For those of you with rabbits....

[Omega VT3000]

I've just had to dig a third hole in the garden this week to bury the last of our pet rabbits. My children have had a tough week, the first rabbit died on Sunday, the next Tuesday and the last one this morning. We think that they have all had a mutation of RHD (Rabbit haemorrhagic disease) for which there is no readily available vaccine.

If you have rabbits, I hope this doesn't happen to you 

[biggriffin]

Remember, if you are going to replace them, you will need a new hutch and everything, all the old, stuff including unused feed,straw and cleaning equipment will need burning/disposing's of.

[Omega VT3000]

Thanks for the advice. I am putting my foot down and saying no to more rabbits.

We still have two Guinea pigs but the disease does not transfer to them.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

So sorry to hear that - as an adult some would laugh at that, and say 'they're only rabbits' or something. But as a child losing a pet that's devastating, they can be your whole world.

Hope all at Waddington Towers is back to normal again soon.

[amba]

Domestic rabbits seem to be prone to disease especially if in outdoor hutches.

Back when my 2 daughters were young and we had 2 huthches with Rabits and Guinea Pigs,their 2 pet Lops died due to fox urine according to the vet.Apparently foxes spray like cats so advise is a polythene cover across the front of the mesh section.

[Andy B]

My daughter got her pet rabbit (Smudge) on her 10th birthday. As it was supposed to be dwarf, it should've only lived for a few years. Ten yrs later when Emily went to uni Smudge was still alive & kicking. Smudge had the run of the garden but unfortunately had to be put down due to Fly Strike.  Sad really as it was a character .... striking fear into any cat that ventured into our garden .... our own cats included.

Death Row in our garden has 2 hamsters, 2 guinea pigs, 5 cats and said rabbit. Molly the Mutt still needs a space .......

[jimbo125]

My wife loves her rabbits but the batteries are expensive and don't last that long

[Omega VT3000]

I must admit, I was waiting for someone to take the thread in a different direction 

[Ever Ready]

We bought a new hutch for ours after her mate left for the big meadow in the sky due to having a parasitic infection (e.cuniculi) spread by infected urine.

50% of rabbits are reported to have it but it affects a minority.

Symptoms include falling over and head tilt, not a pretty sight.

When I say hutch I mean a 3 room semi detached billet

She's as happy as a pig in the sticky stuff now   (She was in temporary accommodation until her new gaff was built)

[TheBoy]

Sorry to hear this, 3 in a week must be heart breaking, and not just for the kids, as we all get attached to our pets

[Omega VT3000]

Thanks all for the comments.

It's been tough for the kids but we set the expectation with the first two expiring that the third was likely to go.

Not having rabbits again, our Guinea pigs seem far more robust.

[ronnyd]

When i first saw this posted in this section i was expecting to read about a VW. My daughters kids had a couple of rabbits that had to be put down because of pretty horrible conditions, which was upsetting for the kids too.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I went to Amsterdam a few years ago and brought back a rabbit for my then girlfiend.  She was delighted, played with it all the time and was very upset when it died.    They do get very attached to them. 

When we split up she decided she didn't like rabbits after all and became a complete and utter bunny boiler!     

[Mister Rog]

Thanks all for the comments.

It's been tough for the kids but we set the expectation with the first two expiring that the third was likely to go.

Not having rabbits again, our Guinea pigs seem far more robust.

Tough I know. But it gets them used to the idea of death. Gets them ready for our turn !

When mine were small we had two dogs go, gerbills, and the most bizarre was a hamster that escaped and bit through a live power cable. I found it stiff as a board with it's teeth clamped around the wire. I thought it was quite funny, SWMBO and the kids did NOT agree    One of the dogs was a 3 year old labrador that kicked it very suddenly while having a fit on the kitchen floor. Had to rush out to pick the kids up from school and take them somewhere so they didn't come home during the "disposal" process 

[aaronjb]

most bizarre was a hamster that escaped and bit through a live power cable. I found it stiff as a board with it's teeth clamped around the wire.

Sorry Rog, despite having had three hamsters (two died of natural causes and one was put down because he was limping around with a growth the same size as his body!) .. I still laughed at the mental image!  Was still gutted when mine went, mind.