Rescue rabbits at Little Angels who are under the vet

SUMMER & ANGEL. Angel has a large hernia that could not be fixed during an operation. She could die at any time if this hernia ruptures and as we did not want to split the girls, fosterer Jo has adopted them both and they are now part of her family. Muffin is suffering from E-Cuniculi, a parasite that can cause brain disease and can result in paralysis anywhere in the body and cause head tilt. Frequently there are signs preceding a head tilt caused by E.cuniculi such as tripping, dragging of feet, tipping over. These symptoms may have appeared and then vanished weeks or months prior to the head tilt. Muffin should recover in 4-6 weeks.

HAIRBALLS (See Einstein the poorly rabbit above) - Rabbits do not have the ability to vomit and their fur may accumulate into a large clump in the stomach. Additionally, many substances, including pelleted food, can cause an impaction if the rabbit is not eating enough fibre. Free access to hay and regular exercise are the best preventions. You can also brush your bunny to limit the amount of fur your pet has to swallow. If, however, your pet develops the symptoms of a stomach hairball or impaction, seek veterinary attention. The symptoms include: loss of appetite but normal activity; smaller than normal or no stools; stools coated in hair. EAR MITES - A tiny parasite that infects the interior of a rabbit's ear. A rabbit with ear mites might shake its head and scratch its ears frequently. The interior of the ears often has a dark crust. If untreated, the ear can become infected and turn red and sore, with a discharge. Infestation by ear mites is often called ear canker or ear mange. PASTEUSRELLOSIS: A bacterial infection that can rapidly lead to a rabbit's death. The symptoms include: white or yellow discharge from the nose, runny eyes, frequent sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing. Often a rabbit with Pasteurellosis will have matted, crusty fur on the paws from attempting to wipe away the discharge from nose. Pasteurellosis usually starts as an infection in the sinuses and can spread to the eyes or other organs, encourage pneumonia, cause abscesses particularly in head and jaw, and infect the inner ear, causing the head to tilt. Pasteurellosis is thought to reside naturally in most rabbits' sinuses but can multiply under certain conditions--such as in stressful situations or in older or in very young ones--and cause illness. VHD (viral haemorrhagic disease)The incubation period is short, death occurs in 12 to 36 hours. Signs: high temperature, anorexia, lethargy, dullness, convulsions, incoordination, paralysis, groaning, breathing problems & bloodstained discharge from the nose. The acute form usually presents with sudden death. A chronic condition can occur with severe jaundice and weight loss. These rabbits usually die 1 to 2 weeks later.

Other Rabbit Ailments

Rainbow Bridge - the recue rabbits that we have sadly lost

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author Unknown.

SWEEP - RIP 26/07/2009 Sweep had severe dental problems and due to his age he was put to sleep as he was suffering. (* See notes on Minstrel below) A sign of dental problems can be watery eyes, dribble and a lack of appetite. Misty - RIP 31/08/2009 Misty was surrendered and on inspection was riddled with flystrike. She was put to sleep within half an hour of being surrendered. She was 7 years old. Flystrike is caused by flies laying eggs near or inside a rabbits bottom and these eggs hatch into maggots that, bluntly, eat a rabit inside out. This is common in the summer months and the attached link gives further details MINSTREL - RIP 11/09/2009 Minstrel had been treated for severe dental problems and was deaf. He died in his sleep a few weeks after dental surgery aged 3 years old. Rabbits are hypsodonts, meaning that their teeth grow continually, throughout life. The teeth are aligned so that they wear against each other as the rabbit chews. The incisors are used only for cutting the food into manageable pieces. It is the molars that do the grinding of food into the fine bits that are then swallowed. If the teeth do not line up correctly, incisors quickly overgrow and can become unmanageable "tusks" which either snaggle up out of the mouth or curl back into the mouth, making eating nearly impossible. A large daily supply of hay can help prevent dental problems. CHOCOLATE - RIP 17/09/2009 Chocolate died of myxomatosis.The incubation period varies depending on the strain and its virulence and is typically at least five days. Accompanying the classic bulging eyes that most of us associate with myxomatosis, are localised swellings around the head, face, ears, lips, anus and genitalia. Severe swellings can lead to blindness and distortion around the face within a day or so of the onset of symptoms, leading to difficulty with feeding and drinking. Bacterial respiratory infection often complicates the disease resulting in a fatal pneumonia. MOLLIE - RIP 12/10/2009 Mollie woke up one morning paralysed and after a week of various treatments she did not regain the use of her back legs. This paralysis may have been caused by a fracture of the back, rabbits can break their own backs with a hard stamp or kick. It may have also been E-cuniculi (see Muffin above) JESSICA - 2/11/2009 Jessica came to us with cancer and unfortunately lost her fight aged 3 years old. Pease note that 80% of un neutered does develop cancer. Cancer generally leads to death if untreated. Symptoms of cancer can vary from individual to individual, but can include lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, among other symptoms. Please spay your pets. RASCAL - RIP 21/12/2009 Rascal developed a swelling in his head that caused his eye to protude, the swelling grew rapidly and this would have been painful, he was therefore put to sleep aged 3 years old.

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Created by Taylor Made

voice of the voiceless