Make Thyme For Paws

And just like that, it's September!

Summer may be coming to an end, but school is back and autumn's just around the corner 🍂

What are you most looking forward to this month?

What to do if you encounter wild rabbits that have been infected with myxomatosis or Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD1 or RVHD2)...

If you find a wild rabbit with runny eyes, a blistered or swollen face, that is having breathing problems and often doesn’t really try to get away from you, these are signs of myxomatosis. Unfortunately this rabbit isn’t going to survive and euthanasia is a far kinder end than leaving it to suffer this most distressing disease. Vets will generally treat wildlife free of charge during office hours so if you can catch the rabbit and get it to a vet that would be a real kindness. If you can’t, search online for a local wildlife rescue and ask them whether they can help.

If you find a dead wild rabbit, that has no obvious symptoms, or may have a small amount of blood coming from mouth, nostrils or a**s, this rabbit will probably have died from RVHD 1 or 2, both deadly viruses. This RVHD2 virus is particularly dangerous to both rabbits and hares as it can live for a long time in the dead animal or indeed outside of the rabbit’s body, so we ask you to please make sure that the rabbit’s body is not available to scavengers. If it’s possible to cremate the remains then please do that. If not, then it needs to be buried very deep, preferably along with the section of ground it was lying on when you found it. The burial should be at least 2ft deep or more if you are able. Cover the burial site with stones to discourage any scavengers that might try to dig up the body.

The virus is spread in every way imaginable and can remain active in the environment for up to a year so for the sake of other rabbits and the endangered hares, all steps need to be taken to remove this source of infection.

In either case – myxomatosis or suspected RVHD – please inform this Facebook group of your location to allow information about pockets of infection to be known locally - https://www.facebook.com/groups/MyxomatosismapfortheUK/

Neither disease is dangerous to humans nor to pets other than rabbits.

Pet rabbits can and should be vaccinated once a year.

Please share this post with any local Facebook groups you belong to, so the message reaches as many people as possible.

Thank you.

Home Creating better tomorrows for all pet rabbits The UK’s largest organisation for rabbit lovers!

Is the thought of a whopping £25,000 in your bank enough Monday Motivation?! 💰

If so, why not sign up to play the RWAF lottery for a chance of winning big whilst also supporting our charity.

We’ve been averaging one winner per week so far which is just bun-derful & the next winner could be you!

Tickets are just £1 per week to play and we receive 50p for every ticket sold – so not only do you get the chance to win the jackpot, but you also help us fund our valuable work and campaigns 🐰🥰

Prizes are awarded in full, not shared, so if you and somebunny else get those jackpot numbers you’ll get the FULL amount, you won’t have to share!

Buy your ticket today! Good luck! 🤞🍀

https://allweatherslottery.com/rabbit-welfare-fund/

Max - enjoying playtime.

If you’re thinking of adding bunnies to your family then we highly recommend you download our FREE booklet, ‘On The Hop’ first.

This gives you a guide as to how much care rabbits actually need so you can educate yourself & make sure you’re able to give them the life they deserve before making the commitment 🐰🐰

Download a copy here: https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-booklet/ 🧡

The Importance of Water for bunnies 🐰💧

In short, water is vital. Rabbits must have access to plenty of fresh water at all times. It has four main functions, all of them absolutely essential:

- It keeps every cell and organ of the body alive
- It is a major part of blood, and your rabbit wouldn’t be able to live without that
- It keeps everything moving in the gut
- It flushes out excess calcium

Tip: Bowls are better than bottles as lapping from a bowl is more natural to rabbits.

Subscribe to our Rabbiting On magazine for more top tips and advice like this:

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Rabbit owners, do you know about flystrike? ⚠️

Flystrike is a painful, life-threatening condition caused by maggots burrowing under the skin and feeding on flesh.

Any rabbit can get flystrike if flies lay their eggs on their fur, however, there are some factors which put a rabbit at higher risk of developing this nasty condition:

- Time of year - Flystrike is more common in the warm, summer months when flies are most active.
- Dirty bottoms – Dirty, damp fur is the perfect place for flies to lay their eggs, so if your rabbit has a mucky bottom, they are at high risk of flystrike.
- Wounds – Flies are attracted to wounds and will choose to lay their eggs around them. If your rabbit has a wound, always have it checked by your vet as they'll show you how to keep it clean and protected.

Flystrike tends to develop very quickly. It only takes a few hours for their maggots to hatch, and they can eat deep into your rabbit's flesh in as little as 24 hours. So, if you see any maggots on your rabbits, contact your vet straight away 🏥

Thankfully, when treated early, rabbits can recover. But it’s really important to keep a close eye on your rabbits over the warm summer months to prevent flystrike. Here’s some advice from our vets: http://pdsa.me/qVZ8

[Visual description: Two white and grey rabbits in a large hutch together. In a pink circle is a picture of a fly and in a purple circle is a graphic image of maggots around a rabbit's bottom, with a warning symbol next to them.]

What plants are poisonous to bunnies? 🌿

We’ve compiled a handy list of the most common plants that are toxic to rabbits so that as rabbit owners you can be aware of what greenery you should be keeping your buns away from.

You can also find out more here: https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/poisonous-plants/

🌿🐰🌿🐰🌿🐰🌿

Do you love bunnies as much as we do? 💜🐇

If the answer to this is yes, then you will absolutely love Rabbiting On Magazine 😆

Flicking through its pages you will find cutting-edge information from our highly qualified experts on rabbit health, medicine, nutrition and behaviour.

Plus all the latest news of our activities, the latest bunny goodies for sale, readers’ letters, articles that will make you laugh and cry, and pages of pictures of the most beautiful, and yet underestimated, animal in the world 🐰😍

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Flopsy…….

Woody looking confused over his tea 🤣

We’ve recently updated our vaccination poster!

Remember, the only way to protect your rabbits is to vaccinate them every 12 months. Are your bunnies vaccines up to date?

Find out more here: https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/vaccines/

If you’re a rabbit owner, you might have heard the term ‘flystrike’ mentioned, but what is it?

Flystrike happens when flies lay their eggs on your rabbit & those eggs hatch into maggots. Maggots from blowflies: bluebottles and green bottles, are the most dangerous. They can eat into your rabbit’s flesh within 24 hours which can cause death in a very short time 😢

It’s important to remember that prevention is better than cure.

- Check your rabbit’s bottom daily, more often in summer.
- Keep their environment clean.
- Apply Rearguard or a similar product.
- If your rabbit has a wound, keep it clean and dry.

If you suspect your rabbit has Flystrike, then a trip to an emergency vet is required.

Find out more here; https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/flystrike-in-rabbits/

Help us make sure that animals have a voice in this general election!

Today we’re supporting Animal Aid by calling on parties and election candidates to make pledges on 10 key issues to help ensure a kinder future for animals.

Visit www.hsi.org/crackdownoncruelty to urge your candidates to

You can also check out voteforanimals.org.uk to see what political parties and candidates are saying about animal protection issues!

Max saying hello to the tap!

As much as we all enjoy making the most of the warm weather with a barbeque, it’s important to remember our furry friends too 🐾

Every year, our veterinary teams see pets that have got into a spot of accidental bother at a barbeque!

From heatstroke and sunburn to bin raids and broken glass, there are lots of hazards for pet owners to be mindful of ⚠️

[Visual description: An infographic explaining BBQ safety for pet owners. Tips include: 1) Secure the garden - Ensure your garden is secure and safe for pets by making sure all fences are robust and there aren’t any dangerous plants for them to reach. 2) Create a quiet space to de-stress - Set up a quiet room inside the house or in your garden where your pet can retreat. This space should be for your pets only, not your guests. 3) Beware of flamin' hot equipment - Hot food, coals and ashes can all cause serious burns. Once the cooking is complete, make sure the barbecue cools down properly. 4) Breathe easy - Smoke can be irritating for pets’ lungs, especially as many have sensitive airways. Make sure they are far away from the barbecue and not downwind of any fumes. 5) Skip the scraps - Barbecue scraps can upset your pet's stomach and undercooked or fatty foods can make them very poorly. Remember to dispose of any leftover bones or corn cobs safely and securely. 6) Keep cool and be sensible in the sun - On warmer days, make sure your pet has a shady space where they can cool down. Remember to also apply pet-safe sunblock to your furry friend at least 15 minutes before they go outside. 7) Treat them too - Prepare a pet-safe snack to keep them entertained.]

Jerry being very inquisitive 🐰

Hello June! Just like Peter Rabbit and the Flopsy Bunnies, are you getting ready to have a picnic this month? 🍄🐰 Share what you are most looking forward to this month below! 👇

forms.office.com

Let’s talk all things enrichment for bunnies 🐰🐰

In the wild, rabbits spend their time digging, running, jumping, rearing up, hiding, eating & socialising.

To allow your pet rabbits to carry out their natural behaviours they need to be given plenty to do. Here are some suggestions:

Toys
Tunnels and hide outs
Foraging treats
Digging pit

Download our free booklet ‘On The Hop’ for more top tips on enriching your bunnies lives: https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-booklet/

SNORS desperately needs help to move to larger facilities so we can continue to help elderly and special needs rabbits in the future.

We would be hugely grateful if you could help us towards our goal of £15k, any amount would be appreciated ❤️

If you are able to help please send your donation to Special Needs Older Rabbits Sanctuary, Co-operative Bank:
Account 65758986
Sort code 089299
And please use ‘SNORS’ as a reference

It's a Bank Holiday weekend which can mean only one thing...

BINKIES!!

quick get hopping to www.bunnycreations.co.uk everything reduced with 70% off everything... see the massive once in a lifetime savings in your basket! all stock must go so i can start a new venture that works with my ill health x

Why should rabbits live in pairs?

Everybunny needs a friend. Rabbits evolved to live in groups, never alone, so keeping a single rabbit deprives your pet of one of his most fundamental requirements; the company of its own kind 💛

We have tons of advice on bonding rabbits over on our website or you can subscribe to our quarterly Rabbiting On magazine to be kept up to date with all things rabbits 🐰

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