This is gunna be hard..........

[GBov]

:-( that is really sad and frustrating. I am really sorry to hear that, try and keep your head up with postive thoughts, it sounds like you are trying to make some beutiful uniqe rabbits. i would love to see pics of them!

That reminds me, its time for more pictures! Shall go get some as soon as the fog burns off.

Its so nice to be able to come here and talk about it with people who really understand. "Why didnt you take them to the vet?" is a question one gets really tired of from friends and family. :roll:

a-few-questions-on-making-a-harlequin-new-zealand-t9115.html There are a few pictures of some of them here. It was a bit of a shock to see a picture of Rusty, I forgot it was there!

Ah well, life goes on.

 

[ZRabbits]

:-( that is really sad and frustrating. I am really sorry to hear that, try and keep your head up with postive thoughts, it sounds like you are trying to make some beutiful uniqe rabbits. i would love to see pics of them!

That reminds me, its time for more pictures! Shall go get some as soon as the fog burns off.

Its so nice to be able to come here and talk about it with people who really understand. "Why didnt you take them to the vet?" is a question one gets really tired of from friends and family. :roll:

a-few-questions-on-making-a-harlequin-new-zealand-t9115.html There are a few pictures of some of them here. It was a bit of a shock to see a picture of Rusty, I forgot it was there!

Ah well, life goes on.

Family and Friends, I would think, would believe your rabbits as pets. People go to the vet when their pet (dog, cat, bird, rabbit) is sick, just like you take children to the pediatrician. It's just society. Just explain to your family and friends that they are meat rabbits and as a meat rabbit breeder it's more a responsibility on your part on health and sickness. It's part of rabbit husbandry.

I've learned that I don't have to run to the Vet for everything with my rabbits. My Rabbit Vet has helped with my education on a good rabbit husbandry. But if they are truly sick, I feel it's my responsibility as a Pet owner to give them a chance.

Until you really educate family and friends about different ways of raising rabbits (meat, show or pet) you are going to get questions about Vets. And if they still don't get it, then just roll your eyes at them because they will truly never understand.

As a Pet owner, I do understand why some do not go to the Vet and just cull.

Karen

 

[GBov]

:-( that is really sad and frustrating. I am really sorry to hear that, try and keep your head up with postive thoughts, it sounds like you are trying to make some beutiful uniqe rabbits. i would love to see pics of them!

That reminds me, its time for more pictures! Shall go get some as soon as the fog burns off.

Its so nice to be able to come here and talk about it with people who really understand. "Why didnt you take them to the vet?" is a question one gets really tired of from friends and family. :roll:

a-few-questions-on-making-a-harlequin-new-zealand-t9115.html There are a few pictures of some of them here. It was a bit of a shock to see a picture of Rusty, I forgot it was there!

Ah well, life goes on.

Family and Friends, I would think, would believe your rabbits as pets. People go to the vet when their pet (dog, cat, bird, rabbit) is sick, just like you take children to the pediatrician. It's just society. Just explain to your family and friends that they are meat rabbits and as a meat rabbit breeder it's more a responsibility on your part on health and sickness. It's part of rabbit husbandry.

I've learned that I don't have to run to the Vet for everything with my rabbits. My Rabbit Vet has helped with my education on a good rabbit husbandry. But if they are truly sick, I feel it's my responsibility as a Pet owner to give them a chance.

Until you really educate family and friends about different ways of raising rabbits (meat, show or pet) you are going to get questions about Vets. And if they still don't get it, then just roll your eyes at them because they will truly never understand.

As a Pet owner, I do understand why some do not go to the Vet and just cull.

Karen

All of my family get it (they call me a serial killer and love me anyway :lol: ) but my hubbies family dont, cant adn never will :roll:

Fog has lifted, time to get the camera out again!

 

[ZRabbits]

Serial killer? A bit extreme isn't it?

Look forward to seeing new pics.

Karen

 

[GBov]

Serial killer? A bit extreme isn't it?

Look forward to seeing new pics.

Karen

Well, I do kill lots of rabbits, one at a time ugh, fog is back so shall have tea befor going out.

 

[BroodCoop]

I was just reading a vet's advice to cull back a generation if you can track the vulnerable ones to a specific doe or buck. If I can find that link I will post it. I want it for myself anyway.

I wonder how much of this type of thing comes from antibiotic (ab)use. Some reputable rabbit books endorse the daily routine use of antibiotics. We buy stock raised on antibiotics without knowing it and end up with antibiotic dependent rabbits dying for no obvious reason.

 

[Happy]

I wonder how much of this type of thing comes from antibiotic (ab)use. Some reputable rabbit books endorse the daily routine use of antibiotics. We buy stock raised on antibiotics without knowing it and end up with antibiotic dependent rabbits dying for no obvious reason.

I LOVE THIS! I can't underscore enough how BAD overuse of antibiotics is. It not only renders the immune system worthless on its own, it also puts adaptive pressures on the responsible pathogen to become resistant to the drugs. It's ALWAYS bad to overuse antibiotics.

 

[Jared77]

I was just reading a vet's advice to cull back a generation if you can track the vulnerable ones to a specific doe or buck. If I can find that link I will post it. I want it for myself anyway.

I'm glad to hear someone else thinks this is a good practice.

 

[ZRabbits]

So true, just like the children are on that road today with too many steriods and antibiotics. That's why I suggest Wheat grass. It's not an antibiotic. It's not a cure. It's a natural refresher. I don't know if it does anything for the heebe jeebes from antibiotic abuse, but I do know it plays an important part in a little bunny's very little immune system.

My Neville had one round of antibiotics for his Wry Neck. And used wheat grass to help him through it and to stimulate appetite and drinking. Also it has been continued through his life. Just like the rest of the Tribe. No set backs since the first incident.

Now remember, my rabbits are PETS! I don't eat my pets. But for meat rabbits, all together different game. So that one round of antibiotics was worth it's weight in gold to us.

Also his offspring has shown no signs of anything other than being a rabbit. Glad I didn't cull him like it is suggested here by the Forum leaders that all rabbits with anything should be culled. Well all of the forum leaders raise MEAT rabbits. Not Pets. There are some of us who will go the extra mile for their pets. That's just me. And if my experience can help someone today or even tomorrow make their Pet rabbits' life a bit easier, oh well.

And GovB, still think the title "serial killer" is a bit harsh. Yes, you kill your rabbits one at a time for a REASON. And should be respected for that.

Karen

 

[Attal.Rabbits]

I totaly understand the vet thing, my rabbit had an injury to his back, i think he did it while playing, and his back legs got paralized and i waas going to see if it would correct itself and waited two weeks then killed him because he was not going to get any better and i waas not going to spend hundreds of dollers on a rabbit. and so many people are all like omg u didnt take him to the vet and gave me a hard time about it... and its like... i love my rabbits but he is just a rabbit and i dont have hundreds of dollers to spend on a rabbit, and i wouldent spend that much money anyway on any animal because there are human beings out there starving to death. so i completey understand when people give you heck when not bringing your rabbit to a vet

 

[Bad Habit]

I wouldn't spend hundreds of dollars on taking a rabbit to the vet. Not when there are so many out there that are available to purchase for much less. Yes, I love my rabbits, they're fun to watch, play with, pet, etc... but they aren't like my dog, who goes with me everywhere I go. I'd be sad for a few days, then I'd get over it and move on. I would prefer to take my rabbit to the vet to euth it than to bash it in the head, but have not had that be an option yet.

I would spend hundreds of dollars taking my dog to the vet. Maybe it makes me sound cruel to prefer one pet over another that way, but I've got more money/time/emotion invested in my dog than I do in all of my rabbits put together. I would be devastated if I lost my dog.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

vets that speciale in rabbits are too darned expensive to use ona regular basus-- I took a Mini rex a few years ago-- first vet exam-- almost two hundred dollars-- then, a surgery-- another 600 dollars Great nlearning experience, BUT-- never again.. New rabbits, rare breed, off to vet5 two more times-- and trust me, just parking the car costs over 100 dollars. to be told what--No Gatorade, use Pedialyte-- when they are essentially the same thing...

Nope, I run to hte books, notyes, and the feed store-- not an expensive vet-- Gunny's first exam, with rabies shot and 3 months of HW preventive, was less expensive!!!

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

, but I've got more money/time/emotion invested in my dog than I do in all of my rabbits put together. I would be devastated if I lost my dog.

I second that.. I am the same way.

 

[Miss M]

I gave Thumper one 5-day round of antibiotics when he had a goopy eye last year. Cost me $11 and was worth it, because he's the one true pet we have. I still would not have taken him to the vet, though. I don't have money for that. If he hadn't improved with that or other inexpensive treatments, I'd have put him down.

When we get a dog, it will likely get some vet treatment. The usual heartworm stuff and all that. How far will I go to keep the dog around? I don't know... but I do shake my head at people who spend thousands on cancer treatments and transplants for pets. That's their prerogative, though. If they're willing to go to that great expense, okay.

The dog, unlike the rabbits, will be a home and livestock guard, and a friend and protector for my kids. That holds more value, and therefore is worth more investment. Still, I would do anything for my kids, but would draw a line for the dog.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

It really sucked to have to shoot three beautiful rabbit friends in the head but it was the right thing to do.

I have an easier time culling rabbits for the freezer than I do culling the ill ones. I hate that the choice is out of my hands, and when it is a breeding rabbit and I have a more developed relationship with it, it makes it all the harder.

I know that it is the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Hopefully you will have a healthy herd now and wont need to do this again for a good long while. :clover:

 

[Bad Habit]

When we get a dog, it will likely get some vet treatment. The usual heartworm stuff and all that. How far will I go to keep the dog around? I don't know... but I do shake my head at people who spend thousands on cancer treatments and transplants for pets. That's their prerogative, though. If they're willing to go to that great expense, okay.

I think, for me, it depends more on the treatment than the cost. I wouldn't get my dog a transplant or a doggy chemo, but I'd spend the same amount to fix up or remove a shattered leg. My mum's husky had a tumor removed and they spend about 60$ every three months on pills she takes every day, and that's reasonable. It's about their quality of life afterwards, and I'd find a way to pay for most anything if I thought my dog would be just as happy and healthy after healing as he was before he was hurt or became ill.

 

[GBov]

And GovB, still think the title "serial killer" is a bit harsh. Yes, you kill your rabbits one at a time for a REASON. And should be respected for that.

Karen

They are kidding, really they are (mostly) but they know me very well and I am really good at dispatching and processing livestock. A stone cold killer and they love me anyway, aren't families great

And you are right Mammasheepdog, its that it wasn't my decision to do it, I HAD to do it and we had time and love invested in them all that was so sad, not their actual dieing.

We traced the problem back to a rabbit that showed no symptoms and are watching like a hawk for any signs but so far, so good.