Million Dollar Pet Pix

Help Your Bunny Survive the Cold

Winter is now approaching and so the issue of cold weather is on many peoples minds. Bunnies handle the severe cold much better than they handle the severe heat. There are two basic issues you must be concerned about during the winter months.

First, make sure your bunny has water available. During the winter months we go with crocks instead of water bottles for all of our outside rabbits. The tube of the water bottle freezes much too quickly. We then check the water three times a day to make sure the water is not frozen. If your bunny does not have enough water, it will not eat enough food to keep it warm.

The Gerbil Language

If only your gerbil could talk. Just because it doesn't talk doesn't mean you can't understand what it is trying to tell you. As the gerbil owner, you need to know what your gerbil is saying. In order to do that you need to become familiar with gerbil sounds and gerbil behavior. Gerbils squeak to yell at each other ... watch that they don't fight if there is squeaking going on. Chirping is the way they communicate. It's all good when you hear chirping. Gerbils are prone to respiratory infections. A clicking sound will warn you that your gerbil is sick.

How to Beat Flystrike in Rabbits

Flystrike is a serious condition in rabbits that, if left untreated, can be fatal. It is caused by flies laying their eggs on the rabbit, the eggs hatching out into maggots and the maggots then eating the rabbit's flesh. At the very least Flystrike (or myiasis) is extremely uncomfortable, at worst it results in severe pain, shock and death. Flystrike is also a very fast moving condition, as some species of fly produce maggots that mature very rapidly and can start eating flesh within 24 hours.

Hair Loss in Rabbits

If you note any change in your rabbit's usual behaviour, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian in your area that treats rabbits. Veterinarians who have focused their practice on this and other related species are best placed to field any case-specific questions.

Many causes of rabbit skin problems produce similar clinical signs, so professional evaluation is important.