Carpet is No Friend of Rabbits

[Carolyn]

Dear Friends,

We recently lost a bunny on this board because it had ingested fibers of a carpet.

Bunbun was the beloved best friend of our dearest Luna21. Her death wasnot in vain. She reminds us to take note of the following.

Some problems that carpeting presents to a rabbit if it eats it is:


BLOCKAGE: Unlike treating for a hairball, you can't break carpet fibersdown. Once a blockage happens, most often the only chance at helpingthe rabbit is surgery.


BACTERIA: Carpets hold bacterias when the rabbits urinate on them andmold develops. Both the bacteria and the mold is not healthy forneither the rabbit or you and yours.


PUNCTURES: Carpet fibers and blockages will puncture the intestines.


INTESTINAL TWIST: The carpet fibers/blockage can twist the intestines into a knot.


I invite everyone to add more to this list.

The things that comfort us aren't necessarily good for rabbits.(Besides, materials hold smells if you don't get them right away orhave them cleaned.)

Even if you don't think your rabbit will ingest the carpet, why take the chance?


-Carolyn

 

[angoralover]

More info on how carpet fibers aredangerous to rabbits and how to prevent your rabbit from having themingesting it:

Carpet is an irresistible temptation to many rabbits. A bunny may digor chew at carpet fibers, which can lead to an intestinal blockage ifingested. If there are only a few spots (usually corners) where shelikes to dig, grass mats can be used to hide the area and provide agreat chewing and digging diversion. A large tub of hay or straw alsoserves as a good digging outlet. A wide variety of untreated willowbaskets, wood blocks, and chewable cardboard gives a bunny plenty ofopportunity to chew.

Cassandra

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

We have a ramp thatgoes from one level of Sebastian's condo to the next. What would be agood material to replace the carpet with? The ramp is too steep of anangle to leave it uncovered. I have some corn husk mats but I don'tthink that I have a way to adhere them to the mat that would hold andalso be safe for Sebastian.

Raspberry

 

[Gabby]

RaspberrySwirl wrote:

We have a ramp that goes fromone level of Sebastian's condo to the next. What would be a goodmaterial to replace the carpet with? The ramp is too steep of an angleto leave it uncovered. I have some corn husk mats but I don't thinkthat I have a way to adhere them to the mat that would hold and also besafe for Sebastian.

Raspberry

what about wood strips almost like rungs going up the ramp?

 

[Gabby]

GastroIntestinalStasis: The SilentKiller Ok this is noteating carpet but a good link

 

[Carolyn]

Wood strips would work if you had a lot of them. If they're spaced outby an inch and 1/2 or so, a small rabbit might not feel confident ingetting a grip; their nails slide into the wooden strip and theyhesitate to go up or down it.

Perhaps a non-skid pad just before it gets to the wooden strip? Stapleddown very well and carefully supervised so that he wouldn't want tochew it. Something to cause them not to slide into the strips on theway down. Going up is a breeze.

It was Gabby who told me about the puncturing of the intestines and howcarpet fibers entangle the intestines. Actually, she clarified on thatthey don't necessarily get punctured by the fibers, the fibers slicethrough the intestinal wall.

As Gabby works at an animal hospital, she said that surgery on such acase is the last resort because the intestines are so delicate and therisk is very high.

-Carolyn

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

I just went and cuta bunch of my corn husk mats apart and hot glued them to his ramp. I'llwatch over the next few days and see if he pulls it off of the ramp.I'd just worry then about him getting any hot glue gobbers inside ofhim. I'd still worry less about those than staples. :?

Raspberry

 

[Carolyn]

Good Point, Raspberry, about the staples. If you use a really heavyduty stapler whereas even we'd have a hard time removing them, it couldwork. Buck had used a very heavy duty one on my ramp and it workedgreat, but since you're taking precautions, I think it's a wisedecision you've made. As stated before, why take a chance?



-Carolyn

 

[Buck Jones]

I don't know that carpeting on a ramp is all thatmuch of a bad thing, IF one supervises one's rabbit(s) while on theloose. They don't seem to "stop" much on the ramp in myexperience.

On the other hand, if there are periods of time, five to ten minutes ormore, than your bun is not being supervised, perhaps, you have moreroom for concern. Our house bunnies run on carpet, forexample, but we try to check frequently upon their behavior if theyseemed to have "disappeared" behind the furniture and listen for anytell tale scratching. In our experience, too quiet or toonoisy, both, require further investigation upon our part.

Buck

 

[pamnock]

I agree with Buck. The rabbits wouldhave less of a tendency to dig and "nest" on a ramp than they would ina private corner of the room (like our little Princess used to do).

I highly advise putting carpets or blankies in the cages -- the nylonfiber of blankets can also cause problems. A box with strawis a better choice.

Pam

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

Buck Jones wrote:

Idon't know that carpeting on a ramp is all that much of a bad thing, IFone supervises one's rabbit(s) while on the loose. They don'tseem to "stop" much on the ramp in my experience.

Buck

The difference here might be thatSebastian's ramp is inside his condo. So he uses it a lotand is unsupervised. I went ahead and put the corn husk mat on it. Sonow he lays on the top level and chews on the corn husk mat that I puton theramp!

Rasperry

 

[Carolyn]

Carpet on the ramp can work out okay, as many rabbits will just use the ramp to go up and down and not stop to chew it.

Tucker has carpet on his ramp and doesn't bother it, however, I haveseen him stand on the side of the ramp and pull at the carpet strings.The carpet does definitely provide the grip he needed, but still andall, I have to be careful whenever I use the ramp in his presence.

-Carolyn

 

[Carolyn]

pamnock wrote:

I agree with Buck.? The rabbits would have less of a tendency todig and "nest" on a ramp than they would in a private corner of theroom (like our little Princess used to do).

I highly advise putting carpets or blankies in the cages -- the nylonfiber of blankets can also cause problems.? A box with straw is abetter choice.

Pam

I think Pam meant to say she highly advises against putting carpet or blankies in cages.

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

I think from whatI've read that is one of those things you have to weigh out foryourself. Sebastian really likes towels too. I don't give them to himas much anymore, but when I used to, I took them out and washed themevery couple of days. I did notice that there was one that he tended tochew holes in more than others. I don't know why. Ieventually threw it away because I didn't want him eating it. I thinkwith bunnies it will always be a balancing act. They may never exhibita particular behavior and then suddenly do it some day and we will haveto deal with the consequences. We just have to decide whether it'sworth the risk to begin with. I had to get it through my head that Iprobably thought he liked his towel more than he liked it.It'sa human nature thing, I think!

Raspberry

 

[angoralover]

Bo B Bunny wrote:

Bo doesn't chew his blankie (which sometimes is a fleecytshirt or a fleece material piece or a cotton towel) I wonder if Ishould worry? he really loves his blankies.

I have always thought if I go away for a time I would remove them, butI don't want to stress him out missing it either.Suggestions?

I wouldn't worry about the fleece blankets, because there is apet store onlinethat sells fleece toys, blankets, beds andhouses for rabbits. And I'm sure lots of other local pet stores nearyou do too. This is the site:http://www.petcarecentral.com/cage-accessories-blankets-and-beds.html

And they call themselves pet care central, so there stuff mustbe safe for rabbits, which means fleece must be safe for rabbits. Idont blame you if you don't want to take a chance though...just stayaway from carpet and towels.

Cassandra

 

[Carolyn]

Good point, Raspberry,

I completely agree that we sometimes attribute what we would like and think it's what the rabbit likes.

I used to give Tucker a bed in his cage. Very soft, cushy, and lovely,but when his girlfriend, Fauna, would come over to play in his bachelorpad, I'd notice holes in it. I got rid of it after the GI Stasis warwith Tucker because I just didn't want to risk any problems that Icould avoid.

Once I removed that rug, it was amazing how much it cut into the smellin my house. Little did I know how stinky that rug had made the place.I also was happy to not have to worry about it posing a problem in thefuture.

It's hard to tell if he actually misses it or not, but I can tell youthis, his attitude is just as strong as ever and I get many binkiesevery day out of the little mon, so how bad can it be?




-Carolyn

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

Carolyn wrote:

Good point, Raspberry,

...but I can tell you this, his attitude is just as strong asever and I get many binkies every day out of the little mon, so how badcan it be?




-Carolyn

Of course my little love is full ofbinkies! He rules the house, he has a harem, he gets to play chasegames with his Momma every night! Life is Good! HE IS THE KING!:dude:

Raspberry

 

[Gabby]

angoralover wrote:

I wouldn't worry about the fleece blankets, becausethere is a pet store onlinethat sells fleece toys, blankets,beds and houses for rabbits. And I'm sure lots of other local petstores near you do too. This is the site:http://www.petcarecentral.com/cage-accessories-blankets-and-beds.html
And they call themselves pet care central, so there stuff mustbe safe for rabbits, which means fleece must be safe for rabbits. Idont blame you if you don't want to take a chance though...just stayaway from carpet and towels.

Cassandra

Just because it's sold for them does not mean it's safe, theystill package cedar shavings for small pets. Not to mention the junkfood that is sold as gorumet food for bunnys and it's unhealthy. Anyonecan pick a name and use it, the name does not garrenteesafty. I call my photo page SavageRabbits Galleries, thatdoesn't mean my rabbits are evil. Fleecy material could causea blockage just as easy as any other material.

 

[AnnaS]

Chernish walk on a material and a towel whenoutside of his cage. He can't walk on the floor since its too slippery.He sometimes rips the material and eats it, but just a little. Is itbad?

 

[BunnyMommy]

Carolyn, I'm so glad that you started this thread. My little hoodlum is out of control.

I noticed that he'd found a new hiding spot behind some storage binsthat I have down here. It was understandable as the spot wasangled into a corner and he could have privacy and darkness in a tightspace as bunnies are prone to like.

Every time I would let him out of his cage he would "beat feet" as you say to that spot. He seemed sooooooo happy.

Well, I just should have known ..... Something toldme the other day to go and check what he was doing. I hadjust assumed (lesson learned: NEVER assume anythingwith bunnies) that he was napping behind there.

Lo and behold, there was a carpet remnant there in front of a door thatmy grandmother had put down. This hopping bundle ofcrookedness had been CHEWING this carpet remnant to pieces.You should see how much of it he has chewed up. It looks asif rats have attacked it (yeah, a BUNNYrat ... :X).I'm just hoping from the amount of fibers that are strewn about that hedidn't swallow any of it, he just chewed it.

I haven't seen any change in his behavior, appetite, or poops, so I think that everything is okay.

This thread just serves to emphasize though what a hazard even carpet can be!