Registered Pedigree Breeder

How to Cut A Rabbits Nails?                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                      
No matter how careful you are, you will likely accidentally hit a nail quick and cause
some bleeding at some point. Don't panic.Here are some things that will stop the
bleeding: a commercial product such as Kwik-Stop (a powder) or any styptic powder.
These sting but are highly effective. Take a pinch of powder and press onto the tip of
the affected nail after wiping away the blood, cornstarch or flour can also be used in a
similar manner or you can press the affected nail into a bar of mild soap for minor problems, simply applying pressure to the tip of the nail may be effective,  No matter which method you use, make sure the bleeding has stopped before placing the animal back in its cage, or leaving the animal unattended. While nail trims sometimes seem very daunting, especially on a nervous and jumpy pet, doing nail trims is really not difficult and will become much easier if they are done regularly as part of your pets' maintenance.

                           Pasteurella - This is a bacterial disease which spreads rapidly from one rabbit to another. Stressful situations can cause an explosion of the bacteria leading to a disease known as Pasteurellosis.While the bacteria mostly reside in the rabbit's nose, eyes and lungs, it can quickly spread to other parts of the body. Respiratory diseases, infections of the middle ear, eye membranes, jawbone and uterus are common results of the Pasteurella organism. Signs of the disease include: Abscesses which need to be surgically removed, sneezing, congestion, running eyes or nose, listlessness, lack of appetite, labored breathing, head tilt, loss of balance, and pneumonia. Always consult your veterinarian if you bunny appears to be unhealthy in any way. Don't forget to separate your sick bunny from his rabbit friends until your vet has given him a clean bill of health!
Ear Mites - Ear mites can be easily identified by the light brown crusty material that fills the ear canal. You rabbit may walk with his head tilted as a result of the raw and irritated skin beneath and surrounding the infestation. He may scratch like crazy in an attempt to ease the itching. Raw and bloody skin may appear behind the ears from the scratching. Ear drops from your vet work very well as long as you keep up with the treatment. It is easily spread from one rabbit to another, so care should be taken when treating a rabbit with ear mites.
Coccidiosis - A disease caused by a protozoan which attacks the liver and/or the intestinal tract, Coccidiosis is passed from rabbit to rabbit through the ingestion of food or water contaminated by another infected rabbit. Symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea, soft or watery droppings, bloody stools, increased thirst, dehydration and soiled tail area (wet tail). Though it can be difficult to abolish Coccidiosis in the multi-bunny household, sulfa drugs can be effective in treating this disease. Good husbandry is the only prevention!
Hairballs - Just like cats, your rabbit can and will develop hairballs from constantly grooming himself. Unlike cats, however, rabbits cannot vomit. As a result, the hairball remains and grows in the stomach of the rabbit. Signs of this condition include lack of appetite or eating only fresh, soft greens, small or no droppings, weight loss from starvation, weakness, and eventually death. If your rabbit has any of these symptoms see your vet.
Overgrown Teeth - A rabbit's teeth are continuously growing. In some instances, the teeth do not properly meet (malocclusion), causing trauma to the rabbit's tongue and mouth when the rabbit chews. We recommend you have them trimmed by your vet when necessary. Symptoms include excessive salivation, lack of appetite, wet dewlap, difficulty chewing/ swallowing and possible death from starvation.
Wryneck - Is most often the result of a bacterial infection of the inner ear or brain. Easy to identify once ear mites are ruled out, wryneck shows itself in a mild to severe twisting of the head, incoordination, walking in circles and sometimes total incapacitation. Treatment with antibiotics results in mild or no improvement. Most improvements seem to be only temporary.
Diarrhea - True diarrhea, where all the stool being passed is purely liquid, is very rare in the rabbit. More commonly we see a situation where the rabbit has both normal and soft pudding-like stools in the toilet area. This is not diarrhea, but a problem with GI motility usually caused by an inappropriate diet. If you should notice true diarrhea in your pet, you should consider it an emergency situation and consult your veterinarian immediately.

What Is VHD?
Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD) is a highly contagious disease caused by a calicivirus that affects rabbits. VHD is also known by several other acronyms: RHD (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease), RCV (Rabbit Calicivirus), and RCD (Rabbit Calicivirus Disease).

VHD, however, is a very swift and sudden killer, giving little warning. Rabbits may die without showing any symptoms at all. Some bleeding from the nose, mouth and rectum is sometimes seen.
*The incubation period of this disease is very short, and rabbits may die within 48 hours of exposure to the virus that causes VHD.
*Rabbit calicivirus is a very hardy virus, remaining viable in the environment for 105 days at 20ºc (i.e. remains stable for 105 days at room temperature) and for 225 days at 4ºc. It resists freezing.
*There is no known cure for VHD.
Symptoms may include:
Loss of appetite, Lethargy, High Fever, Spasms and Sudden death
How VHD is spread
As was mentioned, VHD is highly contagious. It can be spread by: Contact of a rabbit with inanimate objects contaminated by the virus. Such object would include clothing, shoes, and car and truck tires. Direct contact
of a rabbit with an infected rabbit or the faeces of an infected rabbit. Contact with rabbit products such as fur, meat or wool from infected rabbits. Insects, birds, and animals such as rodents are known to spread the virus by acting as indirect hosts. They can transport the disease, for example, from an infected rabbit to an unaffected rabbit.Humans can spread the virus to their rabbits if they have been in contact with infected
rabbits or in  contact with objects contaminated by the virus, including faeces from an infected rabbit.
How to Protect Your Rabbits
House your rabbits indoors. We strongly suggest that they be kept indoors, or in enclosed environments. Rabbits who live or exercise outdoors are more at risk for contracting this disease. Wash your hands
thoroughly before handling your rabbits, particularly when you come home from places where other rabbits may have been, or where people who have been in contact with rabbits may have been. This would include places such as feed stores, pet stores, fair grounds, humane societies, etc. Change your clothes and wash
your hands after handling or coming in contact with rabbits. Wash these clothes twice in hot water before
you wear them around your rabbit.
Most Important: Protect all Rabbits from VHD
Unexplained and suspicious rabbit deaths, especially when they occur in clusters of several rabbits dying in
a short period of time, should be reported to your local veterinarian and rabbit club. All veterinarians are
being instructed to report any suspicious deaths to the State Veterinarian. This is very important to prevent
the spread of this awful disease. If you suspect that you have a possible case of VHD, do not bury the body
or take it out of the house, but call your vet to learn the proper handling procedures. To conceal an infected rabbit or knowledge of a VHD infection is to sentence many other rabbits to death as well.

What causes myxomatosis?
The disease myxomatosis in rabbits is caused by a virus. The virus is a type of pox virus which grows best in the skin of rabbits.
What are the signs of myxomatosis?
The very first signs we can see are puffy, fluid swellings around the head and face. "Sleepy Eyes" are a
classic sign along with swollen lips, tiny swellings on the inside of the ear and puffy swellings around the
anus and genitalia. Within a day or so, these swellings can become so severe as to cause blindness and there may be some distortion around the face, mouth, ears, and nose. Several days after these signs are present, many rabbits develop pneumonia and /or bloody nasal discharge.
How is the disease spread?
The primary insect vector is the mosquito. It appears to spread from rabbit to rabbit if the lungs are affected and pneumonia is present. The best, and easiest way to protect against myxomatosis is by covering the rabbit hutch with mosquito netting, or housing the rabbit inside.
What is the incubation period of myxomatosis?
The incubation period varies slightly from one animal to another, but can be as short as five days and as long
as fourteen days.
After infection how long do rabbits usually survive?
Most rabbits succumb fairly quickly and death can occur abruptly or within 2 weeks.
How can the disease be controlled?
Though a vaccine for myxomatosis is available in Europe, it has not been approved in Australia. The best method of control is to mosquito proof your hutches. Use mosquito nets over rabbit hutches outdoors, keep bedding dry and do not keep rabbits in moist conditions that favour mosquito activity. Avoid standing vessels
of  water. House rabbits inside, when possible.