Rabbit Breed: American Fuzzy Lop

Origins: These rabbits were descended from Holland Lops, as a result of attempts to develop different markings (Holland Lops initially only had solid colors). Crossing with English Spots and French Angoras apparently had varied effects, such as the "right" markings but "wrong" fur type, and a "wool" fur type from a recessive gene. Around 1980, America breeder Patty Greene-Karl worked with the recessive "woolly" gene to breed "fuzzy" Holland Lops. From there, she developed a new breed, the American Fuzzy Lop, officially recognized in 1988.

Size: Small to medium, 3 1/2 to 4 pounds.

Physical Appearance: This cute bunny has a round and cobby body, short lop ears that hang about one inch below the jaw, and a flat wide face. It has a "no neck" appearance, with a proportionally large head. Fur is dense and long.

Characteristics: Affectionate, loving, sweet-tempered.

Colors: Nineteen recognized colors, including tortoiseshell, chocolate, lilac, chinchilla, squirrel, fawn, and others.

Special Facts: Adult American Fuzzy Lops are easier to groom than juvenile ones. Youngsters have soft coats that matt easily, so they need careful daily grooming. Once they mature and grow their "woolly" adult coats, these will be easier to care for.

What Are The Common Diseases In Rabbits?

Common diseases in rabbits are not too difficult to spot. That's only if you really take the time to observe and interact with your bunny everyday. We take a look at some of the common rabbit diseases so that you'll know when to seek veterinary advice if your rabbit does have any of them.

Common Diseases In Rabbits

• Dental Disease In Rabbits
• Diarrhea In Rabbits
• Snuffles: Respiratory Tract Infection In Rabbits
• Rabbit Disease: Red Urine
• Rabbit Disease: Sore hocks
• How To Get Rid Of Fleas, Lice, And Fur Mites On Rabbits?
• Help! My Rabbit Has A Bent Neck!
• Ocular Diseases In Rabbits: Epiphora and Dacryocystitis

Ocular Diseases In Rabbits: Epiphora and Dacryocystitis

Rabbits with epiphora (watery eye) or dacryocystitis (infection of the tear sac) often present with staining and wetness of fur at the corner of the eye and occasionally accompanied by squinting and redness of the eye, thick mucous discharge or fur loss around the eye.

Epiphora is the production of excessive tears whereas dacryocystitis is the production of mucoid discharge. Causes of ocular discharge include:

• Dental disease
• Primary bacterial infections
• Conjunctivitis
• Corneal disease
• Eyelid problems
• Foreign body and tear duct problems
• Environmental irritation by perfumes, fragrances, hair sprays, paint or cooking fumes, smoke, dust, etc.

To effect the best treatment, we will need to first try to identify the underlying cause and in order to do so, certain diagnostic tests may need to be performed before treatment may be instituted.

The What, the Why, and the Benefits of Sterilizing Our Pets

Sterilizing a pet involves a one-time surgical procedure to remove part of its reproductive organs. This permanently prevents the pet from reproducing.

Sterilization is most commonly carried out on dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs from the age of six months and upwards. Males have their testicles removed; females have their ovaries and uterus removed.

The surgery is performed by licensed veterinarians, and the animal is under general anesthesia throughout. Most are back to normal in 24 to 48 hours after surgery.

Why Do We Sterilize Our Pets?

The most pressing reason for sterilization is to prevent unwanted young from being born. There are already more than enough abandoned animals in the world, so sterilizing pets helps control the situation.

You may be responsible owner with no intention of breeding your pet, but "accidents" do happen. Your pet may escape from home and mate outside; another animal may enter your home without your knowledge; or it may mate with someone else's pet at a pets-and-owners gathering!

The Benefits and Precautions

Besides preventing unwanted litters, sterilization affects pets' hormones so they become less likely to wander in search of a mate or behave aggressively. They are also less prone to disease such as womb infections, and mammary and testicular cancers.

Because sterilized pets often become more home-loving, they may gain weight because owners do not correspondingly reduce their feeds! So control your pet's food intake and give it more exercise. And watch for complications like loss of bladder control in older pets - this can be treated with medication.

Help! My Rabbit Has A Bent Neck!

Head tilting is a common problem in rabbits. Affected rabbits have a bent neck with the head flopping to one side to varying degrees (up to 90 degrees). These rabbits may be anorexic, wobbly when walking, trembling, paralyzed, or have more severe neurological signs.

This condition is usually due to an ear infection, middle ear infection or brain infection with either a bacteria called Pasteurella or an organism called Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Some rabbits appear to spontaneously recover from the head tilt whilst others never do despite treatment. Depending on the severity, some rabbits can go on to lead "normal" lives despite having a head tilt. Treatment usually consists of lone term supportive care, antibiotics and/or antiprotozoal medication.

Is There Any Cure For Feline Herpes Virus?

Unfortunately, there is no effective cure for FHV in the cat. There is a saying that says: "Herpes is forever!" Like in the human, once infected, a cat can either eliminate the virus from the body, or it becomes a carrier and lives with the virus for life. This virus enters and hides in the nerve systems of the cat, thus protecting it from being killed by the cat's immune system. There it stays dormant in the nerves until in times of illness or stress, when the body's immune system is suppressed, the virus then resurfaces to cause disease.

Your cat will subsequently either start sneezing again or get its eye problem back. It is through this clever mechanism that FHV results in chronic recurrent cat flue or eye problems. Cats have an increased risk of becoming carriers if they are infected at a young age before they have vaccination immunity or mature immune systems.

Read More On Related Topics:

1. What Is Feline Herpes Virus Infection?
2. Is There Any Cure For Feline Herpes Virus?
3. What Are The Treatments For Feline Herpes Virus?
4. What Can You Do If Your Cat Has Feline Herpes Virus?

How To Get Rid Of Fleas, Lice, And Fur Mites On Rabbits?

Fleas, lice, and fur mites are three of the most common ectoparasites that can affect rabbits. Being completely indoors does not preclude a rabbit from getting infested with ectoparasites.

To look for these ectoparasites, use your fingers to part the hair to look for little white or black dots on the hair shaft or one the skin scurrying away from light. The vet may even pluck some of these hairs for microscopic examination. Itchiness along with scaling of the skin may indicate an ectoparasite infestation.

These ectoparasites are transmitted through close contact with infected rabbits or contaminated environment or bedding.

Once diagnosed, these ectoparasites are easily treated with Revolution.

Sarcoptes scabeii is a mite that commonly affects rabbits. It causes a skin condition called scabies where the feet, nose, and ears become very crusty, scabby, and very itchy. Diagnosis requires the identification of the mite through skin scrapings of the affected areas.

Treatment will involve either fortnightly injections with ivermectin or topical treatment with Revolution. This skin disease is highly contagious to humans, dogs, cats, and other rabbits living in close contact with the infected rabbit.

Rabbit Disease: Sore hocks

The medical term for sore hocks is pododermatitis. Sore hocks as it is commonly called start off as pressure sores that affect the underside of both hind feet of a rabbit. These pressure sores may vary in how they look from bare skin on the point of the hocks to inflamed, ulcerated, bleeding, infected swollen lumps with pus. In severe cases, the infection can extend deep to the underlying bones and tendons, resulting in permanent disability.

Sore hocks can be a painful condition and can cause lameness in rabbits. It is a disease that can developed secondary to trauma from keeping rabbits on wired/soft/slippery/hard surfaces or on dirty/damp bedding. Conformational or physical abnormalities such as in pregnant, overweight, underweight, or giant rabbit breeds as well as repeated "thumping" of the hind legs, hind leg injury or arthritis, soiling of the feet with diarrhea or urine can also predispose rabbits to sock hocks.

Sore hocks can be a very difficult problem to treat in rabbits. Treatment is aimed in providing suitable bedding such as a dry lawn, deep bed of hay, thick towels, foam rubber, bandaging and medicating the lesions. In very severe cases, amputation or even euthanasia may be indicated.

Rabbit Disease: Red Urine

Normal rabbit urine can be clear to turbid, and the color can vary from yellow to orange and red. Red urine can be due to pigments from the food that is the rabbit is eating or blood which will then indicate a urinary tract infection, cystitis, bladder stones, or womb cancer in female rabbits.

Your vet will need to analyze the urine in order to differentiate between pigmentation or blood and then the appropriate treatment or further diagnostics can then be instituted.

Snuffles: Respiratory Tract Infection In Rabbits

"Snuffles" is a respiratory tract infection also known as Rabbit "Flu." Affected rabbits are sneezing and have nasal discharge (watery or mucous).

There are 3 main causes of "snuffles" in rabbits, namely infectious causes, nasal foreign bodies such as hair, grass, hay, seeds etc, and tooth root abscesses/infections. The most common cause for snuffles is a bacteria called Pasteurella. However not all "snuffles" cases are due to this bacteria. There are other bacteria and viruses that can lead to respiratory tract infection too.

Infected rabbits present in varying degrees of severity. Some just present with mild clinical signs like sneezing and nasal discharge, while others present with breathing, difficulties and lung involvement.

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and/or chest x-rays and endoscopy findings. Most rabbits will respond to antibiotics but some may require long term antibiotics.

Diarrhea In Rabbits

The presence of soft stools in rabbits can be misinterpreted as diarrhea. These "soft stools" that look like a bunch of tiny grapes stuck onto the backside of rabbits are often caecotrophs which are normal.

Rabbits with diarrhea often have watery stools and are ill. Inappropriate diet, sudden changes in diet, certain antibiotics, stress, intestinal parasites, and enteritis are some of the causes of diarrhea in rabbits.

A fecal analysis is often performed to look for intestinal parasites. Treatments include giving probiotics to restore normal gut flora and supportive treatment.

Diarrhea in rabbits is a serious medical condition and warrants immediate veterinary attention especially if the rabbit stops eating and becomes dull and listless. Rabbits can die from severe diarrhea.

Dental Disease In Rabbits

Acquired dental disease (ADD) is a common condition that is almost specific to indoor pet rabbits. Wild or pet rabbits that are housed outdoors all year round with unrestricted access to grazing and browsing tend not develop this syndrome. This condition is usually due to environmental (husbandry) or genetic factors or a combination of both.

Rabbits teeth are special in that they grow continuous throughout life. They rely on chewing and gnawing to wear the teeth down. The main cause of dental disease in pet rabbits is feeding an inappropriate diet that lacks appropriate fiber content. Fractured jaws or broken teeth can also result in ADD.

Dwarf breeds are genetically predisposed to dental disease. They are often born with an overshot lower jaw or an undershot upper jaw resulting in the lower incisors being in front of the upper incisors. The resulting malocclusion can lead to problems in teeth wear in both the incisors (front teeth) and the cheek teeth sets and thus result in dental disease. The teeth of rabbits with ADD are often misshapen and curved. These can lead to pain, inappetance, abscesses, and cuts to the gums.

Examination of the mouth is not always easy to perform in a conscious rabbit. Sedation or general anesthesia may be required for a thorough oral inspection. Dental or skull x-ray may also be performed to assess the condition of the tooth roots.

The treatment of rabbit dental disease is often very difficult and long termed. This disease condition is progressive by nature and in many cases a cure may not be possible. Treatment may involve dietary management, dental intervention like teeth trimming and filing, and/or antibiotics and painkillers. In severe cases of tooth abscessation, euthanasia may be warranted.

Toys: Little Luxuries For Pets

Toys contribute to a pet's mental, emotional, and physical development, and play brightens up an animal's life too; so don't deprive your companion of the space, opportunity and tools for having fun.

Dogs and Cats

Dog or cat owners are lucky in the sense that pet stores are packed with toys for these two species. But as any human child can tell you, playing alone isn't always fun. Playtime means more to your pet if you join in, getting it to catch the toys, or search for hidden items. Use the toys as tools for fun interaction.

Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, and Chinchillas

Although rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas may not want to play tug-of-war or find-the-catnip with you, but they do enjoy being encouraged to find new ways to play. Offer them boxes to hide in and cardboard rolls to hop through, and be creative with enclose panels to set up a playpen that has different sections or levels to explore.

Hamsters, Gerbils, and Mice

Hamster, gerbils, and mice enjoy exercise wheels, roller balls, tube trails and even the cardboard core left behind after you finish a roll of toilet paper. Different levels and sections in the cages also give them opportunities to climb up and down.

Birds

Birds like a variety of perches set at different heights. Some also enjoy swinging by their beaks from rings or bars. Very tame birds can be let it out into a safe room daily for more exercise; otherwise, provide the largest enclosure possible.