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MarBin Rabbitry, Echague (2026)

13/03/2022

Do you know how your bunnies digestive system works? Rabbits differ from most other mammals in how they process fibre. Most animals it goes straight though without contributing any nutrition, but rabbits ferment it in the caecum until it breaks down enough to release the trapped nutrients. It's how they thrive on a diet that basically just grass. Find out more here: http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/rabbit-digestive-system.asp

13/03/2022

What happens if a rabbit’s nails keep growing?

Overgrown rabbit nails can do more than scratch you up. They can get snagged on a carpet or other flooring, causing the nail to break or the toe to get dislocated. Their nails can also start curling in, forcing the rabbit to walk in an unnatural way. For your rabbit’s health, it’s important to monitor their nails and clip them every couple of months.

👉Stress on the rabbit’s feet
Rabbit nails that start to grow too long or begin to curl inward can put a lot of stress on the rabbit’s feet. They will be forced to shift their weight and walk in an unnatural way. This means that your rabbit will likely be walking more cautiously. They won’t be able to zoom and binky around as much.

The unnatural gait caused by overgrown nails will also put extra strain on a rabbits joints in their legs. It can also put pressure on the more sensitive parts of their feet. This can be a contributor to conditions such as arthritis and sore hocks (when a rabbit gets sores on the bottom of their heels), making it painful for the rabbit to move around.

👉The quick grows along the nail
If you allow your rabbit’s nails to keep growing, the vein inside them (the quick) will also grow along the nail. This will make cutting the nails short again more difficult. Clipping too much off the end of the nail will mean you’re cutting into the quick. To get the rabbit’s nails down to an ideal length, you’ll have to clip a little bit off the end of the nail every week or so. This will give the vein time to adjust to the size of the nail again.

👉Tools you need
If you are working with a partner, the only tool you should need to clip your rabbit’s nails is a pair of animal nail clippers. You can use the spring loaded clippers for a quick cut, or use smaller handheld clippers for more control. You should NOT use scissors or human nail clippers. These will make it difficult to get a clean cut, and you are likely to end up damaging the nail.

If you are attempting to clip your rabbit’s nails on your own, it is also useful to have a towel handy as well as access to a high surface that is unfamiliar to the rabbit. The high surface, such as a table or countertop, will keep your rabbit from easily running away from you. The towel is to put under them and give their feet traction. Or if you are dealing with a particularly fidgety rabbit, you can use the towel to burrito the rabbit while you clip their paws.

Source: bunnylady.com

13/03/2022

Maintaining a healthy weight is very important to your rabbit's welfare - excess weight puts extra pressure on the joints and organs, and contributes to a whole range of problems from sore hocks to urine scold. How does your rabbit score?

It can be difficult to judge a rabbit's body condition visually because their thick fur can hide prominent bones or disguise fat. It will help you to feel your rabbit so you can tell what is underneath the fluff.

A rabbit that's a healthy weight should have a smooth curve from neck to tail, and from hip to hip. You should be able to feel the spine and ribs but they should feel rounded not sharp - like they have a thin layer of padding. It's normal, particularly for females, to have a roll of fur under the chin (called a dewlap), this can look like fat but should just feel like a fold of skin when gently pinched.

Monitoring weight: http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/rabbit-weight.asp
Weight Loss Diet: http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/diet-weightloss.asp