. Stasis is treatable when caught early. Treatment usually includes a grueling regimen of pain medication, gut motility drugs, anti-gas drops, sub-Q fluids, tummy massages, and syringe feeding. Your rabbit may not feel like himself for a couple of weeks or more. The earlier you notice the warning signs, the better your rabbit’s chance for recovery.

The House Rabbit Society has more information on stasis. Read about it here.

In Novi:

Animal Emergency Center

In Ann Arbor:

BluePearl Vet

Dr. Who? Dr. You!

We think of them as heroes, those intrepid, consummately caring individuals who make it their business to keep our animals safe and healthy. The veterinarians and vet techs who care for our rabbits are worth their weight in gold, and we couldn’t get by without them. But they can’t fix a problem they’re not aware of, and that’s where you come in.

Join our team as a health check volunteer! HCVs play a crucial role in the well-being of our rabbits. This is a wonderful chance to get hands-on with the bunnies, and a valuable opportunity to nip any potential health concerns in the bud.

What’s involved? Once a month, at a time convenient for you, you’ll come to the sanctuary and assess your assigned buns. You’ll check their eyes and ears, look at their teeth and gums, and inspect their fur and nails. You’ll feel them all over for lumps and bumps (a great opportunity to indulge in some cuddle time!), weigh them, and evaluate their gait. That’s all there is to it!

Rabbits are notoriously skilled at hiding their ailments. With over 80 of them to feed and clean up after, there’s no way our hard-working staff can notice everything. We count on our HCVs to let us know which buns need extra attention. The sooner we identify a problem, the faster we can take care of it. This means healthier, happier rabbits.

It’s not a big commitment, just 1-2 hours once a month, but it makes a huge difference in our rabbits’ quality of life. Would you like to be one of our heroes? Contact Karen at karen@rabbitsanctuary.org.

 

AHH-CHOO!

Allergens are everywhere, and as any allergy sufferer will attest, they can make life miserable. Runny nose, dripping eyes, sneezing = pretty rotten day.  We’re all familiar with the common culprits—pollen, dust, dog and cat fur. But can you be allergic to your rabbit?

The answer is yes, but it’s not as common as you might think. More often than not, people’s immune systems are reacting to the allergens in their rabbit’s hay, rather than the rabbit himself. For these people, the solution can be as simple as keeping the hay outdoors or in a garage, or serving low-dust compressed hay cubes.

But what do you do if you really are allergic to your bun? You don’t need to give up your beloved pet. Here are some tips and tricks from the House Rabbit Society that can help you manage your symptoms while enjoying the company of your furry friend.

• Wash your hands often. Never touch your face after petting your bun. Wear a mask and gloves to clean his pen.
•  Designate at least one room in your house as “rabbit-free”. Use baby gates to keep your rabbit out. The bedroom is a smart choice, since you spend so much time there.
• Clean frequently. Dust and vacuum, and change the vacuum cleaner bag often.

• Use a HEPA filter. If you can, invest in a filtration unit and run it in your rabbit-free zone. Change furnace filters regularly.
• Try medication. Nasal sprays can work wonders, or you might benefit from an over-the-counter oral med like Allegra. Desensitizing shots are also an option.

Picture perfect

Good things don’t always stick around long! Think of our all-too-brief summer, your favorite soon-to-be-cancelled TV series, the last M&M in the bag of trail mix. When it comes to things that give us pleasure, “seize the day” is a fine motto. Some opportunities are just too good to pass up.

And so it is with our newest 20th anniversary keepsake, Through the Years. This limited edition photo book is only available for preorder until September 30th. A reflection of twenty years of love and hope, this book is filled with beautiful photographs of sanctuary animals, past and present. Each year of our history is represented, from our earliest potbellied pigs to our current resident rabbits.

Hardbound, in full color, and conveniently sized at 8” by 8”, Through the Years fits well on both the coffee table and the bookshelf, and makes a great holiday gift. And it brings a double dose of joy! Not only will you have the pleasure of spending time with some charming pigs, rabbits, and cats, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that 100% of the profits are going directly to care for them.

What a beautiful way to bring the spirit of the sanctuary into your home, or to share the magic with someone you love! Your $39.99 will help us leave a lasting legacy. Remember, you only have a week left to order, so don’t miss out. Your copy will be waiting for you at our Open House, or choose to have it shipped to your home for $8 more.

 

You’re invited!

1995 was an exciting time for beginnings. Massive search engine Yahoo burst onto the internet. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened its doors in Cleveland. And Starbucks rolled out everyone’s new favorite drink, the Frappuccino. It was a year full of innovation, inspiration, and recreation.

And on one tiny midwest farm, something even more compelling was taking shape. A ragtag collection of animal lovers united in a common mission, to offer shelter and hope to unwanted domestic pigs and rabbits. Their fledgling group grew by leaps and bounds, driven by love and determination. Today, we call it the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary.

Twenty years! That’s an impressive milestone for any organization. And we can’t let it pass by without a celebration. So we invite all of you, and your friends and family, to come out to our 20th Anniversary Open House Extravaganza next month, on Saturday, October 24th, from 12 to 5PM.

Tour our farm and learn the history of GLRS. Participate in clicker training and bunny massage demonstrations. Get answers to your most pressing bunny health and behavior questions. Enjoy vegetarian refreshments for both you and your bunny. Purchase fresh produce grown on-site, and shop for exclusive 20th anniversary GLRS merchandise. Bring the kids—we’ll have games, face painting, and crafts just for them.

Admission is absolutely free. Mark your calendars and plan to join us as we commemorate two exciting, fulfilling decades. Questions? Post them to the comments section of this blog, or contact info@rabbitsanctuary.org. Hope to see you all there!

J as in Joy

Nothing warms the heart quite like a cuddly bunny, and September’s Bun of the Month is about as huggable as they come! Sturdy, sweet, and oh so soft, Jobo is a rabbit lover’s dream, always ready for a snuggle and a snack. Offer him some parsley and some pets, and you’ll have a friend for life.

Jobo started out life in Wisconsin, one of eight look-alike babies rescued from a hoarding situation. His mother couldn’t produce enough milk for all of her kits, so Jobo and his siblings were bottle-fed by foster families. All of that human contact paid off. Today Jobo is completely comfortable with people.

Add to that the fact that he’s a New Zealand, often referred to as the golden retrievers of the rabbit world, and it’s easy to see why Jobo would make the perfect addition to any family. Always affectionate, ever entertaining, and beautiful to boot, Jobo is an ideal companion.

Jobo’s lived at our sanctuary ever since he was a month old. We think the world of him. He brings us joy every day. But he’s a bun with so much love to offer, and it’s time he found a forever home to call his own. Maybe it could be yours? Contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.