Loss of a Companion - A Bunny With Depression

If you have ever experienced a loss of a family member, friend, or animal then you know how painfully heartbreaking it can be. When it comes to a rabbit who loses it's companion, it's no different. It can be so painful for them it might result into depression.

Rabbits can get depression. And mourning in this way can look really different rabbit to rabbit. However, here is what you should look for:

1. Lethargic 

If your bunny is not moving and seems uninterested in whats going on this very well could be the sign of depression

2. Aggression 

A lot of people report change in behavior. A bunny that has never been aggressive seems agitated with it's human now and might do a lot of chewing, digging, lunging, and biting. The behavior change will probably not last and will go away as soon as the bun bun finishes mourning. However, I do know someone who has reported their rabbit going on two months of mourning aggression. 

3. Loss of Appetite 

Many bunnies will not eat and seem uninterested in food. Although this may be the case it is very important for the bun bun to eat.. so make sure to monitor the eating habits and offer different snacks to encourage eating. 

4. Excessive Water Drinking

I''m not sure what causes this one, but a sign of depression in rabbits can be excessive drinking of water. Some people report this as the only sign of the rabbits grief, but it is considered grief nonetheless. So don't be surprised if your mourning Bun starts slurping down tons of water. 

5. Hiding 

It is also very common for a bunny who is mourning to hide and run away from human interaction. If the bunny shows this behavior, just give the bunny it's space and make sure that it's eating and drinking properly.

The best thing for you to do in order to help your sad bunny is to be patient and loving. It may take time for your furry buddy to finish mourning. Obviously! Losing your best friend is devastating! If the bunny doesn't hide or run away then give it lots of pets and love. Bunnies also respond very well if you talk to them while you groom and pet them. New, fun treats can help brighten the bunny's day! So think about going and getting a yummy fruit or herb as a treat. 

Depending on the rabbit you may want to invest in a new companion ASAP. Especially if the bunny has been bonded to another for their entire life. Just be aware that some rabbits do need time to mourn before they can bond to another bunny and some can bond RIGHT away. You'll have to make this call based on your knowledge of the bun bun's behavior. It should also be said that different bunnies will mourn differently. Your bunny may only show one of these signs or show four of them. If your bunnies depression persists or is interfering too much with it's eating please contact a rabbit savvy vet asap! 

If you are reading this because you recently lost a fur baby I also want to say I am so sorry. I know it can be as painful for you too. Whats beautiful is that you have your other bunny to mourn with. How lucky you both were to have so much bunny love in your life.  

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Bunny Misconceptions

This was recently a topic requested by one of my followers and I feel it is a VERY important topic to discuss. What are the misconceptions of bunnies?.....

1. Bunnies are Cuddly

Well....they CAN be. It depends on the bun bun. Just like people's personalities can vary, so can bunnies. If you come in contact with a bunny be thoughtful and considerate of the individual creature. Really try to read their body language and understand what they are all about. If it doesn't seem like the bunny is enjoying your pets, then there is a 99% chance that you read it correctly and shouldn't force the petting onto them. Each bunny will love and respect you more if you give them the same dignity, love, and respect that you'd give anyone you meet.

2. Bunnies like to be held

NOPE. So once in a blue moon you'll meet a bunny who "likes to be held" and to be honest I don't even believe they really like it; they just tolerate it. I know...I probably just crushed your heart and hopes because you just want to hold and snuggle the little bun bun. However, holding a bunny who doesn't want to be held can be really really dangerous. Bunnies will try and kick their way out of your arms and when they do so it's very common for them to break their back. Just don't do it unless you know for sure your bunny or the bunny you are visiting is tolerant. I would also make sure if you feel you MUST hold a bunny that you do it sitting down.

Bunnies don't like to be picked up for obvious reasons: they live on the ground. How would you feel if a giant just picked you up all the time and would hold you for long periods? Most of us would probably be scared to death! And we are terrified of heights! Bunnies feel the EXACT same way. So be respectful.

It's hard to understand this concept. Up until recently, I always tried to pick my bunnies up. But I realized even if they tolerate it, they are unhappy about it. If my bunnies are unhappy then I'm unhappy. My bunnies love and interact with me 3X as much as they use to because I stopped picking them up. Bunnies are individuals and you have to respect that and let them do their Bunthing.

3. Carrots

Yes, you can give your bunny or the bunny you are visiting carrots. However, carrots are actually quite sugary for them and are really considered a treat. Your bunny is scarfing down that carrot because it's like what ice cream is to 4 year old. Please give your bunny carrots (because they will love them) but understand it has to be occasionally and in small portions. It's important to keep a bunnies diet healthy! They live happier and healthier lives. If you HAVE to give a bunny a BIG snack then give them dark leafy greens such as Spinach. My bunnies love spinach as much as carrots and it is WAY better for them.

4. Bunnies just need a small cage to live in.

WRONG WRONG WRONG. I hate those stupid cages you buy at the pet stores. They are just NOT big enough. And it's true, bunnies CAN live in less space than say: a dog can. But the more space the better. If you have to have your "bunny cage" from the pet store make sure you are letting your bunny out for exercise as much as you can and AT LEAST 30 minutes a day. The more space you give a bunny the happier your bun bun will be. Just be considerate of the fact they may need more space then you are giving them. I also strongly encourage you to consider buying a big puppy pen or XL Dog crate. Small cages just seem like animal cruelty to me.

5. Bunnies are clean animals.

So...yes and no to this statement. Bunnies clean themselves ALL the time so you don't have to (nor should you EVER) give a bunny a bath. But from my experience, in general, my bunnies are not"clean". I have to clean their cage constantly. I mean, bunnies poop so much in one day and their pee can stink. Make sure you are aware of this before purchasing a rabbit. You don't have to clean your own room, but you NEED to clean your bun bun's room or else it will get disgusting fast. And although the bunnies don't keep it that clean, they are way happier in a clean cage. They are also less likely to get sick and sickness is almost always a potentially deadly situation for bunnies.

6. Bunnies are mean.

I hate when people tell me they feel this way. You know why you met that mean bunny at your friends house? Because it lived in a TINY cage it's entire life and rarely interacted with human beings. Bunnies are actually really friendly, loving pets if you treat them in the right ways. Like I said above: bunnies are happiest in a big, clean environment with exercise time, and the proper diet. But they also need companionship. I always suggest getting another bunny for the first one because bunnies are naturally really really social animals. It is possible to fulfill the social aspect by yourself, but you need to be interacting with your bunny A LOT. And lord knows you can't always be there for the bun bun because of work or class or an emergency, etc. I must add that if you get a second bunny you NEED to do some research on how to bond rabbits before you introduce them. Please view my own posts here about bonding rabbits.

7. Bunnies are good pets for children.

I can't stand this one. My own personal belief is that a child under 12 should NEVER have a pet bunny and even then I always suggest bunnies as pets for adults. Children are just too.....well...childish. They are loud and high pitched when they talk so it's terrifying for the bunny. They also ALWAYS want to pick bunnies up which as I stated before should basically be avoided unless it's necessary (like putting them in a carrier to go to the vet, etc). Children are generally uncoordinated and rough. Bunnies are very, very delicate creatures. They need to be handled very carefully and gently. I just hate seeing kids with bunnies. Sure, I let the kids I nanny visit my bunnies because they LOVE them, but I always supervise extremely carefully. Kids and bunnies are just not a good mix.


I hope you enjoyed my entry about bunny misconceptions. What are some misconceptions you think people have about bunnies? As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact me. I love hearing from my followers. I also love, love, love hearing feedback about what I should write next! Have a BUNTASTIC day everybunny!

The BunNecessities

Before you read on, know that these are just my opinions. Obviously, food, water, and shelter are the very truest of necessities for you bun buns. So...

What does it take to make a happy bunny? What are the BunNecessities?

1. An Awesome Pad
And I mean it! You're bunny will know the difference between a well kept space and a cheap, nasty, small dirty one. I really suggest buying two things because they work so awesome! First, I have a XL dog kennel. This works well because it is portable. So when the bunnies have to stay at grandma's house while I go on vacation its easy for me to take to her and set up. They also love it because it's cave like. They like that their are sides AND a ceiling. I often drape a blanket over top to give them privacy and a dark den of sorts. I also have a puppy pen which you can purchase on amazon for around $40 dollars. I set this up connected to the dog crate so they have more space to run. Cages by themselves are just NOT ENOUGH unless you are constantly letting your bun bun run free.

2. A Tunnel
Mine is pink and is actually for cats. It's apparently a Martha Stewart collection, but that's not why my bunnies love it. Bunnies naturally want to burrow and tunnel and if you didn't know that previously you should probably do some more research so you can understand your bunnies. My bunnies run in and out of the tunnel constantly. And they climb all over it too! They love the crinkling sound so I would highly suggest buying a crinkle tunnel for your furbaby. If you don't have the money or want to have multiple tunnels, I make tunnels for my bunnies with old can boxes. just open up the sides, set it up, and viola! You have a totally awesome tunnel/chew toy for your bun bun!

3. Different textured flooring
I hope I don't offend anyone when I say this, but I HATE HUTCHES. They usually have barred flooring and its not good for the bunnies. They get sores on their feet and don't enjoy moving around as much. That being said, my bunnies are most happy when I provide different types of flooring. Currently I have part of their dog crates hard floor exposed so they can lay on it to keep cool. I also have  a blanket in their set up, and some flat (not fringe) carpeting. Think of your bunny as a toddler. You know how they make those touch and feel books? Its to stimulate the baby! And in this case, the different floor options will stimulate the bunny! I certainly never suggest all hard floors either because the bunnies can't get good traction to freely hop and run like they are capable of.

4. A Bedroom
This is just a suggestion for the free roaming bunnies out there.  Even if you are free roam (which I think is AMAZING and the best scenario for a bunny, they still need their own space. get a cage anyways and just keep the door open! This allows your bunny to have privacy and feel more safe and secure. They are social animals, this is true, but even so they need some alone time. Having their own space provides the best possible alone time because its completely "their's".

5. Herbs
It's really easy for owners to get in a pattern of giving their bunnies the same type of treats over and over again. An easy way to spice up your bunnies life (haha) is to provide them with different types of herbs. Seriously, these have the MOST flavor for your bunnies and mine lose their minds over herb treats. I'll list the bunny safe herbs below. If you feel buying fresh herbs at the store is too expensive, then plant your own herb garden or keep some herbs growing indoors in some pots. :)

Basil (LOVE)
Sage (LOVE)
Dandelions (LOVE)
Thyme
Rosemary
Oregano
Peppermint
Tarragon
Lemon Balm
Nettle
Chamomile
Caraway
Clover
Mustard Greens
Lavender
Dill

6. A Mirror
My bunnies love love love their mirror. I set it down so its at face level for them. It just provides some extra stimulation during their play time. My bunny Rufus especially loves it because hes so vain and enjoys admiring himself. He is just too handsome for his own good!

7. Hanging toys
If you did your research you know that bunnies love and should have toys. These mostly include jingle balls and toilet paper rolls in most households. However I find my bunnies favorite toys are their dangly ones. They especially love these colorful baby keys that I hug at the from of their dog crate and when they are binkying or doing their Bunny 500 they love to run in and out of their dog crate and hit them so they swing and make noise. you can also buy some pretty cool hanging toys for your bunny at the pet store by looking in the bird section!

8. Cold Items
This is pretty simple. I freeze a water bottle and lay it in the cage for my bunnies. I keep my house cool at 69 degrees because bunnies can over heat if its over 75, but i find my bunnies still get toasty. So putting a frozen water bottle in the cage area just gives them something they can lick or lay by if they wish. My bunnies also love their fan, which I put by one side of the cage. They ALWAYS take a nap in front of it. Seriously, its a huge hit. So if you don't have one already, get a fan for your bunny!


As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. I love hearing from fellow bunny enthusiasts and bunny mamas and papas.

Bunny Personality

We have all had the same dream. You know, the one where you own a pet and the relationship is perfect. You come home and your fur baby is just itching to see you. You get down on the floor and your pet runs over to be cuddled and loved.

I mean, yes it does exsist and it's a wonderful thing. But, here is the problem, we don't consider that our pets (especially bunnies) have distinct personalities. Trust me, I've been there. I've had the aching feeling in my heart as my bunny Pippa rejects my attention and love. "What am I doing wrong?" I ask myself.

Consider this: how would you feel if your in the mood to relax. You just want to kick up your feet, maybe have a snack, and watch some Netflix. You just really need your alone time right now. But your roommate walks in and is polking you and trying to have a conversation with you...you'd be kind of peeved right? RIGHT! This is how your bunny may feel!

Just like the extrovert and introvert variation in humans, bunnies too can have either personality. Before your dreams are crushed because your bunny won't love you in the way you want, just stop yourself. It's about respect. And you know what? Your bunny is teaching you an important life lesson! We need to accept that all people and animals are different.  Especially animals. We are incapable of having a conversation with them like we can have with your boyfriend or girlfriend. You can't lean over to thumper and tell him you need more attention and hugs or your going to break it off. So......

Make a list in your head of the good parts about your (not so perfect personality) bunny.
EXAMPLE: Pippa runs away from me a lot....but she always greets me at the front of the cage when I say hi. She doesn't come up to me for head scratches often....but she loves to put her paws on me when she eats her kale snack.

I love these things! This is what makes my bunny Pippa, Pippa! So before you judge your rabbit because of their actions. Try to remind yourself that different is good. It makes life exciting and beautiful. And I promise you.....just because bun bun hates you picking him/her up doesn't mean bun bun doesn't love you. 😊

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me! I also encourage you to suggest topics that I can talk about. Love you EVERYBUNNY 😍 Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @Onceupona_Whisker !!

How to Talk to Your Bunny!

I lied...we can't ACTUALLY talk to our pet bun buns. However, there is a way to communicate with them. It's not verbal, it's physical; and let me tell you, being able to communicate with your bunny is pretty neat.

Let's Talk Happiness

Hopefully, if you are a responsible bunny owner, you know at least a little bit about bunny behavior cues. If you do,you know what a Binky is. To refresh: Binkying is that funny little dance a bunny does when it kinda kicks its feet to the side and hopes around really fast. It looks a bit like a seizure of some sort. This translates to: HOLY MOLY I'M HAVING A SPLENDID TIME! We would look ridiculous if we (humans) tried to binky so i wouldn't suggest it. You might terrify your rabbit!

However....

There is such a thing as a half binky and it looks like a quick head shank/yank to the side. This translates to: I am happy with my life. It's essentially a compliment the bunny is giving to anyone in the vicinity that the bunny lives with.

HERE IS THE BEST PART: You can do a half binky too! They especially understand it if you have long hair. If your bunny is looking at you do a quick half binky head shake/yank! Your bunny might even return one! Trust me, your bunny will read the compliment loud and clear and be satisfied knowing you are happy too!

Let's Talk Love

If you are familiar with bonded bunny pairs then you'll know they do a lot of sleeping together and probably some grooming of each other. These are both signs of love and comfort.

You can show love and comfort in the same way. If your bunny lays down in the middle of the floor lay down right next to him/her. Yes I snuggle with my bunnies like this every day. They love it as much as I do. Sometimes it makes them so happy they do their little bunny pur!

You can also show love and affection towards your bunny by fake grooming them. I suppose you could go full out licking, but it would probably get a little hairy in your mouth! I fake groom by kissing my bunnies on the top of their heads and behind their ears. A nudge will work just as well! They will read this that you are grooming them and immediately understand how deeply you care for them. I have even had my bunnies return the grooming from time to time and a bunny grooming YOU is the ULTIMATE compliment.


Conclusion

We can't have a full conversation with our bunnies, but we can communicate! Try some of my tips and let me know how it goes! I'd love to hear! Make sure you don't give up if you don't get a reaction the first time. Keep trying, but just know some bunnies are just not very responsive. However, they will read you loud and clear and be VERY HAPPY to know just how much you love them.


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Bonding Bunnies - How to go about introductions

INTRODUCTIONS in Bonding

A TWO CAGE SET-UP

Like I said in my first bonding bunny post, the first thing you need to know is the importance of two separate cages until the bunnies are bonded. Even if you threw two bunnies in a cage together and they didn't bother each other initially, they could end up fighting and SERIOUSLY injure one or both bunnies. Once you have purchased and arranged both cages with toys, water bowls, litter boxes, etc, you'll want to place the cages next to each other with at least 5 inches of space between. This will insure that neither bunny can bite or scratch.

Having the two cages in the same room and next to each other is really important. This allows each bunny to get use to the other bunny's scent. They also might find comfort and become at ease with the other if you feed them at the same time. This way they are associating seeing the other bunny with the yumminess of food.

FIRST STEP: DATES

Bonding is all about the dates :) You'll need a neutral place to do the introductions. This ensures neither bunny will be territorial with can lead to some serious fighting. I think the best place to do introductions is a bathtub. You can use a pen as well in a part of the house neither bunny has been. Just make sure the introduction spot is a small confined area.

You should expect some sniffing, circling, and mounting. This is completely normal. This is when the two bunnies decide who the dominant and who the submissive is. DO NOT, however, let the bunnies fight. if one lunges, tries to scratch, or bite the other separate the bunnies. This is when gloves and a shoe come in handy. You don't want to be accidentally bitten or scratched.

You'll want to give positive reinforcement to each bunny. Try setting them side by side and petting them. Also try to feed them yummy snacks together. I have also heard of a awesome trick which entails putting banana behind each bunnies ear. When the other bunny eats the banana it tricks the bunny into believing it is being groomed. Grooming=BUNNY LOVE.

Bonding can be instant or it can take days...weeks....even months. You'll need to go into it accepting that you might have to be VERY patient. You can't rush love after all. You'll want to perform the dates every day once they start and they should last from 5 to 15 minutes.

LAST STEP: MOVING IN

Bunnies should not be put in the same cage unless you are absolutely certain they get along. I would say after two or three very positive sessions you could move them in together. You'll have to use your best judgement. I think it's always better to be safe than sorry though because bunnies can SERIOUSLY hurt each other.

HONEYMOON

Once the bunnies have moved in it's honeymoon time! For the first two weeks make sure to search each bunny's bodies for scratches or bites. If you see any sign of wounds separate them again. Once bunnies are bonded it's usually pretty rare to break the bond. It can break if there is a bad fight or if you try to bond a third bunny and it doesn't work out with the original two. Bonded rabbits are proven to be happier and healthier. You'll be happier too when you see how they love!

Bonding Bunnies - What Pair

I think most people would agree that watching bonded rabbits together is a beautiful thing. Bunnies are naturally social animals. As I've stated in a past blog post, bunnies need as much attention from their owner as a dog or a cat might. However, it seems in most cases that humans cannot provide the complete needs when it comes to the bunny's social life. Once your bunny is bonded you will see how amazing it is. The bunnies will play together, sleep together, groom each other, even get pets from you side by side.

Taking care of two bunnies isn't necessarily that much different than taking care of one. Once they are bonded they will share the same food bowl, water bowl, liter box, etc.Note: It's important to realize you will have to have two cages until the bunnies are bonded. YOU CAN NEVER throw two bunnies into the same cage without introduction. How would you feel if you were in your bedroom and some stranger walked in and sat down? You would be afraid and probably a little pissed.  However, I will say its a little more effort to take care of the bunnies.Because there are two bunnies you''ll have twice the mess. I clean the litter box at least once every three days. This isn't too terrible though, especially if you take my advice and use towels as bedding instead of $20 bags at the pet store. You can just shake out the mess outside (which is biodegradability and GREAT fertilizer) and stick it in the wash! Vwalla! Saving money and saving the environment.


The Dream Pair

So, here's the thing. I am going to tell you how it USUALLY goes down, but then you can decide for yourself because it's my belief that you can bond any two bunnies. It just might take months and I'm not sure if it's worth it to you to put that much time in.

BUCK and DOE

This is the easiest pair. This is most often the pair that has something called "love at first sight". The bunnies will get along immediately and there is little to no effort on your part.

BUCK and BUCK

This is your second best option. A bit harder than bonding a BUCK and DOE (usually) I think its worth it and my favorite pair. BUCKS tend to be more cuddly, outgoing, and friendly. So, having two is just one big cuddle and pet fest.

DOE and DOE

Ok so like I said above I do believe you can bond any two rabbits together. However, if there is a pair that would take you months to bond, it would 99% be two DOES. DOES tend to be a little more aggressive then males. They are stubborn and territorial and this could cause major issues when trying to bond one DOE to another. If you chose this route, best of luck and Id love to hear your success story so shoot me a message!

ADULT and ADULT

This tends to be the easiest pair. Adults get along with adults better.

BABY and BABY

This also tends to be an easy pair. Babies naturally tend to gravitate towards other rabbits. Because they are babies they depend on others for emotional support and comfort. Babies also like to huddle with their litter mates for warmth when sleeping. It's important to realize you MIGHT need to separate them once they get closer to being teenagers. You could end up with a litter of more babies if you have a buck and a doe. They can also end up fighting because their hormones kick in. So, you''ll want to get both babies neutered ASAP.

ADULT and BABY

I was told that this is the most difficult pair to bond. Of course, I ended up getting my baby, pascal, and wanted to bond him to Rufus. They practically fell in love. I kept them in separate cages facing each other for a good four days and Rufus did grunt a bit and try to scratch the baby's cage when he was having play time. However, I chose to carefully introduce them because Rufus and the baby seemed interested in seeing each other and BOOM it happened. I would say most Adults will not bond with a baby. I, myself, was planning on waiting months before I introduced my two together. If you want to attempt this please contact me for more details. I will totally support you, just know that you might have to wait until the baby is an adult to introduce.

WHAT BREEDS TO BOND

Good news: any breed will do! You can even bond a Dwarf with a Flemish giant. A bunny is a bunny. It's the personalities of the two bunnies that makes or breaks the bonding.



BELOW
These are my two bun buns as of March 23, 2015. The Grey (chinchilla) mini lop in the hoodie is my babes Rufus. And the brown (tort) Holland lop baby is my 8 week old Pascal :)