Help please- anyone who's good with rabbits

[jcottonl02]

My Benji is lovely, kind-natured, gorgeous and soo loving, but he doesn't like being turned on his back. Some rabbits can be put in a trance so they can be checked over, nails clipped etc.or held up to look at them and check for mucky bottoms etc. but Benji HAATTTEESSS it. I can hold him fine- he sits on me and is held perfectly and is very comfortable (licking my neck and chest constantly lol) but when i try and look at him underneath or try and turn him over to check for...fly strike and other stuff....he struggles and jerkes and (accidently) scratches hard in his attempt to free himself.
What should I do?
Summer is coming and I need to check him for things etc.
Can anyone help at all?
Much appreciated
Jenny

 

[naturestee]

My rabbits all hate being flipped over too. I do it as rarely as possible, because after all it is a prey response used as a last-ditch effort to survive a predator. Do what you can while holding him upright. Get him used to being touched all over for health checks. After a while, flip him over and get him snuggled in your arms quickly. I find rubbing their noses helps. When he relaxes for a little bit, put him back upright in your arms, praise him, and give him a small treat. He'll soon learn that even though he doesn't like getting flipped over, he gets a treat after he settles down.

 

[jcottonl02]

Thanks ever so much- I'll try that and see how it works

 

[bluebird]

Most of my rabbits dont like being flipped over unfortunately at shows they have too be.they will get used too it.I like too start when they are babies.bluebird

 

[Flashy]

Most of my buns don't mind it, but one of my buns hates it with a passion, we have flailing bunny limbs everywhere.

I have found that if I am calmer, and can talk to him in my normal voice, he tends to react better to it.

Also, I have found that if I put him in a human sitting position (for a short amount of time so as not to hurt is back) then I can check the necessary areas. Kind of like in the following pic. (this is not the rabbit I mentioned earlier, this is an incredibly docile doe who allowed anything to be done to her, but this is the kind of position I am talking about, although depending on the bunny I have to sit some further back on their spine than others, to get their back feet away from anything they can push off of, if that makes any sense).


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To clip the nails I have his head snuggled in the crook of my arm and just move his feet one by one, all the time being calm and talking to him, so that he knows he is safe.

 

[jcottonl02]

Okay I tried the just flipping Benji over that someone suggested, and stroked his nose etc. but he just flailed and then growled at me and hid his face in my stomach lol. But I gave him his special treat after wards like suggested so I may carry on with that.

I tried the holding Benji like in that picture and I couldn't do it myself, but my dad managed to and i checked everything so that was really helpful! He's all nice and clean down there, although I had to make extra sure I didnt even brush against his back feet cos he HATES that.

Thanks ever so much- no more worrying for me

Jenny

 

[Flashy]

Glad that you found something that allows you to check him, that's really important

Hopefully as he becomes more used to the position, and realises that it causes him no trauma, you might find it easier to do it yourself.

It might be worth also giving him a treat after you do it that way too.

Good luck with him

 

[jcottonl02]

thanks lots

n by the way ur rabbit in that picture is so adorable! What breed is she/he?

 

[Flashy]

She was a black self, netherland dwarf.

Unfortunately she died in labour 10 months ago, but she was so docile when you held her, so lively when down, and a right character.

Thanks She was lovely, one of the most docile buns we have ever had.

 

[jcottonl02]

wow. well it looked like she was incredibly loved. and she is absolutely gorgeous. i ddint realise rabbits could pass away during labour....were the kittens alright?

 

[Flashy]

They can get tired, they can also have complications. She got exhausted, she died with one kit still inside her andthe other three sadly died too.

but unfortunately that happens sometimes. Hopefully it will never happen again to us with any other does.

 

[jcottonl02]

well it would happen in the wild. you couldnt have done anything, and it sounds as if she had a fantastic life.
how old was she, if you dont mind me going on?
Jenny

 

[Flashy]

You're not going on, so don't worry. I coudl talk bunnies all day

She was 23 months old, and it was her second litter (she lost her first litter, as most buns do with their first one). Poor little bun. She would have been an excellent mother, I have no doubt about that.

 

[jcottonl02]

Yes that is such a shame becuase she sounded like a very sensitive bunny who would have been a wonderful mother.
Its lovely to hear that so many people love their rabbits as much as I love mine. Its very hard to hear when I know someone doesnt get their rabbit out every day or make them a big part of their lives. Some people I know just let their rabbits sit in hutches all day- not very nice hutches either, and dont even go out and see them.
Although in saying that I know someone who has had many rabbits and loved them to pieces. It is realy the person. It just saddens me when people just see rabbits as ornaments or possessions. Becuase Benjis not mine- I look after him and keep him safe- he's mine and Im his. Not owner and pet going on here.
Jenny

 

[Pipp]

I've got a couple that calm right down (freeze right up?) when I cover their eyes to flip them.

The others I always pick up by craddling their lower backs/tails in my right palm (I flip their back legs out from under them before they know what's happening) with my left hand pullingtheir chestsagainst my body. Becausethey're always partly on their backs anyway,it's easy to just lift my right hand and take a peek down under.

Works great with the little guys especially. The big guys, I need to be sitting down (as above), butwith the same procedure.

Mind you, should always be sitting regardess in case of sudden twists and jumps.

sas :bunnydance:

 

[Flashy]

jcottonl02 wrote:

he's mine and Im his.

What a beautiful way to view it. I totally agree, I am their friend, they are mine, there is give and take on both sides.

I agree with the rest that you said too. Pets, of any sort, should be treasured for the lovely beings they are.

 

[jcottonl02]

I've tried that with Benji and its actually getting better! I gently turn him over and hug him really close to me,and it takes him about 4 or 5 seconds to realise he doesnt actually like it and kick and twist to be let down. Of course I do always sit when i am holding him- some rabbits never jump or struggle- but Benji does. Not saying its a bad thing at all- he just shows me what he doesnt like, so i try to do it as least often as I possibly can.Although today i found out the best way to check him....down there forany problems and dirt- wait till he lies right down on the sofa like this

and then just lift up his tail and you can see.
At least I wont have to worry now

 

[Pipp]

Sweet pic Jenny!! (But can you please make it a little smaller?)

Whatta cutie! :inlove:

sas :biggrin:

 

[jcottonl02]

Soz yeah it is quite big- here's a smaller one
Yeah he is gorgeous luv him to bits

 

[gentle giants]

I have found that it helps with my more reluctant bunnies if I put my right hand over the ears and hold them flat to the bun's back, use my thumb to tuck both front legs under their chins, and turn them over very slowly. Of course, this doesn't work with my Flemish, because there is too much bunny to cover, LOL,but most times it's not a problem getting them to relaxe anyway. It was so funny, my doe Sally had a litter three days before one of my Mini Rex does, and I was concernec that the MR doe didn't have milk. So I took the smallest MR kit and flipped Sally over to let the MR kit nurse on her-and I almost couldn't do it! I ran out of lap long before I ran out of bunny! I had to turn her so her back feet were against my belly,and still she was hanging over, LOL.

I love love love my giant bunnies!