BUNNY CARE CORNER
Hi there, friends! How's everyone doing today? My apologies for being a day late with my column. The snow at the beginning of the week messed up my Ma's marketing schedule, and so she spent yesterday morning trying to find me some delicious greens to eat. You probably know by now that Ma also serves as my assistant (sometimes these furry paws just can't manage to hit the right letters on the keyboard!), so that means I'm here to chat with you today instead. So without further ado, here are the answers to last week's bunny care trivia questions!
1. How many teeth do rabbits have?
A: 28! Can you even believe that many teeth can fit into our little mouths? But they can, and they do. It's important to have your bunn's vet check on those teeth at appointments, because there are some rabbits who are prone to getting points and spurs - often on the molars - and so they will need to be trimmed by the vet.
2. What does it mean when a bunny periscopes?
A: This is when a bunn stands up on his or her back two paws and looks around. It usually means a rabbit is curious about its surroundings and/or that there's something to explore. It can also mean that he or she senses a treat is nearby. As you surely have guessed by now, us bunnies are really good at that. Really, REALLY good.
3. Why should domestic bunnies live indoors?
A. There are so many reasons. Domestic rabbits do not have the same sort of survival skills as wild rabbits, which makes it dangerous for them to live outdoors. There are predators outside - like hawks, for example - along with dangers such as cars, pesticides, and weed killers. Along with that, RHDV has been documented in several western and southern states since last year, and then there is the simple fact that extreme temperatures are not good for rabbits. Plus, us bunnies want to be part of the family! We should always, always, always live inside with you.
4. What is the biggest and most important part of a bunn’s diet?
A: Hay! Hay should be 80% of your rabbit's diet. It is super important when it comes to keeping us healthy - it helps keep our teeth worn down and our digestion moving along as it's supposed to.
5. How often should a bunny be seen by a rabbit-savvy vet?
A: At least once a year, and many people opt for twice a year once a rabbit gets older. Well visits are so important. They give you a baseline for your bunn so that you have something to compare to. Plus, because rabbits are prey animals, we often hide any signs of not feeling well. Having your bunny seen by a rabbit-savvy vet helps to identify any issues so you can tackle them.
A big thank you to those of you who played along, and also to everyone who shared stories of your bunns being mischievous! I am already planning ways to try those things out with Ma. 🙃
Until next time ...
Nose boops and binkies,
Jasper Jellybean 🐰
P.S. This picture is a throwback, since it is
#ThrowbackThursday and all. It's one of Ma's very favorites of me, and it shows what a periscoping bunn looks like!