Please Protect Your Rabbit from the Summer Heat

In the hot summer weather please remember to do everything you can to keep your rabbits cool and comfortable. In the wild they can burrow below ground to keep cool but domestic rabbits don’t have that luxury so please do what you can.

If your rabbits are outside then please make sure they have plenty of shade. If their run can be put over cold paving slabs out of sunlight then they can spread themselves out over the cool stones to keep their temperature down. Battery operated fans are also a good idea and can be picked up cheaply on ebay or in shops. It’s important to make sure that the rabbits can’t get any part of their body caught in the fan though. A good trick is to freeze a plastic bottle of water for them to lean against if they are too hot. Please note that the bottle must always be wrapped in a tea towel to prevent ice-burn. Keep a spare in the freezer to replace the other when it thaws. Garden umbrellas are also a good idea to keep a run out of direct sunlight but please be sure to move it as the sun’s position changes so it continues to provide cover.

And please always be on the lookout for the risk of Flystrike, which is much greater in the hot weather as the number of flies increases. For those who don’t know, Flystrike is a common and deadly condition for domestic rabbits, where flies lay their eggs in soiled fur, resulting in maggots hatching and literally eating the rabbit’s flesh. Ideally rabbits should be cleaned out every day and be given clean, fresh hay. Check your rabbit’s bottom regularly and ensure that it is clean. If not then gently clean with lukewarm water and cotton wool, before patting dry with kitchen towel. Another trouble spot for flystrike is just above the tail, so please be sure to check there too. If your rabbit has long hair then it needs to be brushed regularly. Plastic netting can be obtained from DIY shops and placed over runs and hutches to prevent flies getting in easily.

Keep an eye on your buns, and if you have any doubts then please get them checked out by a vet. Remember that rabbits are prey animals and will, by instinct, disguise any illness or injury as much as possible, so please watch carefully and observe any signs of over heating, or any other kind of problem.

If you know anybody who has a pet rabbit then please pass this information on to them.

Royal Veterinary College - Fly Strike Study

The Royal Veterinary College (University of London) are, with the support of the RWAF, undertaking a study into Blowfly strike, an all too common and fatal condition in domestic rabbits.

They're asking for help from rabbit owners to spend a few minutes completing a survey to help in their resarch into this terrible condition. In case you need prompting, there are prizes on offer kindly donated by TheHayExperts.com. Please see the message below from the College...

Blowfly strike in rabbits - a deadly disease.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Would you like to help improve the understanding of a dangerous disease as well as be in for a chance to win some great rabbit related prizes from www.thehayexperts.com and The Rabbit Welfare Association?

Be part of a nationwide study that will help us to understand why some rabbits are more susceptible to blowfly strike (infestation with maggots) than others.If your rabbit has suffered blowfly strike in the past, you will know what an unpleasant condition this is. Blowfly strike is not only widespread but also frequently results in the death of the infested rabbit. There are still, however, aspects of the disease that we know relatively little about, such as what factors make certain rabbits more attractive to blowflies than others?

We hope to be able to answer questions like this by means of a nationwide survey of caring and responsible rabbit owners organized by the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund and The Royal Veterinary College (University of London).The survey will be divided into two parts:

(1) The first part is designed to gather together information about your rabbit (breed, sex, age, housing, diet, etc); - FILL THIS IN TODAY!!

and

(2) The second part will only need to be completed if your rabbit suffers blowfly strike this year.This is the first time such a study has been conducted online and should only take around 10 minutes to complete. We will be giving away some great prizes kindly donated from the people at www.thehayexperts.com and The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund for you and your rabbit, the winners will be drawn at random at the end of the study.

If you are a current rabbit owner and would like to help please follow the link below to the survey - and THANK YOU for your help!!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2b879e38uUfNLOmLcoCRcEg_3d_3d

Please keep your buns warm in the freezing weather

This is one of the coldest winters in memory, and pet rabbits who live outside in hutches are particularly at risk at this time of year. Rabbits have fur coats but they only offer so much protection, and in the wild they huddle together in their burrows, sharing body warmth with the rest of the warren. When they’re in a hutch at the end of the garden they don’t have this luxury. Tragically, the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund have had many of calls to the helpline this week from people who have found their rabbits frozen to death.

Please read the following pointers and protect your rabbits from the cold.:

Put a tarpaulin, plastic sheet, or even an old or cheap duvet over the hutch, particularly at night, keep it out of the wind, and preferably bring your rabbit into a shed or indoors while the weather is unbearable. If your bun has health problems then it really won’t stand a chance outside in this weather, so please bring it indoors at least until it warms up.

Line the hutch with plenty of newspapers or old towels, and then fill with lots and lots of hay. Put a cover on the water bottle to stop it freezing, these can be bought in pet shops, along with hutch covers. It's also a good idea to have two water bottles and rotate them, swapping them over in the morning and evening.

When it’s cold and dark, it’s easy to put off feeding and cleaning out the pet rabbit, please take your responsibilities as an owner and do the right thing for the rabbit and make sure it has plenty of food, water and lots and lots of hay - even if it means getting numb fingers in the process. In fact, in weather like this it’s worth getting outside and checking even more than you would normally, so if your rabbit is showing signs of distress due to the cold (eating less, immobile, laboured breathing) then you can get it the medical attention it needs, starting with getting it warm!

Rabbits can’t make a noise like a dog or a cat when they are in distress so they can only suffer in silence. Please do everything you can to keep your rabbit warm in this bitter weather.

For more information on giving your rabbit the life it deserves, see our information leaflets or call our helpline on 0870 046 5249

We are delighted to announce our 2009 conference!
Rabbit Health Matters
The 2009 RWF Conference
Saturday 28th February 2009

Who is the conference suitable for?
This conference is suitable for veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, veterinary students, Animal Nursing Assistants, rabbit owners, rescue workers or anyone else involved with or interested in rabbit health. However, to get the best out of the day, non-veterinary professionals will require reasonably extensive rabbit health knowledge.
CPD attendance certificates will be awarded on request.

When and Where?
Saturday 28th February 2009 at the Village Hotel. Chilwell. Nottingham, 9.30am – 5pm. Registration commences at 8.30am.
The lectures will take place in 2 separate conference suites, with exhibition stands and catering situated close by.
The hotel is is situated approximately 6 miles from the mainline railway station in Nottingham, approximately 10 miles from East Midlands Airport and has easy access from the M1 and all road links.

Please see the: online leaflet for further details, or call the helpline on 0870 046 5249.

Book online now!

Members £75 until 2nd January 2009, £90 thereafter

Non-Members £90 until 2nd January 2009, £100 thereafter

Please state when booking if you require vegetarian/vegan catering.

See you there!

Important notice
Unfortunately, since the conference leaflet and Rabbiting On feature went to print, one of our speakers, Frances Harcourt-Brown has had to withdraw from the conference for personal reasons. Frances is extremely sorry to miss it. She will be replaced by Lesa Longley MA BVM&S DZooMed (Mammailian) MRCVS, who will be lecturing on anaesthesia and post-anaesthetic care.

PRESS RELEASE: 13th March 2008

Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund


Easter fun? A life of misery for hutch bound rabbits

The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) raised concerns today over the unsatisfactory hutches being sold by many sold by many high street pet retailers, alongside smaller pet stores leading to pet rabbits living in cramped conditions. According to a recent RSPCA survey carried out in the South and South West, inspectors found that well over half of the rabbits they visited did not have adequate hutches, and 70% did not have access to a run. RWAF Welfare Executive, Jo Edgar said “We are appalled at these figures, especially in light of the Animal Welfare Act which came into being last year. The act states that all pet owners have a duty of care for their animals and yet these statistics clearly show that it is simply being ignored.”

The RWAF is calling for all manufacturers to build bigger hutches and recommend that hutches should be constructed no less than 6ft x 2ft x 2ft and should be supplied with either a run or regular access to an exercise area should be available.

Earlier this year, supermarket giant, Tesco, withdrew their starter hutches from sale from all branches due to pressure from RWAF members. RWAF Veterinary Executive, Judith Brown said “We simply couldn’t believe how tiny these hutches were. They were totally unsuitable for rabbits. Rabbits need exercise and lots of it. If you think of how they live in the wild, you will understand that they need plenty of space in which to run around. It is unacceptable to house a rabbit in a tiny hutch. We were delighted that Tesco acknowledged our concerns”.

Many of the RWAF members, including Patron, Ingrid Tarrant, have rabbits that live indoors with their owners just like dogs and cats. They can be housetrained and can make superb indoor companions.

If you would like to know more, please visit the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund website: http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk./ For further information about the Animal Welfare Bill, contact the RWAF: email: hq@rabbitwelfare.co.uk or telephone: 0870 046 5249

ENDS

For more information contact: Anne Mitchell, RWF 0870 046 5249 or email: hq@rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Download a word version of this press release

Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) Background The RWAF has been in existence since 1996 when it began life as the British Houserabbit Association. The RWAF now comprises the Association, made up of paying members and the Fund, which is the charitable wing of the organisation. Registered as a charity in March 2001, the RWF received its original funding from the donations given by members of the RWAF to help in its educational projects. The RWAF is the UK’s leading body on rabbit welfare. Every year, thousands of their educational leaflets are produced and distributed via veterinary practices, rescue centres, pet shops and directly from the RWAF. They hold an annual educational conference, and each year it gets bigger and better. Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Nurses along with rabbit owners and rescue workers can keep up to date with the latest developments from the distinguished panel of rabbit experts. The RWF is delighted to be a partner with Bristol Zoo in funding a 3 year Veterinary Resident. They hope this will have a great impact throughout the veterinary profession and rabbit clients will benefit as a result. The RWAF were also involved in the consultation process of the updated 2004 Animal Act, and sit on the panel of other pro-active organisations such as the Pets Advertising Advisory Group.

Jaffa Club - coming soon!

The Jaffa Club - what is it?

The Jaffa Club is part of the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) but is strictly for kids only. If you're aged between 7 and 11 years old then you are welcome to join!

The club was set up to help you learn all about your rabbits and will put you in touch with other young rabbit owners so you can share tips about your furry friends. Jaffa the rabbit has loads of friends, including Miffy, Henry, Louie and Fiver, and together they will show you how to get the most fun from your buns by giving them what they need to live a happy hoppy life.

What will I get when I join?

When you join you'll receive a fabulous Jaffa Club pack with all sorts of fun items like Jaffa 's calendar which gives you handy tips on what to look out for over the year, a badge, a membership book, fabulous stickers and a handy pencil case. But the fun doesn't stop there! When you join you'll also get a password for entry to Jaffa 's online club!

The online club has all sorts of games and activities. You can test your knowledge about rabbit care in 'Jaffa's HappyHopper' quiz, catch up with Jaffa and his mates through a regular cartoon strip, watch video clips about rabbits, print out rabbit care sheets written specially for kids and speak to other young rabbit owners through the moderated chat forum. So what are you waiting for?

What wll it cost to join the Jaffa Club?

It will cost £7.00 per year to join, and apart from everything else, you'll get a fab jingle ball free too, which will give your furry friends hours of fun. Joining also gives you loads of the normal benefits of the RWAF, like the 'RWAF Vet list' which will help you to find a rabbit-friendly vet in your area, and the 'Bunny Boarding List' which will help you to find someone to look after your furry friends during holidays.

How do I join

Register your interest by sending you name, address, telephone number and email address to rae@hollybushpark.wanadoo.co.uk

Jaffa can't wait for you to hop on board!

PRESS RELEASE - British weather wreaks havoc for pet rabbits

PRESS RELEASE 28 August 2007

Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund

British weather wreaks havoc for pet rabbits

The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) issued warnings to pet rabbit owners today about the danger of the killer disease, Myxomatosis, which has seen a steady rise with the warm, damp conditions of recent months.

Judith Brown, RWAF Veterinary Executive explains “The humid weather that we’ve been experiencing of late creates an ideal breeding ground for the fleas and mosquitoes that carry the disease. Unvaccinated rabbits who are infected generally die a slow and painful death”.

Rabbits owners are being urged to have their pets vaccinated against Myxomatosis as soon as possible. The advice from the RWAF backed by patron, Ingrid Tarrant, comes after the helpline received a massive increase in reports of pet rabbits, country-wide dying from this disease over the past few weeks.

Rachel Todd, RWAF Education Executive said: "Vaccination is the only way to protect your rabbit against the disease. Sadly, not all pet rabbits are protected by vaccination, largely because rabbit owners are unaware that a vaccine is available. Myxomatosis vaccine can be given from as young as six weeks old protecting the rabbit for six months in the face of an outbreak."

House rabbit owners are warned that their pets aren’t safe either. According to RWAF Committee member and long-time houserabbit owner, Lizzie Smith “Myxomatosis is contracted via biting insects such as fleas or mosquitoes – as these are free living, they can be indirectly carried into your home and then infect pet rabbits”.

In addition to vaccination, rabbit owners can taken preventative steps against Myxomatosis by fitting fly screens to outdoor hutches; eliminating standing water, such as ponds (where mosquitoes might breed) from gardens; preventing wild rabbits from getting into gardens; and making sure that there’s nothing to attract vermin and wild birds to hutches and runs.

Rabbit owners can find more information on Myxomatosis and other important rabbit health topics on the RWAF web site http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk,/ from their local veterinary practice, or from the RWAF National Helpline 01403 267658.

ENDS
For more information contact: Anne Mitchell, RWF 0870 046 5249 or email: hq@rabbitwelfare.co.uk