Bunnies

neoB

Anyone know a bit about rabbits? I got a lop ear bunny, few months old, is it normal for them to have light pink eyelids? They sort of get pinkish/grey colour. Never gets red.. just light pink. ANd is it normal for them to eat newspaper? O_o

watty

Dunno about Eyelids.. doesn't sound a problem.


Newspaper:

Any grass eating animal can eat newspaper. They prefer clean hay usually.

Apparently there is only a risk if they *READ IT* first ...


They digest cellulose from Grass and Hay. Newspaper is cellulose from mix of sources (mostly softwood).

Obviously "Redwood" and "Yew" might be poisenous woods, but newspaper is non-toxic.

Even humans can eat it, but unlike Cows, Horses, Rabbits and Cavies you won't get any food value from it.


Re: Eyes..
Some woodshaving and sawdust products etc can be irrating, Hay is ALWAYS preferable and costs me €3.50 for an old fashoned square bale. Hay is much cheaper than shavings/chips/sawdust and more nutrious.

We have a wire toast rack as a hay rack as the cavies prefer eating clean hay to eating their bedding hay (which they *WILL* eat if nothing else). Rabbits arn't Cavies I know, and do have different dietary needs, but both prefer clean hay.


Don't put cavies annd Rabbits together as some suggest, The Bucks in particular can seriously injure a cavie (boar or sow) with their sexual antics. Cavies have easily broken limbs.

Shewhomustbe...

Hey neoB,

compared your bunnies eyelid's colours with my two and they match so I'm thinking you've got no problems.

If your little guy ever gets an infection their eye will pus and if that happens bring them to you vet asap.
Rabbits need to be constantly checked for any problems, here's a checklist I found which might be helpful for you.
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~jherkert/ori/rabbit.htm

"Monitoring Checklist:

It is best to decide on a formal repeatable examination pattern. For example:

Overall: coat should be clean, dry, shiny, well groomed, urine and feces of amount and consistency and color as usual and similar to other rabbits, no obvious weight gain or loss, normal activity level, expression BAR (bright, alert, reactive).

Breathing: normal is rapid, 30-60 bpm

Nose: pink, dry

Mouth: check that teeth occlude correctly, gums should be pink, moist, not overly wet or dry.

Eyes bright, eyelids clean, not swollen

Ears: (pinna) fur clean, present and full on outside, veins and surface on inside clean, dry, smooth, not reddened. Inside of ear free of crust (possible mite Psorptes cuniculi infection). (It is important to monitor for ear mites.)

Tail/Anus: clean, no evidence of mucous or feces

Genitalia: clean, no exudates (if female in estrus the vulva will be reddened and inflamed)

Legs: no stiffness or damage or swelling, check claws for breaks or trimming needs, check hocks to be sure full furred and not sore. For front legs be alert for any sign of matting, wetness that can indicate nasal discharge."

If you are still worried post a pic of their eye.

Falkorre

Just a side-note.....
You should really not be letting them eat paper of any kind.
The bleaching and ink involved is NOT a good thing for any animals digestive tract, rabbit or not.

B

Capt'n Midnight

Originally posted by Dawntreader
Just a side-note.....
You should really not be letting them eat paper of any kind.
The bleaching and ink involved is NOT a good thing for any animals digestive tract, rabbit or not.
B

Not sure about newsprint - since it is has few additives and the bleach is gone by the time you get it. And carbon black (remember the way the Irish Times crossword used to imprint on you hands) should be ok ish - I could be wrong.,

BUT Glossy and / or Coloured material is a no-no - many coloured inks are metal based and special additives mean that in some cases paper is not the main ingredient - other binders and ink adsorbing sustances are in greater amounts.

---

I've heard that rabbits can't handle stairs and risk injury on them.

Edit
http://www.la-spca.org/ac/rabbits.htm

Lifting
Rabbits are prey animals. They do not like to be picked up and carried around. An improperly handled rabbit that kicks out or struggles is at risk of fracturing its long bones or spine. The most common fracture due to improper handling is the 7th lumbar vertebrae (L7), which causes permanent paralysis.

Rabbits should never be lifted by the ears or by the scruff of their neck. When lifting rabbits, provide support for the upper body with one hand while providing support for the hind legs with the other hand. Firmly and securely hold the rabbit against your chest using both hands and forearm. If the rabbit begins to struggle, drop down into a crouch and let the struggling rabbit jump to the floor.

Shewhomustbe...

Newspaper in small quantities should be fine. I've learnt through trial and error anything within reach is fair game so important documents, hide them, hide them well!!
Best thing is to have plenty of hay available in their litter trays.

Rabbits actually can handle stairs, I found this out one amusing day.
I would advise though to keep an eye on them if they have the freedom to roam, curious bunny minds will need to know.