Carpet is No Friend of Rabbits

[Gabby]

oh bunnymummy that lil evil spawn of satan.. i mean that bad Sherman...

 

[Carolyn]

*bump*

 

[Pepper]

Carolyn wrote:

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

I was just reading this post and I didn't know thisuntil now about the carpets.Thanks for posting this and from now on Ireally have to make sure Pepper doesn't even dare try to chew on thecarpet.For some reason,I overlooked this post all this time until now.It's so hard to keep up with all the posts on here.

 

[ditty816]

ok so really stupid question here.. I have 3rabbits that are out separately (they're males and they fight).. wellwhen they're out they do dig and tear at the carpet that's all over thehouse.. any suggestions how to get them to stop doing this?

any help will do.. getting ticked at my boys cause they aren'tlistening.. I even put telephone books down for them to rip and tear..but noooo they're smart and move it to the side to get to the carpet..

I really don't want to pull up the carpet in the whole house if I don'thave too.. (don't really have the $$ to put down hardwood floors rightnow) But I need them to stop chewing the carpet.. bad boys :X

oh and while I'm on the carpet subject, does anyone have suggestions toget a rabbit to stop "marking".. sherbie marks in front of his cage andthe other two's cages.. and Snuggles doesn't go in his bin at all.. hegoes right on the other side of his cage where Sherbie goes.. *lol*Snug's is potty trained.. they all are.. it's just that whatever Sherbdoes they all do.. *sigh*

 

[Kricket]

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

Is the ramp plastic? What about a bath-tub mat?With the suction cups on the back? You can buy them cheap,and cut them to fit...? I was gonna say a wicker mat (for aplace setting at the dinner table) but sounds like you already thoughtof that. What about using some of those sticky velcro dots orsquares to attach it to the ramp. It would be easy to removeand clean (also inexpensive as well). You can find thosevelcro dots and squares in the craft or fabric section at your localcraft store.

Hugs!

Shorty, Star & Krick

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

Thanks for thesuggestions but we solved it with hot glue! He has actually outgrownthe ramp now. We now have additional levels in his condo and no ramps.He just jumps from level to level and loves the bouncing and the noisehe makes doingit!

RaspberrySwirl

 

[cirrustwi]

Oh, I can attest to the trouble ofcarpet. Miss Basil had to have surgery for this littleproblem. I had gone to my brother's house and taken the buns,they did fine, but when I got home, I immediately had to leave again togo to a funeral. My Mom was watching the "kids".When I got home, Basil just wasn't right. The next day shewasn't eating or pooping, so she was rushed to the vet.Needless to say, she had a blockage. The whole thing wasreally traumatic for her, she was just miserable for weeks, but it wasmost traumatic to my wallet!!!

Jen

 

[Stephanie]

Ditty: Are your bucks neutered? If not, that does help with some behavior issues.

We had the same problem with one of our rabbits always going after thecarpet. Really getting him fixed was the only way to get him to leaveit be. He still goes after it from time to time and what we do now isimmediately give him something else to chew on. We have several otherthings out at all times for them to chew on and toss around. If hereally is being bad, we give him a squirt with the water bottle. Thelittle man can be defiant in his teenage years....

Also, we have used Bitter Apple to keep him away from certain things,such as chair legs and the like. It worked wonders for us, but Iunderstand that some rabbits actually like the stuff, so it's only a50-50 chance it'd work for you (but worth a try).

 

[Snuggys Mom]

Kricket wrote:

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

Is the ramp plastic? What about a bath-tub mat?With the suction cups on the back? You can buy them cheap,and cut them to fit...? I was gonna say a wicker mat (for aplace setting at the dinner table) but sounds like you already thoughtof that. What about using some of those sticky velcro dots orsquares to attach it to the ramp. It would be easy to removeand clean (also inexpensive as well). You can find thosevelcro dots and squares in the craft or fabric section at your localcraft store.

Hugs!

Shorty, Star & Krick

Didn't I see somewhere on this forum that somebunny was using sandpaperon their condo ramps? Wouldn't this be dangerous if ingestedtoo?

 

[ditty816]

stephanie, all three of mybucks are neutered. which doesn't help solve the problem at all.. *lol*it's just a territorial thing that my little one started.. he's sooofiesty! he's for sure a true red head.. just like him human momma..

I've heard of the bitter apple spray.. I've gottaget some of that stuff.. haven't yet.. and I'm going to try giving themchew toys as soon as they start chewing the carpet..

thanks for the help!

Mandy

 

[Buck Jones]

cirrustwi wrote:

Oh, I can attest to the trouble of carpet. Miss Basil had to have surgery for this little problem.....Basil just wasn't right....he wasn't eating or pooping, so she was rushed to the vet. Needless to say, she had a blockage. The whole thing was really traumatic for her, she was just miserable for weeks, but it was most traumatic to my wallet!!!

After all was said and done, the surgery for our Missy's bout of GI Stasis ran us a little less than $2,000.00 cash...or should I say CHARGE!

There was no alternative other than to watch her pass away and neither I, nor the Missus was able to that. Expensive lesson, nevertheless it was, indeed, a lesson.

At various times in the past members have investigated animal health insurance to little avail. It is aways too little and too much money, with no discounts for multiple rabbit "group" policy requests. It appears, though, some of our U.K. friends have found in beneficial to obtain medical insurance for they are required to obtain vaccinations against various rabbit borne diseases.

Buck

 

[ditty816]

oh yeah that reminds me..if you check out this website they'll give you a decent price forinsurance on rabbits.. with a little discount.. I can get all 3 of mineinsured for $36 /mo. The only thing thatis notcoolis that any pre-existing condition isn't covered.. likewith all insurances..

http://www.petinsurance.com/

now with this link click on UnderstandingCoverage, then click the Exotic Pets link to see aboutrabbit insurance..

My bun Snuggles gets molar spurs all the time..has to have his teeth trimmed about every 2-3 mos.. which is a $250bill... oi... but I'd do anything for him.. his previous owner didn'tfeed him hay at all.. so now that he's older his jaws don't line upcorrectly.. poor baby..

 

[Carolyn]

Hi Ditty,

I have the same thing with Tucker and now Fauna's picking it up withchewing the carpet. So scary and time consuming because I really can'ttrust him alone in the room with the carpet. I have to be watchingthem, and ready to move, when them they're out.

I've used the squirt gun with him, and the little bugger runs like madwhen I pick it up, but the minute I turn my back or get distracted,he's right back to the spot he originally got in trouble for.

*sigh*

It looks like we got the high maintenance rabbits.

As to their marking their places? Another issue here. I've resorted totaping garbage bags to the wooden floor and covering it with newspaperbecause at some point, if ya can't beat 'em, you gotta go to Plan B. Atleast it keeps my wooden floors stain free and it's easy to clean upthe mess.

I love 'em anyway and couldn't imagine life without any of them.



-Carolyn

 

[ditty816]

Carolyn, I know what you mean.. ever get thefeeling that you're so not in control when it comes to rabbits? andthat they're laughing at ya behind your back? I get it all the time..

Sherbie's the worst.. I could yell at him, squirt him with a waterbottle, and even put books, bricks,and/or wood shelves overthat special area that he's chewing.. but he still figures out how tomove it.. sheesh! he's sooo smart..

I'm ready to just pull up their carpet in their room and just put ahardwood down.. my dad suggested linolem but by previous rabbit chewedthat up in our old house.. so I know that won't work..

It's just so hard trying to keep them out of trouble.. especially whenyou know what can happen if they do get into something they're notsuppose to.. My husband always says it's like having little kids..think terrible two's.. *lol*

Mandy

 

[Carolyn]

*bump*

 

[cirrustwi]

Buck Jones wrote:

cirrustwi wrote:

Oh, I canattest to the trouble of carpet. Miss Basil had to havesurgery for this little problem.....Basil just wasn'tright....he wasn't eating or pooping, so she was rushed tothe vet. Needless to say, she had a blockage. Thewhole thing was really traumatic for her, she was just miserable forweeks, but it was most traumatic to my wallet!!!

After all was said and done, the surgery for our Missy's bout of GIStasis ran us a little less than $2,000.00 cash...or should I sayCHARGE!

There was no alternative other than to watch her pass away and neitherI, nor the Missus was able to that. Expensive lesson,nevertheless it was, indeed, a lesson.

At various times in the past members have investigated animal healthinsurance to little avail. It is aways too little and toomuch money, with no discounts for multiple rabbit "group" policyrequests. It appears, though, some of our U.K. friends havefound in beneficial to obtain medical insurance for they are requiredto obtain vaccinations against various rabbit borne diseases.

Buck

Basil cost me more then that, but I couldn't just watch her die oreuthanize her when I could do something. She's my milliondollar bunny. I have a million dollar dog, a million dollarcat, a million dollar ferret, so why not a million dollarbunny? It was as Buck said: "Expensive lesson, neverthelessit was, indeed, a lesson", but it was worth it to see her live to binkyanother day.

Jen

 

[Snuggys Mom]

Wondering if anyone has ever used this material:

http://www.palacepet.com/index.htm

It says it's machine washable and you can cut it to the size you need. It says it's safe for ferrets.

Hmmmm....

 

[cirrustwi]

Laura wrote:

Wondering if anyone has ever used this material:

http://www.palacepet.com/index.htm

It says it's machine washable and you can cut it to the size you need. It says it's safe for ferrets.

Hmmmm....

In my experience, ferrets aren't nearly the chewers rabbits canbe. I know that people worry about blockages in ferrets, butit's usually from them swallowing a part of a toy or something likethat.

Jen

 

[Carolyn]

:energizerbunny: